by Amanda
"Thanks, so, Julia and Steven eloped and moved to Maine…." She prompted.
"Yes, and they have three young kids, Ami is four, Samuel just turned three, and Jonathon is eleven months. Here, my gallery is full of pictures of them; I wish I got to see them more."
He handed her his phone and after a few seconds she found the photo gallery and staring back at her was picture after picture of the three most adorable kids she had ever seen, she swiped again and saw a picture of what she assumed was the whole Harris clan, "Is this all of you together?"
"Yup, my parents, Steven, Julia, me, and all the kids, this is a pretty recent picture, taken about a month ago when they came out to visit last." She looked down at the picture again, and saw six pairs of the same brilliant blue eyes smiling up at her.
"You all have your dad’s eyes." She observed. "We do. Mom and Steven really stand out in that photo, don’t they?" They did, though he did have his mother’s nose and hair color, of course hers was now streaked with gray. She nodded and continued her perusal through his phone, he wasn’t lying, they were all pictures of his family.
"We need to stop in Ottumwa and pick up a few things before we head home, it’s still about thirty minutes from home, but they have actual grocery stores there. We live in-well, outside of-Hanesworth, a tiny little town, everything is about a dollar or two more than what you can get in town, but if you only need bread, then you’ll probably head to the gas station and pay three bucks a loaf instead of driving all the way to town."
This was different from what she was used to, but being out in the middle of nowhere didn’t sound all bad. Then again, just plain freedom was different than what she was used to.
"How far is it to Hanesworth from the house?"
"About fifteen minutes, depending on the roads. We can either eat supper in Ottumwa or wait until we get to Hanesworth, though, I’ll warn you; it’s Saturday night, and there’s only one diner in town, it’ll be packed, and everyone knows everyone." For some reason that sounded terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. It was probably best to get all of the introductions and speculation out of the way. The only problem was, how would they act? Like friends, or like a couple? She spent a few moments mulling it over. They were just friends, married friends, and she didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. However, they were married; it would be embarrassing for him if everyone knew the truth. Didn’t she owe him that at least, after all he’d done for her?
Brian was pulling into a parking space when she turned to look at him. "Earlier you said it was up to me what people thought about our marriage. Well, I think it’s best if everyone, friends and family assume nothing out of the ordinary. We’re a married couple like any other as far as anyone is concerned. This doesn’t change how we’ll be behind closed doors. I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your friends and family, I’m already asking a lot from you to do this, and all you’ve already done." He studied her intently for several long moments. She could see the surprise in his eyes.
"Don’t do this for me. Don’t worry about me being embarrassed; I only want you to do what you’re comfortable with, don’t do anything you don’t want to. And, you mean our family."
"I’m not. I want this too, I think it will be better all around if everyone just assumes we’re a normal newlywed couple. No one needs to know what goes on, or doesn’t go on, behind closed doors."
"You’re right. Thank you, for that. Now, will you promise me something?" She eyed him speculatively.
"Depends on the promise."
He winked at her, "smart girl." He reached behind his seat and pulled out one of his bags from the mall.
"I want you to promise me that you will accept my gifts graciously and without complaint." His generosity had to stop at some point. She had had a few men buy her gifts, not that she got to, or wanted to keep them, it usually made her feel cheaper and nauseous, knowing they were giving them to her for the services she could provide, and not for who she was.
With Brian it had nothing to do with what she did, and everything to do with who she was. With Brian the gifts and attention made her feel…cherished, and that made her feel uncomfortable, not Brian himself, but how comfortable she was with him. She felt the grateful tears starting to form again. She was not a crier, she had to quit this, she just nodded, and smiled up at him, she could accept a gift without complaint.
4
Brian was much more nervous than was rational as he reached into the bag to pull out the first of his gifts, he decided to go with the one she would be able to see as most practical first. He felt around for the small black jewelry box, and brought it out with shaking hands.
"I probably should have had you help me pick it out, but I figured you’d fight me every step of the way, so I decided to pick it out myself, I hope you like it." He angled himself so that he was facing her and held the small box up on his palm. He hoped she would like it, he didn’t know her very well, so he went with a fairly plain band with one large princess cut diamond in the center and three smaller ones on each side of the wedding band that fit in around it.
He watched as she took in the ring, was that a tear in here eye? She examined it for a few long moments and then began to protest, he raised an eyebrow, and instead she smiled and thanked him. She took the box by the lid, he was sure to avoid touching him again, and slid the ring on her left hand. "It’s perfect, thank you." He felt a weight lift from his shoulders, she seemed to genuinely like it.
