the snooty country
club we are currently at, hoping I'm not in for the same PDA as Harper.
Sadly I am.
“Oh get over here my future daughter in law.”
I grudgingly give her a half hug while being crushed into her bony
frame.
Felicia Holden is a fifty one year old woman, wishing she was twenty
one. The wife of a plastic surgeon has its perks, judging by her reformed
looks. I don't know all the technical names for the procedures she swore she
never had, but I'm certain her non procedures are on an endless list.
Her face is too smooth and stiff for a fifty one year old. But
whenever questioned, she would answer she was blessed with her mother’s genes
who looked fifty five, instead of eight five when she died. Her whole family
aged gracefully apparently. But I've seen her family, and I dare say they were
all too afraid of aging gracefully, hence the regular appearance alterations
every time I saw them.
I peer over at Harper’s dad who is chewing into his Wagyu beef
burger.
“Congratulations,” he says in between mouthfuls.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Ronald Holden, who never judges his
superficial wife. I think the reason for this is because he is secretly scared
of the plastic queen. They met in high school, and have been together
ever since. He puts up with her because he doesn't know any different. He has
accepted his life, and now, so must I.
“So, when is the wedding? I can get Simone onto the wedding
preparations as soon as possible. Maybe a March wedding? The sooner the better
I say, so you can start on giving me grandbabies.”
Felicia grasps her manicured hands in front of her chest, staring
off into the distance, envisioning the fairy-tale she has just painted, while I
choke on the wine I just downed.
I only agreed to come to this posh place because the food is divine,
but getting grilled about future grandbabies is not worth the BLT!
Harper looks over at me, giving me a reassuring smile as he senses
my discomfort. Why is he being so attentive?
“Mom, Ava and I have talked about having the wedding at your house.”
I very unladylike splutter out my wine, coughing hysterically with
tears in my eyes. There is the answer to my question.
Is Harper on crack!? We most definitely never discussed anything of
the sort, but as tears prick Felicia’s eyes, I nod with a fake smile plastered
all over my face.
“Oh Harper, my boy, we would be honored. Wouldn’t we Ronald?”
Ronald nods. A man of few words. Or as they say, happy wife, happy
life.
“We must start the wedding planning now. I have so many ideas. I
have been dreaming of this day ever since you were a little boy.”
She grasps Harper’s hand over the pressed white tablecloth, and
looks at her son lovingly. Anyone would think she was the blushing bride by the
way she is rattling off wedding ideas.
Looking out the huge glass windows overlooking the greens, I notice
a blackbird soar into the sky. I longingly wish I too could fly away, fly away
from the mess I've gotten myself into.
*****
“Over my dead body!” I peek over at my dad who has all but exploded.
It's safe to say our parents reactions to the news over the wedding
vary immensely.
My mom looks like she's in shock, as her mouth is slightly agape.
“Mom?” I question.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence she asks, “Why Ava? Why
would you marry him?”
Lowering my eyes, I internally reply, because I fucked up with
Jasper, and on impulse and rejection, agreed to marry Harper.
But instead I settle for, “Because I love him.”
“Oh don't be ridiculous!” my dad retorts. “Have you forgotten what
he did to you?” He thumps his fist onto the table, resulting in the cutlery
rattling loudly.
No, of course I haven't. But neither will I ever forget what
happened for me to get here.
“He's changed dad.” I look at my dad with a beseeching look.
“Oh yeah, I can see that he's changed,” he replies, looking at the
seat next to me.
I look over at the
club we are currently at, hoping I'm not in for the same PDA as Harper.
Sadly I am.
“Oh get over here my future daughter in law.”
I grudgingly give her a half hug while being crushed into her bony
frame.
Felicia Holden is a fifty one year old woman, wishing she was twenty
one. The wife of a plastic surgeon has its perks, judging by her reformed
looks. I don't know all the technical names for the procedures she swore she
never had, but I'm certain her non procedures are on an endless list.
Her face is too smooth and stiff for a fifty one year old. But
whenever questioned, she would answer she was blessed with her mother’s genes
who looked fifty five, instead of eight five when she died. Her whole family
aged gracefully apparently. But I've seen her family, and I dare say they were
all too afraid of aging gracefully, hence the regular appearance alterations
every time I saw them.
I peer over at Harper’s dad who is chewing into his Wagyu beef
burger.
“Congratulations,” he says in between mouthfuls.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Ronald Holden, who never judges his
superficial wife. I think the reason for this is because he is secretly scared
of the plastic queen. They met in high school, and have been together
ever since. He puts up with her because he doesn't know any different. He has
accepted his life, and now, so must I.
“So, when is the wedding? I can get Simone onto the wedding
preparations as soon as possible. Maybe a March wedding? The sooner the better
I say, so you can start on giving me grandbabies.”
Felicia grasps her manicured hands in front of her chest, staring
off into the distance, envisioning the fairy-tale she has just painted, while I
choke on the wine I just downed.
I only agreed to come to this posh place because the food is divine,
but getting grilled about future grandbabies is not worth the BLT!
Harper looks over at me, giving me a reassuring smile as he senses
my discomfort. Why is he being so attentive?
“Mom, Ava and I have talked about having the wedding at your house.”
I very unladylike splutter out my wine, coughing hysterically with
tears in my eyes. There is the answer to my question.
Is Harper on crack!? We most definitely never discussed anything of
the sort, but as tears prick Felicia’s eyes, I nod with a fake smile plastered
all over my face.
“Oh Harper, my boy, we would be honored. Wouldn’t we Ronald?”
Ronald nods. A man of few words. Or as they say, happy wife, happy
life.
“We must start the wedding planning now. I have so many ideas. I
have been dreaming of this day ever since you were a little boy.”
She grasps Harper’s hand over the pressed white tablecloth, and
looks at her son lovingly. Anyone would think she was the blushing bride by the
way she is rattling off wedding ideas.
Looking out the huge glass windows overlooking the greens, I notice
a blackbird soar into the sky. I longingly wish I too could fly away, fly away
from the mess I've gotten myself into.
*****
“Over my dead body!” I peek over at my dad who has all but exploded.
It's safe to say our parents reactions to the news over the wedding
vary immensely.
My mom looks like she's in shock, as her mouth is slightly agape.
“Mom?” I question.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence she asks, “Why Ava? Why
would you marry him?”
Lowering my eyes, I internally reply, because I fucked up with
Jasper, and on impulse and rejection, agreed to marry Harper.
But instead I settle for, “Because I love him.”
“Oh don't be ridiculous!” my dad retorts. “Have you forgotten what
he did to you?” He thumps his fist onto the table, resulting in the cutlery
rattling loudly.
No, of course I haven't. But neither will I ever forget what
happened for me to get here.
“He's changed dad.” I look at my dad with a beseeching look.
“Oh yeah, I can see that he's changed,” he replies, looking at the
seat next to me.
I look over at the
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