“You’re late,” she teased. “But it’s a good thing you’re here now since dinner’s almost ready.”
I took her chin between my fingers, studying her expression for stress or anger, but I couldn’t find it. She leaned in, offering me her lips. I took them, pressing a lingering kiss to her mouth.
“This is a surprise,” I murmured.
Her mouth stretched wide into a smile. “A good one, I hope. Ang, Vic, and I have gotten all the preliminaries out of the way. They know all about how we met and our balcony wedding. Now we can just relax.”
I felt my mother’s eyes on us, so I turned to her. “Is that true? Can I relax?”
She reached out and swatted my arm. “No, you can’t. You kept this wonderful news from us for some reason, so you’ll have to pay. Go set the table with your father.”
I planted a kiss on the top of her head. “Aye, aye, captain.”
My father’s regard was a lot heavier than my mother’s had been while the two of us set the table as instructed. I raised a brow at him.
“You’re not one to hold back your opinion,” I said.
He stopped folding a napkin and leveled me with a flinty stare. “You robbed your mother of a big wedding.”
Purposefully. When I was married for real, my mother could go wild with planning. I wanted that for her because it would make her happy. There was no way I would have been able to stomach her going all in on something that was a lie from the beginning.
“She had Clara’s,” I argued.
“She wanted one for you too. If she asks, you’ll allow her to throw you a party.”
I couldn’t fight her on that. What would I even say to get out of it?
“She and Saorise can talk about that.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “I’m disappointed you chose to go about getting married this way.”
“I know you are.” Disappointment was something I was used to from him. He attempted to hide it, but he wasn’t the most stellar actor. I may have looked like him, but I was not made in his image, and we were both all too aware of that.
He held his stare for another long beat before sighing and picking up the napkin to fold. “It shouldn’t surprise me. You were never a kid who liked to be placed in a box. And now look at you, doing a job you hate, living a life you never wanted. If this is your last act of rebellion—”
“Marrying Saoirse privately wasn’t an act of rebellion. It was what we both wanted.”
He folded the other three napkins silently then raised his head. “You didn’t deny anything else I said.”
I tugged the tie around my neck loose. “There’s nothing to say. I had thirty-one years to live how I wanted. It’s hard to adjust to my new reality, but that doesn’t mean I hate it. It will take me time to find my way, but I will find it.”
He gestured toward the kitchen. “From what I’ve seen, you picked a good woman to have by your side. Your mom is already in love.”
Another sock to the gut. “Saoirse has that way about her.”
And I would have to deal with my mother’s heartbreak when this marriage dissolved.
Dinner with my parents was a lot lighter than I’d expected it to be. My father grumbled over his breading-free chicken breast, and the lack of wine with our meal was obvious, but it wasn’t mentioned.
My father was going through his own adjustments. In that way, I understood him all too well.
“How do you like working at Rossi?” Dad asked Saoirse.
She wiped her mouth with her napkin. “I’ve worked a lot of places, and Rossi is one of my favorites.”
“She likes it because of the snacks,” I interjected.
Dad cocked his head. “Snacks?”
“The manager of her department brings in bakery treats.” I glanced at Saoirse, who nodded along with me in agreement. “She’s only staying on for the fresh biscotti.”
“It’s true. I’d sell my shoe collection for that biscotti.”
My brow winged. “You don’t have many shoes, so that isn’t saying much.”
She tapped my chin with her fingertip. “But the shoes I have, I treasure. So, it really is saying a lot.”
“We’ll have to go shopping, Saoirse. A woman can never have too many shoes,” my mother offered.
“I’d love that.” Her hand slid down to my shoulder. “Your son has told me about all your beautiful clothing and jewels. He was aghast that I’m not a big jewelry person.”
“If I raised him right, he’ll remedy that.” My mother winked at her then smiled at my father.
The conversation flowed to other topics, including travel. My parents were planning a trip to California in a few months once my dad was given medical clearance to travel.
“You grew up in California, didn’t you?” Dad asked.
“I did. And I spent a lot of time at my family ranch in Wyoming too. That’s where my dad, brother, his wife, and their kids live.”
“A ranch?” He stroked his chin. “Do you ride horses?”
Not knowing the answer to his question, I listened with interest.
“Oh yeah, of course. I was on a pony as soon as I could sit up on my own, and I have my own horse that lives on the ranch. Her name is Athena.” She bumped my shoulder with hers. “We’ll go riding when we visit. I have a horse in mind for you to ride.”
Dad laughed. “Luca’s more of a bike rider than a cowboy.”
She didn’t let his doubt deter her. “He’ll learn. And after we go riding, he can book a massage at the resort part of our ranch.”
My mother’s eyes lit up. “Resort? Now you’re speaking my language.”
This wasn’t real. It wouldn’t last. But I decided to put those facts aside and enjoy seeing my parents smiling, happy, and excited for what was to come. I let myself enjoy it too.
It was late by the time we had a chance to talk on our own. My parents had hung out for a while, and neither Saoirse nor I had been in a rush for them to leave. She seemed to genuinely like them, and I was certain I’d be getting a gushing call from my mother about how wonderful my wife was.
I walked into the den after seeing them out. Saoirse was waiting for me on the sectional, a blanket thrown across her lap.
“I haven’t seen them this happy in a while,” I stated.
“They’re lovely. I thought your mother was going to attack me, but she gave me the biggest hug I’ve had in ages.”
“She does that.”
“Well, I liked it.” She gestured to herself. “I wish I’d known they were coming. I would have tried to be presentable. Jeez.”
This was the first time what she was wearing registered. She’d changed out of her work clothes into leggings and a vintage Hard Rock Cafe shirt. Her long hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, and her face was free of makeup.
Beautiful, as always. She had nothing to worry about.
“I’m sure they understand.” I sat down, stretching my arms over the back of the couch, and tugged on the end of her ponytail. “You hadn’t been expecting them, and you’re relaxing in your own home. If anything, how you looked sold the legitimacy of our relationship.”