Page 67 of Never the Bride
“Hello.” She crosses her hands in front of her body, very aware that she’s less dressed than the rest of us.
“Camila, these are my parents. Bart and Anita Taylor.”
“Oh, your parents!” Her eyes widen in panic. “I’m Hess’s…” She pauses, struggling to know what to say.
“Wife. We know.” All signs of tears from my mom are gone. Instead, her showmanship smile dazzles the room.
Camila looks at me for some help.
“I told them about us. I had to.”
Without warning, my mom scoops her into a hug. “And we’re so happy to have you as part of our family.”
“Mom!” I rear back. “She’s not part of our family. This is just temporary, remember?”
“Well, then she cantemporarilybe part of our family.”
Camila stands frozen until she’s released from the hug. That’s when my dad steps forward and offers her a firm handshake.
“Bart Taylor. Welcome to the family.”
Camila forces a smile, despite the ambush. “It’s nice to meet you both. Hess has been very kind and understanding about everything. You raised a good son.”
This makes my mom’s face light up. “Isn’t he sweet? Just wait until you get to know him better. You’ll fall in love with him just like the rest of us.”
“Mom.” Camila and I share an awkward glance.
“I know. I know.” She swats the air in front of her. “Temporary.”
But I don’t think she reallydoesknow.
“Well”—Camila slowly shuffles backward down the hall—“I’m going to shower, but it was really great meeting you both.”
“We’ll have you over for dinner. Maybe next week?” There’s way too much giddy hope in my mom’s tone. “Bart will grill us some steaks. And you can wear clothes—I mean,moreclothes.”
“I make great steaks,” my dad adds.
Camila looks at me, unsure how to manage the pushiness of Anita Taylor. “That would be fun.”
“We might not get together for steaks.” This is me trying to manage my mom’s hopes and dreams. “Camila is really busy at work.”
“She can make time for family.” Dad is a big believer in family first.
“Coordinate with Hess,” Camila says halfway down the hall. “We’ll see if we can make a day work.”
My parents still wave goodbye as Camila sneaks into her bedroom and closes the door.
“She’s lovely. Very beautiful,” my mom says.
“Camila is more than just beautiful.” I don’t know why I feel a need to highlight all of her good qualities. “She’s extremely smart. In fact, she’s a lawyer. Agoodlawyer. And she’s quick-witted and capable.”
“Beautiful and accomplished. Even better. You definitely hit the jackpot.”
Ididhit the jackpot.
When I married some stranger five and a half years ago, I was young and stupid and didn’t think about how bad things could get if the woman was a psychopath. But Camila has turned out to be incredible. And the more time I spend with her, the more I want to get to know her. Not because she’s my wife, but because I just like her.
“With a woman like that, I don’t see how you wouldn’t fall in love.” My dad pats my shoulder.
