Page 76 of Married to Lies

“Conrad didn’t come with me,” I groused, but Quentin stuck his hand out to my father.

“It’s an honor to meet you, sir, and I apologize for my lack of manners. I’m just so taken with your daughter I couldn’t wait.” After Dad shook his hand, Quentin drew me into his arms, looking in my eyes like he really did love me. He was so convincing it made breathing harder than it should have been.

“Hold on,” Mom said, putting up her hand. “You’re engaged? And you chose my granddaughter’s recital to spring this on me? I didn’t know you were dating anyone!” She gestured toward the doors. “There are little girls in leotards out there, and you brought a strange man I don’t know!”

“Mom!” I hissed at the same time Dad said, “Honey...”

Mom shook her head, eyeing Quentin skeptically. “You proposed, but did you set a date?”

Quentin and I exchanged glances. This really wasn’t going well. I cleared my throat, but my voice came out small. “New Year’s Day.”

It felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room as they took that in. Then my mom laughed. Hard. She grabbed her belly, trying to catch her breath. Even Dad smiled uncertainly.

“You and your pranks,” Mom said, wiping at her eyes. “I should have known when I didn’t see a ring on your finger. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“My pranks?” I looked at her, trying to understand. What about me telling her I was engaged screamed prank?

Quentin muttered, “You do pranks?”

Mom laughed even harder. “Remember when you were little and you would leave bugs in your brother’s shoes? So silly.”

Dennis frowned. “I didn’t like that, by the way.”

I glared at him and then my parents. “Mom, my engagement isn’t a prank. I’m getting married in two days.”

“Ha ha.” She wiped at her eyes, shaking her head.

Dad took her arm. “I don’t think she’s joking.”

No, I wasn’t. In fact, angry tears were brimming in my eyes, and Quentin’s grip had tightened on my waist like he could sense my distress.

Dennis said, “I think I heard Ellie calling me. I’ll just...” He turned tail and ran. You think he’d have a stronger stomach for family drama, working in the ER.

Mom and Dad shared a look before she said, “You are not getting married.” It was almost the same tone she’d used when telling me I couldn’t stay out with my friends past midnight or miss Sunday School the next morning.

“Well, my wedding dress says otherwise,” I retorted. Just like a petulant teenager.

“Wedding dress?” she nearly shrieked. Thank God the people around us were being so damn loud they didn’t notice her outburst.

Not that it would have stopped me from replying. I hated that she treated me like an impulsive, careless child. “Yes, wedding dress. Mom, I’m getting married to Quentin! We’ve been seeing each other for a while, and it’s gotten serious. We want to go into the new year as husband and wife. It’s a small ceremony, family and close friends only. Will you be there?”

“Is your brother invited?” she asked as if he hadn’t just turned tail. I tried not to be bitter that her mind instantly went to my brother.

“Yes, although it will be hard to give him his invitation with him running away.” I reached into my purse and retrieved two invitations. “Please give him one.”

She took the envelope, staring at the wax seal with mine and Quentin’s initials pressed in. “I really thought you were joking...” she said again.

“Remind me to tell better jokes at the next family gathering,” I drawled.

“Andrea!” she said, exasperated. “You can’t get married. I don’t even know him! Maybe if you’d said Conrad...”

His name sounded like a swear on my ears. “Quentin is here, and he’s hard to miss.” I looked over at my big hunk of a fiancé. “No offense, babe,” I added.

“None taken.”

I put my hands on my hips and gave my mom a pointed look. “Will you be there, or shall I let them know not to prepare the extra plates?”

“Well, your father needs to see if he’s available.”