Page 33 of Marry Me, Right Now

“We think it’s really important for us to support new business, and a big job like this can actually help someone make their rent for the next two months,” Mia said cautiously.

“That’s a lovely way to look at it, darlings.” Mother nodded, almost to herself, then stood up. “Let me fetch us some of those lovely cookies that Caitlin made yesterday.”

The moment she was out of the room, Mia turned to me, reaching out to place her hand on the back of my neck. I relaxed completely as she ran my thumb down the back of my ear. She was actually driving me a bit crazy, but it was sweet that she was concerned about my tension instead of her own.

“How are you doing?” she whispered.

“Better now,” I grinned. She wandered her thumb up and down my ear one more time, then lightly pinched my earlobe before pulling her hand away. “Thanks. That really worked. But how are you doing?”

She nodded and smiled as my mother returned.

“Here we are,” she said, setting a tray of cookies in front of us. “Now, it’s time for us to talk about the guest list.”

Mia took another sip of champagne while I explained that we’re trying to keep things as small as possible, and don’t want to make a fuss.

“Do you have a wedding venue selected?” she asked.

“Not yet,” I said, looking over to Mia.

“We’re just starting to get on that,” Mia said.

“It’s barely over a week away,” mother exclaimed. “Excuse me a moment,” she said, picking up her phone from a side table and walking quickly out of the room. In a moment we could hear her sharp voice commanding someone briskly.

I placed my hand in the center of Mia’s back, and felt her lean back into it slightly. “Is this going well?” she whispered.

“I think so,” I said. “If she didn’t like you, she’d be giving you backhanded compliments. If I were to guess, she likes you well enough, but she wants to get to know you better before passing judgment.”

“Okay. That’s a good start, I guess.”

Coming back into the room, mother waved her phone at us in triumph. “My best friend’s first husband owns the perfect venue. They’ll have to do some rearranging, but I’ve secured you the Cornwall Arms Hotel.”

A choked little noise came from Mia’s throat. That was the ritziest hotel in the city, and was sure to be booked years in advance. “Oh my goodness, thank you so much,” she said before I could even react.

“I don’t mean to overstep any boundaries, dear, but you must realize that we’ll need a good-sized venue that is in keeping with our social circles.”

“Absolutely,” I said, trying to catch Mia’s eye to make sure she was really okay with it.

“Thank you,” Mia said, “We really appreciate it.” She turned to me, nodding and smiling.

“That’s what mothers are for,” she beamed. I realized that having her selection of venue meant that she was the savior, in her mind. Whatever made her happy was fine with me.

M I A

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PINK

After the visit to his mother’s mansion, Jacob and I returned to his comfortable couch with two small glasses of pinot grigio, vegetables and dip, and my notebook.

“Can’t we say no gifts?” I asked. “We certainly don’t need anything. Could we say instead of gifts, donations to the Children’s Hospital would be lovely?”

“I’m not sure if my mother will freak out. I’m sorry, this is something that might really make her question everything. I bet her personal assistant would be happy to help with all of the receiving, the thank you notes, and everything?”

“Oh my goodness – I wasn’t even thinking about that. I was just thinking that if there is any kind of registry, there’s no way that my friends could afford anything on it. I would feel terrible asking them for gifts.”

“Yes, but isn’t that traditional?”

I shook my head. “I know it’s hard for you to understand, but it’s a completely different world. Not only are they going to have to pay for transit there, but they might also have to pay for a cab home because it’ll be past one-thirty and the subways won’t be running. Many of my friends will have to borrow or buy something nice enough to wear to a wedding at that hotel. Some of them will feel like they have to get their hair done or whatever. So even without a gift, my friends are paying somewhere from fifty to two hundred dollars just to show up.”

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