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“Well, isn’t that something,” he said, joining us at the island. He let out a low whistle when he saw the ring. “That’s a nice rock.”
I smiled tightly. “Thanks, Walt.”
My fourth stepfather and I got along well, but I always felt like he tried too hard to be a surrogate father. I was an adult when my mom married him and well beyond needing or caring to have a father figure in my life.
“You’ll be a beautiful bride like your mother,” he said before kissing my mother on her head and leaving us in the kitchen.
“I told you for years to stop running those damn scams and just find a man who’ll take care of you,” she said.
“I haven’t even told you anything about him.”
Suddenly the ring felt heavier on my finger. There was a version of me that would've seen this as a win. For most of my life, this was exactly what we’d both been working toward, in our own ways.
Instead, my stomach just tightened.
“What do I need to know? He clearly has money—you wouldn’t agree to marry anyone otherwise,” she was half-laughing, giddy with excitement. “La’Belle, I’m sorry. I’m just—this is what I prayed for you.”
“I know.” I looked down at my watered down drink. “I mean, it’s complicated. That’s all.”
“All relationships are complicated.” She waved me off, turning back to the stove. “When’s the wedding?”
“In three months.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God, are you pregnant? Is this why all this is happening?”
“Lord have mercy.” I closed my eyes. “No, I’m not pregnant.”
“You sure? Because this sounds like a shotgun—”
“I’m sure, Regina.”
She studied me for a second. Even though our relationship was tense at times, my mother had always seen me more than I wanted her to. She turned back to the stove and let it go, even though I don’t think she was entirely convinced.
“Well.” She pulled a serving platter from the cabinet. “Three months is tight for New York, but we can make it work. You know I helped plan your cousin Denise’s wedding in a month and that turned out beautiful. Have you started thinking about venues? Colors? A theme?”
“Mama.”
She looked over at me.
“He made sure I had a planner, and he has a lot of connections,” I said. “It’ll be taken care of. Nothing big.”
She pursed her lips. “Oh. Okay.”
Even if this were happening under better circumstances, I’d rather fling myself off the GW than have her help.
“And I’m not staying for dinner, I just had brunch with Siani.”
“You came all the way up here and you’re not eating?
“Pack me up something to go.”
She pulled out some plastic Tupperware and was portioning out the roast beef, mashed potatoes, and roast veggies. She made two servings.
“The other one’s for that man who brought you,” she said. “He looks like he needs a home cooked meal.”
I didn’t argue and sat silently while she packed everything up. She set the containers in a bag and slid it across to me.
“I want to meet him,” she said.