"I’m glad you like it, I got my self one, too." He smiled and took his plain gold band from his pocket and slid it on. "That’s not all; I have two more gifts for you. These are yours, I hope you like this shade of green." He handed her a pair of flannel pajama bottoms like the ones she borrowed from him the previous evening. She tossed her head back in laughter, that was a beautiful sound, he wanted to hear more of it.
"Thank you, they’re perfect, I love them." She hugged them to herself before refolding them and placing them on the center console.
"Okay, before I give you this last one remember that you promised to accept them without complaint."
"What could be more objectionable than the ring," she asked as she pinned him with her suspicious glare.
"I’m sure you could see the practicality and necessity in the ring, so you shouldn’t have a problem justifying the ring, and the pajama bottoms are useful, and not that expensive, but you won’t be able to justify this one, so I’m worried that you’ll put up too much of a fight to appreciate it." He didn’t waste anymore time, he pulled out his last gift; a long slender black box. He lifted the lid to reveal a silver chain with a teardrop shaped blue stone set in a silver base under three tiny diamonds.
"It’s gorgeous, but I can’t accept this," she said, still staring at the box in his hands.
"Why not? I saw it and remembered that it was your birthstone, and I wanted to get it for you. You agreed to work at being my wife, allowing me to take care of you and buy you things is part of that, whether it’s dinner, pajamas, or a necklace, I do these things because I want to. Will you please accept it? You don’t have to wear it, just accept it, please." Why did she have to be so difficult? He was trying to be a good husband, trying to do what his dad would do.
His dad was always showering his mom with gifts, flowers, compliments, and more public displays of affection than he cared to think about. He was sure that too many compliments would scare her off, and anything physical, from the most innocent to the most intimate of touches, was not an option, unless he wanted her scared to death of him, and he did not. That left gifts, and kindness.
"I just…I…this is so uneven, you’ve been nothing but a gentleman, buying me gifts, respecting my boundaries, giving me a place to live, not forcing me to talk about my life before I met you. I’ll never be able to measure up; I’ll never be able to give you anything in return. I mean, I told you this morning I’ll get a job and try to pull my own weight, but any bartending or waitress job I get, I’ll never be able to re
pay you."
"This is a partnership, not a competition, it isn’t about measuring or comparing, it’s about caring for one another, and working together. I don’t want you to repay me, everything I have is yours now, I’m your husband. I want to buy you things and do things for you. It’s in my job description. And, like I told you at breakfast; you’re welcome to get a job if you want one, but you aren’t obligated to, and I won’t accept any of the money you make as payment or some nonsense like that." She was the most frustrating woman he had ever met; most women would love the gifts and attention, not Aria.
"Fine. This is all really hard for me, I don’t know what to do or expect, I’m not used to anyone doing anything for me without expecting something in return, it’s hard for me to get my head around it all." That was the most she had opened about herself since they met, he wasn’t going to point it out, though. He was an open book, and she had barely given him a synopsis, if she was going to start leaking details, he wasn’t going to do or say anything to thwart her. What had her life been like that she assumed everyone was after something, he wondered.
"I know, just be yourself, and I’ll be myself, and I think we’ll be just fine. Just, please keep an open mind about me; don’t assume the worst in me because of past experience. Give me a chance to prove myself." She nodded and took the box from him, she didn’t put it on, but took it and her new pajamas with her to the backseat where she removed the tags from her new coat and put it on and placed her new gifts in its place.
They were back on the road after getting the few things they needed, Brian wasn’t looking forward to facing the inquisition that awaited them at Zimmer’s, but Aria was insistent. "It’s like a ripping off a band-aid, people will find out about me sooner or later, we may as well be the ones to tell them," she had said when he tried talking her into eating at a chain in town. She was right, it would be best to just let everyone know he was married and face the questions all at the same time, and their was no better place to do that than at the town’s only diner on a Saturday night, during the dinner rush. The whole town would be in an uproar over this news, his mom really was going to kill him, Genie Harris had been mad when her only daughter had eloped, she’d be spitting nails when she found out he had too.
He groaned loudly, "what’s wrong," Aria asked, picking her head up from its resting spot on the window.
"My parents, we haven’t told them yet, we’d better call them before the whole town knows and starts calling them." He shot a glance at her out of the corner of his eye as he dialed his parents’ number. She had only nodded, but her entire body had gone even more rigid, if that were possible.
She was still keeping her distance as much as possible when they were alone; her body angled toward the door, leaning as far from him as possible, he wondered if she even realized she was doing it. She never touched him in public, either, but she seemed a lot more open when they were in crowds of people.
"Hello? Brian?" His dad’s familiar voice came over the car speakers.
