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“It’s important that you don’t let them scare you, Fiona.”
I’ve heard so many variations of the advice that I was determined to not disappoint any of them.
The necklace, paired with the navy blue dress, was made of white pearls that Christian had gotten for the occasion. The shoes were also white. I looked elegant when I stared at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t help but feel a little bit overdressed. It felt like we were going to a ball or some overly formal event.
The bell to the apartment rang through, and I stood frozen, watching my reflection in the mirror.
“You look wonderful, Fiona,” Allison’s voice came from the speaker, pulling me out of my head. I looked over at her on the screen with a smile as the bell rang again. “Don’t keep my brother waiting. It’ll be fine. Speak to you later.”
I nodded, and walked out of the living room, clutching the accompanying white purse. I opened the door to find Christian in a navy blue suit. I couldn’t hide the grin on my face.
“You look beautiful,” Christian said, taking my hand. I blushed to the floor before replying.
“You look handsome, too.”
Liam smiled at me as we approached the car. He opened the door to let us in, and I smiled at him, too. I hoped to the heavens that it would go well, as Liam pulled out of the compound and into the street. Christian held my hand, rubbing his thumb in a circular motion all around the back of my hand.
****
The dining table was quiet save for the sound of the cutlery touching the plates. I couldn’t tell how the food tasted because I was anxious. And it didn’t help that the other occupants of the table kept eating like they didn’t know why we were there.
Occasionally, I’d feel like Melissa was looking at me, but her eyes were fixed on the plate in front of her when I looked over at her. It felt like I was going crazy with paranoia.
I looked over at Christian, and he smiled at me before holding my hand under the table. Over and over again, I told myself that I was worthy of Christian. I wasn’t going to back down from a confrontation, and I wasn’t going to let them think that I couldn’t stand by their son.
Indeed, I couldn’t boast of as much money as they could, but if Christian felt the same way I felt and I was certain of how I felt, I wouldn’t let him fight for us alone.
The dinner table was cleared, and all left were the glasses of red wine. I didn’t bother drinking mine for fear that my hand was going to shake, and they would all know how nervous and scared I was.
“I heard from Kevin that you invited him to a restaurant to tell him and his family off,” Christian’s father said, breaking the silence.
I snapped my head to look at Christian, who immediately rubbed his thumb on the back of my hand, his eyes never leaving his parents.
“I didn’t tell them off.”
“Saying you don’t need them sounds like the same thing to me.”
Christian exhaled and looked to the side before turning his attention back to them. “I needed to make sure they understood what I meant at dinner the other day. And I didn’t want the both of you interfering with it.”
“We’re your parents,” Melissa said immediately, sparing me a look as if I was going about pointing at random people and trying to convince Christian that they were his parents.
“I know that, Mom,” Christian said, shaking his head. “Isn’t that why you should be happy that I found someone I love?”
I squeezed Christian’s hand to show him I was there for him. When Melissa looked over to me, I offered her a small smile. I didn’t back out of the staring even when it got too much.
“I don’t understand why it must be her,” Melissa said. “She’s Allison’s best friend for Pete’s sake. What does your sister have to say about this?” But she doesn’t wait for a reply, as if she already knew Allison wouldn’t be opposed to the happiness of her best friend and brother. “If I had known that you would end up bringing this much trouble to me, I would have stopped your friendship with Allison a long time ago.”
“I love her,” Christian said again, “and you know her. Shouldn’t you be grateful I’m bringing someone you’re already comfortable with?”
Melissa opened her mouth to say something, but she closed it again. I looked away from her to Christian’s father, who had said nothing. I found him watching me, and again, I didn’t try to look away from his stare.
“I know I don’t seem like the right person for your son,” I said, looking away from him to Melissa, who looked the maddest in the room. “The entire time I was a kid, I didn’t feel like I was the right friend for Allison either. Over and over, I tried to get you to like me, to forgive me for whatever sin I committed against you, but it didn’t matter in the long run. Nearly eight years later, you’re still thinking the same things. Normally, I would have tried to avoid you, but this isn’t as easy as being friends with Allison in a way you approved. This isn’t about making do with the fact that you didn’t like me. I love Christian, and you’re his mother. You mean the world to him, the both of you.”
I looked over to Christian’s father to make sure he knew he was still a part of the conversation. “I don’t want him to lose his family over this, and honestly, I’m not about to let go of him either.”
I squeezed Christian’s hand tighter, desperate for something to cling to.
“I don’t want Christian to give up being CEO for me. He’s worked too hard for it, and Allison has no interest in being the CEO. And I know you don’t want to lose your son, and even though he’s trying to be tough, I know he doesn’t want to lose you too. I know it would break my mother’s heart if I did not speak to her again. I’m not going to let go of Christian because he’s made me the happiest I’ve ever been. And I’m greedy like that. I want to cling to him; I want to make him as happy and safe as he has made me feel. So, if you could take that into consideration and give us your blessing, that would mean the world to us.”
