Page 46 of Shameless
I tugged my ear. If she’d been around, I’d have invited her to the courthouse. She took my hand. Having had someone care about me for years was nice.
“You were in Australia,” I said.
She nodded. “We flew all night to arrive in time. I was disappointed you didn’t ask me or our family to host a small wedding for you ahead of time.”
“We eloped fast,” I said though as Roxanne stared at me, heat rose to my face. I wasn’t sure what she was reading there, but I looked down and said, “Britney and I wanted a small, simple service.”
Footsteps echoed, and my heart fluttered.
Roxanne stood and hugged Britney, saying, “There she is. You both look radiant.”
As she took Britney to sit beside her, Britney said, “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Roxanne, please,” Mrs. Norouzi said. “As Michael is like an adopted son, you’re now unofficially one of us too.”
Britney laughed, and her friends returned.
As we all stood, Britney said, “I can’t wait to catch up with you. After breakfast, we’re off to meet his parents, but after, let’s do something fun as a group.”
I nodded. “We’ll keep you informed.”
Unlike my own mother, Roxanne had nursed me from a school flu more than once and listened and given advice on small personal issues when I was eighteen. Rooming with Charlie had been life-changing.
We walked into the dining room with its long table. Roxanne deserved the head seat that day, and I motioned for her to sit there.
“Britney, you married one of my favorite of my sons friends,” she said.
Britney’s sparkling eyes captivated me as she said, “Michael is absolutely wonderful.”
Roxanne quickly said, “If you’d like, we can plan a small, elegant wedding for later in the year, where you can both invite guests. I love hosting at my house, so you don’t need to worry about a place or food.”
We put our napkins on our laps as I wasn’t sure how to answer that. Britney needed to be in love with me, and we’d have to stop pretending first.
“Maybe next year?” Britney suggested.
My heart surged. If that happened, then I’d have everything.
Roxanne said, “That would be perfect.”
We ate, but I kept wondering what Britney meant and when was a good time to admit she had my heart. As we finished, I decided we needed to handle my family first.
Britney tapped my shoulder and asked, “Michael, are you ready?”
I tensed. I hadn’t visited or spoken on the phone in years to either of my parents. My heart thundered as I stood and said, “I suppose I am.”
We said goodbye to everyone who was going shopping and sightseeing.
Then Britney said, “Let’s get going.”
Right. Time to face my life and future. We took the Rolls-Royce next door, where servants wore uniforms of a brighter blue that matched many of the rooms inside.
I held Britney’s hand and admired her white puff-sleeve maxi dress with circles everywhere and a huge white belt that covered where the baby would show. She was bridal and fashionable in one.
The duke and duchess received us in the formal sitting room both wearing blue velvet clothes that matched.
We stood, and so did they as I said, “Mother. Father. This is Britney, my wife.”
My mother, with her multiple chins, fanned herself and clasped her chest. “The American.”
