Page 91 of Marry Me, Right Now

She glanced behind her as if she were expecting to be stabbed, but the guys, minus Robbie, were all crowded around their list, chatting quietly.

“And what’s with that one,” she hissed. “He looks like a… a druggie.” She looked at me with utter horror. “You can’t be associating with drug users, Mia. Not in our family.”

I fixed my eyes on hers. “As a matter of fact, Robbie is on drugs.” She looked triumphant until I added, “Prescription migraine medication. He’s had a rough week, actually, yet he dragged himself here to the meeting because he’s dedicated.”

She pursed her lips. “Still, you can’t think people like that are appropriate company.”

“They’re wonderful people. They have a sound that is quite different, and actually on the bleeding edges of three major music movements right now. I think they’ll likely be picked up by a label within six months.”

She shook her head, glancing behind her again nervously.

“Surely you can’t be afraid of them because they can’t afford nice clothing,” I said, with a level of bitchiness I wasn’t expecting. “You’re aware that there are many people in this city that work sixty hours a week or more and could still never afford just one of your fancy little dresses.”

Her eyes registered a level of haughtiness I’ve never witnessed before. “No need to be snippy, dear. I just came down to see if the rumors were true.”

“What rumors?”

“That you were associating with lowlifes and people who aren’t nearly up to your standing.”

“My… are you joking?”

“You’re part of our family now, Mia, and like it or not, we expect a certain level of behavior, and a little more consideration of the company you keep.”

“Do you hear yourself?” I snapped. “You’d think you’re royalty. You have paintings on the walls of your home. How do you think those fancy-ass artists get started and theatre productions get made? By people who start out at the bottom of the ladder, working crazy hours at shitty jobs to pay for rehearsals and stage clothes and supplies. People who are dedicated even though they have no resources. You celebrate the few people who make it to the top, but you look down on those who are trying to climb their way up? Shame on you.”

Her mouth hung open for several seconds before she snapped it shut. She stood up quickly, turning on her designer heels and gracefully stomping out of the room without daring to glance at the men on the couch. As soon as we heard the downstairs door shut, everyone visibly took a breath.

“Mia, are you okay?” Tim asked.

I walked over to them, slumping into a chair. “Dammit. What have I done?”

Berkley clapped a hand on my shoulder. “You kicked ass, girl. That uptight bitch has no right to judge you.”

I couldn’t explain that I may have just ruined everything, just nodding, staring at the pile of papers without seeing them.

Slowly Robbie sat up, leaning heavily to the side. “Are you feeling any better, man?” Tim asked.

He was reaching around in his jacket pockets. “Do you need some more medicine?” Berkley asked.

A huge steel flask emerged, and he handed it to me. “In case of emergency,” he said hoarsely, lying back down.

“Thanks, Robbie,” I said, taking a long pull of the cheap whiskey. Funny how some people instinctively knew how to care for others.

JAC OB

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FAMILY STRESS

After a positively irate phone call from my mother, I knew that Mia and I were going to have to have a serious conversation when I got home. I’d been dealing with my mother’s quirks my entire life, and perhaps I hadn’t warned Mia enough about how fussy she was.

On the other hand, I had never anticipated my wife working with what was hysterically described to me as a room full of dangerous, drug-addled, scary biker looking men. Apparently, I was supposed to be shocked, and concerned for her reputation, her virtue, and what people were obviously saying about our family.

My mother was always under the impression that everyone we knew had nothing better to do than talk about us at great length. I don’t think anyone beyond her and possibly George even knew that Mia had started a business. My friends who knew about it were delighted, since they were being sent invitations to openings and shows ahead of their other friends, so they could feel like they were in the inner circle.

Everyone always wanted to feel like they were in the know, and Mia was learning how to exploit that perfectly, for the benefit of everyone. It was one of the many, many things I admired about her, as I got to know her better. She found balance everywhere she went, and except for her aversion to extreme wealth, was incredibly non-judgmental.

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