Page 32 of Innocent Union
My mom looks away from the TV and glances at me before focusing on Mia behind me. “Ah. You must be Mia.”
“It’s ok,” I tell Mia, nudging her toward my mom. Mia’s expression is one of awe and confusion.
“HI, Mrs. Brennan,” she says, standing by my mom’s side.
“Erin, please.”
“Ok. Erin.”
I motion for Mia to take a seat beside my mom.
“So, you’re marrying my son.”
“I am.”
Mom nods knowingly. “Do you love him?”
A sound between a gasp and a laugh escapes Mia. “Um …”
“You don’t have to answer that,” I tell Mia. “Mom, she doesn’t have to answer that.”
“Killian and I are still getting to know each other,” Mia explains.
“Mmm. My son said something similar the other day. Well, I hope you two find love before I go. I want to see it.”
Mia looks at me with uncertainty in her eyes, and I step in. “Mom, it’s ok. Mia and I have a lot to learn about each other, but things will be ok.”
“Can I see the wedding? Will you film it for me? As you can see, I can’t really leave my bed.”
“Of course, we can,” Mia says.
“Or we could have the wedding here,” I offer.
Mia whips around to stare at me. “Killian, my mom would never agree to that.”
“She didn’t agree to you marrying me, but here we are.”
Mia glances at my mom before turning back to me. “Let’s talk about this outside?”
I give my mom a smile, then follow Mia into the hallway. “What’s wrong?”
“I just … I kind of planned on having a bigger wedding. Not one … in the hospital.”
“But it would mean a lot to my mom to see it firsthand. We could have the wedding here in the hospital. It would mean a lot to her to see me married.”
Mia grimaces. “But what about what I want?”
“But my mom is sick. She can’t attend the wedding. Let’s just have it here.”
“My mom won’t be happy.”
“I think Giulia will be fine. Your mom doesn’t understand hardship. She’ll be fine.” That comes out harsher than I intended.
Mia steps away from me. “You don’t know anything about what my mom has been through. She’s been through a ton of hardship. You want the wedding to happen here, but I don’t. And unless you plan the wedding with me, you don’t get a say.” She walks past me. “Tell your mom it was nice meeting her.”
“Mia,” I call out, but she keeps walking.
I’m genuinely confused about what just happened. There’s a lot I still need to learn about Mia, but one thing’s clear—this marriage won’t be as simple as I thought.
