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“I thought you were having financial issues?” Mom counters instead of answering my question. “Did you get the problem with your duplex worked out? As much as I’d love to see you, I can’t afford a hotel room right now, sweetheart.”
“You don’t have to worry about that Ms. Morrison,” Luke interjects. “I have taken care of Marley’s financial issues. You are welcome stay with us, or if you prefer, I’d be happy to get you a hotel room while you’re visiting.” I cringe, knowing my mom is about to have a meltdown. I mean I told her Luke was helping me, but I haven’t told her we were living together.
“Who…who’s this?” My mom stammers. “Marley?”
“Mom, this is Luke. Luke Robertson, the man I told you is helping me with my financial issues. He owns the securitycompany I told you about,” I inform her, hoping she doesn’t go off in front of Luke.
“What does he mean by stay with us?” Mom of course had to zero in on that part of Luke’s offer. “At your apartment?”
“Well, no, I gave up my lease, Mom.” I answer. My mother inhales sharply.
“What? Where are you living?” My mom asks, concern clear in her voice. “Are you homeless? Oh my God, Marley! Why didn’t you call me? You know you are welcome here with me. What about your job at The Bistro? Please tell me you still have your job at least.”
“Mom!” I interrupt. This is going south fast. “I’m not homeless or jobless. At least not any more. Um, Luke has taken care of everything. He is more than just someone who’s helping me. He’s my boyfriend and my boss. I work for his company now, and…well I live with him.” A long, awkward silence descends on the conversation.
“Marley, honey,” Mom begins in her stern motherly voice. The one she always used on me when I was a child and in trouble for breaking a rule or being stubborn about something. “I’m sorry I haven’t been more involved in your life. I know I’ve been wrapped up in my own problems, but I thought I’d taught you better than to give up your independence like this. I’m sure he seems like a very nice man, but it won’t last. It never does, and you’ll be left with nothing, just like we were when your father left us.”
“Ms. Morrison.” Luke jumps back into the conversation. “I’m very sorry for how Marley’s father treated you and left you in such a terrible state, but I assure you, I am not like him. I’ll never treat Marley in such a way. I love her deeply. I’ll never hurt her. I know it will take time for you to come to trust me and believe that I’m a man of my word. Just please give both Marley and I the opportunity to prove that what we have is real and forever lasting.” Luke looks into my eyes as he says these last words. A smilebreaks out on my face. I can’t keep from leaning in to press a kiss to his very delectable lips, hoping against hope my mother doesn’t hear us. The last thing I need is a lecture about using protection to prevent an unwanted pregnancy or a disease that Ajax won’t take off. It had been one of my mom’s favorite things to say whenever she’d learned I had been dating someone in the past. I often wonder if I was an unwanted pregnancy, and that’s why she never had any more children. I know she and dad were very young when she had me, but I’d never gotten up to nerve to ask about the details of how they met and came to be married.
“So, are you going to come visit or not?” I asked after kissing my man, my love, my soon to be husband. I was more than ready for this conversation to be over, already dreading having to tell her the real reason for her visit…my wedding.
LUKE
The conversation with Marley’s mother did not go as well as I’d hoped. Though the woman did agree to come for a visit. Marley chose to leave out the part about us getting married. I already knew the conversation with my mother would be dreadful. I’d been hoping that Marley’s mom would be the easier of the two. I suppose time will tell. I haven’t gotten up the nerve to call my mother yet. I think I’ll call Daisy first. At least I believe she’ll be happy for us.
“I’m sorry, Luke.” Marley gives me a sad look, when she’s finished her call. I’m not sure what’s she’s sorry for. At my confused expression, she continues. “My mom. She’s still very bitter over my dad leaving. She thinks all men are like my dad. She’s always told me not to trust any man or to give my heart away. After everything that happened with my first long term boyfriend, I believed her. At least, until you came into my life.” I give her a smile and kiss. I could kiss this woman twenty-four hours a day, every day of my life.
“It’s okay, Marley,” I promise her. “I understand. At least, she’s agreed to come. I’m dreading telling my mother, too. She’s a bit much, to put it nicely. She can be rude and a little cruel at times. Ipromise you, though, I won’t let her treat you badly.” Marley’s eyes widen at my words. I suppose I could have put it a little nicer, but it’s better she be prepared for the worst. “My mother will likely assume you are only after me for my money. She doesn’t think any woman would want to be with a man in a wheelchair. She has contributed to Daisy’s belief that my accident was all her fault and that she ruined my life. I shut it down when she starts, and I do not feel that way at all, but Mom has always made Daisy feel responsible and guilty. We have a strained relationship, but she’s still my mother, and I do my best to look out for her as much as she’ll allow me.”
“Oh Luke!” Marley gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry your mom treats you and Daisy that way. I feel bad for you and Daisy. I can’t imagine how hard this has been for her all these years. My mom and I aren’t the closest, but she’s always been supportive, except when it comes to relationships. She’s not going to approve of this marriage, Luke. Just be prepared for that, but I know, in time, she’ll come to love you as much as I do.”
“This is our life, baby,” I state. “It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, says, or does. This is you and me, building a life together. I love you, and I want you to be my wife, my lover, my best friend, mother of my children if possible, and most especially my secretary.” I get a giggle from that last comment.
“So I take it I’m doing a good job, huh?” Marley asks playfully.
“Best I’ve ever had,” I reply suggestively, waggly my eyebrows. She slaps at my arm without any real force behind it.
“Luke Robertson!” she exclaims. “I was talking about my secretary skills.”
“So was I,” I declare innocently. She gives me a look that lets me know she sees right through my lies. “It’s not my fault your mind is in the gutter”—another swat— “honestly, you are doing a great job, baby girl. I love having you here with me all day, but more than that, you are good at the job. I’m not just saying that because you have sex with me. All the guys have commentedwhat a great job you’re doing.” Her face flushes that deep shade of red I love seeing on her face.
“Thank you,” she gushes, her eyes misty with unshed tears. “You’re by far the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Luke. I love you.” I give her a squeeze and kiss. I don’t want this moment to end, but we do have a company to run. Additionally I need to get on the phone with the jeweler about my order for the custom-made ring for Marley. I’d looked at designs for a couple of weeks before settling on the perfect one. I just need to check to see how much longer it’ll be before it’s ready to be picked up.
“We better get back to work,” I say reluctantly. She nods before kissing me one last time. She slides out of my lap, and I’m bereft at the loss of her warmth against me. I watch her until she’s strolled out my door and turned to head toward her desk. With a sigh, I pull up my email on my laptop to contact the jeweler. I decide to call Daisy while I’m waiting for a reply. It rings three times before I hear my sister’s breathless hello.
“Hello? Daisy?” I wonder if she’s okay. She’s supposed to still be on medical leave. Why does she sound so out of breath?
“Oh!” Daisy exclaims. I can hear rustling in the background. “Luke is everything okay? Is something wrong?” I hear a male voice in the background, but I can tell my sister is muffling the sound on her end in an attempt to keep me from hearing what’s going on.
“Everything is fine on my end, but it sounds like you’re busy?” I question.
“Oh, no, no, I’m not busy,” Daisy denies.
“Yes, we are busy,” Ace grumbles in the background before my sister can mute the line. I hear her heated, “Shhh! Don’t be telling my brother that!” I chuckle. It seems I’m not the only one getting caught in compromising situations.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” I apologize. “I just wanted to give you some good news, but I can call back another time, or better yet, you call me when you’re notbusy.” I emphasize the word,knowing my sister is turning just as red as Marley gets when we are caught.
“It’s fine, Luke,” Daisy argues. “I promise. What’s the good news?”
