name. “Yes, they’re great.”
“How long have you been together now?”
“A year and a half.”
“I have to admit I didn’t think you’d make it two months.”
“I figured as much. I mean, there had to be some reason you finally gave in and—well, accepted him is too strong a word, isn’t it? Tolerated, maybe. You didn’t think he’d be around for long.”
“We welcomed him into our home, and believe me, that’s far more than mere toleration.”
The woman might have a point there, at least where this family was concerned. “Okay, Mother. I can’t figure out what you’re getting at, so why don’t you just come out with it?”
Sylvia sighed and took a drink. “You always think I have some ulterior motive.”
“Don’t you?”
“You’re my daughter. I’m still interested in your life. And…you do seem to love him very much.”
Love him? The very thought of him could make her eyes sting. “I do.”
Sylvia straightened her back, inhaling as if trying to give strength to her next words. “I was just wondering when we can start thinking about planning a wedding.”
Candace blinked. And blinked again. Her gaze drifted downward, and she realized her mother hadn’t been looking at her drink earlier; she’d been looking at her ring finger. Just as she often did herself, dreaming of something actually being there.
She knew Brian meant to marry her someday. But she didn’t know how soon “someday” would be, and God, she was getting so ready.
“Well, I… We don’t have any plans yet.”
“I didn’t think so. Do you mean to just go on living together from now on? Because you know your father and I don’t approve of that. It’s your life,” she added quickly, raising one quelling hand as Candace opened her mouth. “You’ll do what you want, you’ve proven as much. But surely you aren’t content with that arrangement, are you? Surely you want more than that.”
“Are you suggesting I propose?” It was an option, even if the thought made her mouth run dry. God, what if he actually said no ? What if she realized this wasn’t as solid and permanent as she believed it was?
No. He loved her. She knew he did.
Sylvia laughed. “Not necessarily. But marriage is a partnership. If you’re wanting to go into it, then communication is a must from the start.” Her mother frowned, worrying the glass in her hands, turning it around and around. “I just think…and please only take this as my advice…you should try to find out where his head is at.”
She wanted to only take it as advice, to think her mom was finally making an effort to be motherly instead of manipulative for a change. Unfortunately, she knew her too well. It was just another machination, playing with her head, trying to get her to broach a discussion with Brian that just might result in their demise if she realized his head wasn’t in the same place as hers. Or if the very thought of marriage sent him running. Yet again, the woman was making unsavory assumptions about his character when, even after a year and a half, she didn’t know him at all.
“Brian and I are doing just fine. We do communicate. We’ll get married when we’re both ready. Until then, thanks for your advice and your concern, but with all due respect, we’re both adults and we’ll figure things out without your input or your planning .” Sylvia didn’t wait for her to finish talking before turning away, her heels clattering across the hardwood floor as she drained her scotch. Candace almost flinched with the force her mother used to slam her glass on the bar, but when she turned back, she’d composed herself. Only the tightness of her smile belied her anger. “We need to get back to the guests.”
The Candace of old would have felt bad and apologized. The Candace Brian had introduced her to stepped out of her mom’s way without a word. And once Sylvia had passed, she tossed back the rest of her champagne in a single shot that would’ve
“How long have you been together now?”
“A year and a half.”
“I have to admit I didn’t think you’d make it two months.”
“I figured as much. I mean, there had to be some reason you finally gave in and—well, accepted him is too strong a word, isn’t it? Tolerated, maybe. You didn’t think he’d be around for long.”
“We welcomed him into our home, and believe me, that’s far more than mere toleration.”
The woman might have a point there, at least where this family was concerned. “Okay, Mother. I can’t figure out what you’re getting at, so why don’t you just come out with it?”
Sylvia sighed and took a drink. “You always think I have some ulterior motive.”
“Don’t you?”
“You’re my daughter. I’m still interested in your life. And…you do seem to love him very much.”
Love him? The very thought of him could make her eyes sting. “I do.”
Sylvia straightened her back, inhaling as if trying to give strength to her next words. “I was just wondering when we can start thinking about planning a wedding.”
Candace blinked. And blinked again. Her gaze drifted downward, and she realized her mother hadn’t been looking at her drink earlier; she’d been looking at her ring finger. Just as she often did herself, dreaming of something actually being there.
She knew Brian meant to marry her someday. But she didn’t know how soon “someday” would be, and God, she was getting so ready.
“Well, I… We don’t have any plans yet.”
“I didn’t think so. Do you mean to just go on living together from now on? Because you know your father and I don’t approve of that. It’s your life,” she added quickly, raising one quelling hand as Candace opened her mouth. “You’ll do what you want, you’ve proven as much. But surely you aren’t content with that arrangement, are you? Surely you want more than that.”
“Are you suggesting I propose?” It was an option, even if the thought made her mouth run dry. God, what if he actually said no ? What if she realized this wasn’t as solid and permanent as she believed it was?
No. He loved her. She knew he did.
Sylvia laughed. “Not necessarily. But marriage is a partnership. If you’re wanting to go into it, then communication is a must from the start.” Her mother frowned, worrying the glass in her hands, turning it around and around. “I just think…and please only take this as my advice…you should try to find out where his head is at.”
She wanted to only take it as advice, to think her mom was finally making an effort to be motherly instead of manipulative for a change. Unfortunately, she knew her too well. It was just another machination, playing with her head, trying to get her to broach a discussion with Brian that just might result in their demise if she realized his head wasn’t in the same place as hers. Or if the very thought of marriage sent him running. Yet again, the woman was making unsavory assumptions about his character when, even after a year and a half, she didn’t know him at all.
“Brian and I are doing just fine. We do communicate. We’ll get married when we’re both ready. Until then, thanks for your advice and your concern, but with all due respect, we’re both adults and we’ll figure things out without your input or your planning .” Sylvia didn’t wait for her to finish talking before turning away, her heels clattering across the hardwood floor as she drained her scotch. Candace almost flinched with the force her mother used to slam her glass on the bar, but when she turned back, she’d composed herself. Only the tightness of her smile belied her anger. “We need to get back to the guests.”
The Candace of old would have felt bad and apologized. The Candace Brian had introduced her to stepped out of her mom’s way without a word. And once Sylvia had passed, she tossed back the rest of her champagne in a single shot that would’ve
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