Page 5 of Two Friends in Marriage
I met his whole family once, many years ago.It was my second year of university, and my family had just moved to Calgary.I wasn’t going to fly out for Thanksgiving; I planned to stay at school.But then Evan asked if I’d want to come to Toronto with him.
So this is what it’s like, I thought as we stepped inside and Evan hugged his father.I was an outsider in that situation, too, but I didn’t mind.I enjoyed seeing him with his loved ones, and I didn’t feel the need to shut down emotionally so I didn’t get hurt.
I assume that tomorrow, when he tells his family about our engagement, it’ll be very different from when I told mine.
Chapter 2
Evan
“I’mgettingmarried.”
A little nervous about this announcement, I look around at my family.They all ignore their plates of pie and cookies at my news.My parents and my three brothers are here, and Max and Leo have also brought their significant others.
“Yeah, that’s a funny one,” Jon, my youngest brother, says with a laugh.
Leo shoves his shoulder.
And then there are several seconds of silence.
“Whoare you marrying?”Mom asks at last.
I hesitate.“Remember Jane, my friend from university?”I continue on, telling my family that we’ve been dating for several months, and while I’d typically tell everyone by the three-month mark, I’d been burned so many times in the past that I kept it a secret longer than usual.But somehow, everything with Jane just clicked.
I’ve been in love before.I know how to act the part.
Some members of my family seem suspicious, however.Or they’re still stunned by my unexpected news.But then my dad stands up and gives me a hug, and this is followed by congratulations and questions about the wedding.
“When will you get married?”Dad asks.
“This summer,” I say.“July, maybe?”
Mom clucks her tongue.“Everything will already be booked up.”
Yvonne, Leo’s girlfriend, nods.After all, she’s experienced in the wedding-planning business: she got to the altar with my cousin back in August…and then she bolted.
Yes, my brother is now dating our cousin’s ex.
“We’re just having a small outdoor wedding,” I say.Jane and I agreed that we’d rather spend money on a house than a wedding.She’d be content to go to City Hall with two witnesses, but I want a little more than that, and I offered to do most of the planning.“Maybe on a Sunday afternoon, since most people are in Toronto.”Though a few will be coming from out of town.
“How did you propose?”Dad asks.“Or did she propose?”
I pull out my phone and show them pictures of the cake, which gets a few chuckles.Then I go back to my neglected pecan pie and gingerbread, although none of it tastes as good as it should.I still feel rather anxious.
At the end of the evening, once all the presents have been opened, Max and Kim leave, followed by Leo and Yvonne.When I head out to my car, my mom comes with me.She reaches for my arm after I’ve put the food and gifts in my trunk.
“Is Jane pregnant?”she asks.
“What?”I yelp.Foolishly, I wasn’t prepared for this situation.But an unexpected engagement to a woman…
“I didn’t think so, since you aren’t getting married until the summer, but I thought I’d check.”
“Uh, no,” I say, a little calmer now.“Nobody is pregnant.I know it’s fast, but we’re ready to settle down.”
Mom nods.It’s hard to tell if she’s buying it.“You’ll bring her over soon, yes?It must be sad to spend Christmas apart.”
“I will.”
As I drive home, I wonder what would have happened if I’d told them the truth.I think they would have worried about me, but I suspect some of them are already worrying.