"Hey Dad, can you have Mom pick up another line? I have something I need to tell you both at the same time." He heard his dad talking away from the phone, presumably to his mother, and then he heard a loud shriek that was unmistakably little Jonathon.
"Sorry about that, Julia and Steven are over with the kids, and Jon’s ready for some milk—"
"It’s Jonathon, Dad." Julia interrupted him but he just chuckled.
"Okay, I’m here, I had to come upstairs and use the guestroom, I love those kids, but they aren’t exactly conducive to important conversations. So, what’s going on, sweetheart, was your trip okay?" His mom had joined the conversation, they were at the diner now, he had to park several spaces away, near the bank, they were packed. He looked at Aria, she looked even more nervous than usual. Lord, be with me.
"Hi mom, the trip was great. Better than great actually, I met someone." He turned himself to face Aria, her eyes went huge, he just smiled. Both of his parents started to speak at the same time, his mom took over.
"That’s wonderful; we’ve been praying you’d find a nice young lady. Will this be a long distance relationship, then?"
"Nope, I brought her back with me, she’s here now, and you’re on speaker phone, by the way." He heard Aria’s sharp intake of breath at his admission, he gave her a reassuring smile.
"Son, you just brought a woman home with you?" His dad sounded more confused than angry, he knew where Brian stood on cohabitation.
"Well, I married her first, of course, but, I did."
"That’s more like the gentleman I raised you to be," his dad started, but was promptly cut off by his mother’s near shout.
"You did what?"
"I got married Mom, her name is Aria, she’s wonderful, and she can hear you." He winked at her, she wasn’t finding this as humorous as he was, but she didn’t know his parents like he did. He knew as soon as she calmed down she would love having a second daughter.
"Sorry for my outburst, dear, I was just taken a little by surprise is all. I’m Genie, and my husband, James is also on the line. I am happy for you both, but I am a little disappointed that both of my children have now denied me the right to be at their weddings. That’s not your fault though, dear."
"I’m sorry, Mrs. Harris, I know you’re disappointed, that wasn’t our intention. We didn’t think at all, I am really very sorry." Aria was clearly anxious, again he felt the urge to offer her a reassuring touch, and again he tucked his hands under his legs.
"Sorry Mom, we got carried away and the next thing we knew we were married. I didn’t do it on purpose, you know I love you."
"I do, sweetie, I just wish I could have been there. Oh well, maybe some of the grandkids will have real weddings! Welcome to the family, Aria, I look forward to getting to know you, and please, call me Genie."
"Thank you, Genie, I look forward to meeting you in person, as well, and again, sorry for the surprise."
"It’s the best surprise we’ve ever gotten, why don’t you two call back tomorrow after church and we can work on getting to know you better. We’ll tell Julia for you, love you, son,"
"Thanks, Dad, I love you both, we’ll call tomorrow."
"Love you. I am really glad you’re a part of our family now, Aria."
"Bye Mom," "goodbye, Genie," they spoke in unison, and exchanged a smile.
The phone disconnected and they both let out a relieved sigh, that hadn’t gone terribly.
"Well, now that we’ve gotten that taken care of, shall we go meet the entire town?" She gave him one quick jerk of the head and opened the door, he wished she’d let him do that.
Zimmer’s was packed, as he knew they would be. He took a deep breath, "Alright, ma dear, here we go, no turning back." She gave him a weak smile in return and walked through the open door.
"Brian, who is this pretty little thing you have here tonight?" Tammy Zimmer greeted them as they walked in, she was just a few years younger than his mother, he had known her and her husband, Bob all of his life.
"Tammy, this is my wife, Aria, Aria, this is Tammy Zimmer, she and her husband, Bob own this place, known them all my life, they are dear friends." He noticed all the eyes that had turned their way at his use of the word "wife" but he finished the introduction anyway, Tammy was speechless, for what was probably the first time in her life as she reached out and shook Aria’s proffered hand.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Zimmer, this is a lovely restaurant you have," as was her pattern, Aria was much more comfortable in public, she stood close to him, almost touching, but not quite, and you would only know what a nervous wreck she was if you knew her. Did he? Did he know her? The thought took him by surprise. He was beginning to feel like he did, in the simplest of ways at least.
"Oh please, sugar, you can call me Tammy, right this way, I only have one table left, and sorry, Brian, but it’s in the middle of the floor, I know that’s not what you want, but that’s the best I can do."
"Oh well, better for the entire
town to come make introductions," he sighed as they made their way through the crowded diner. He waved and smiled at every table they passed, he knew everyone in the diner, most since childhood. He tried to ignore all the stares and whispers, but he knew the news of his impulsive marriage was all over town already. Brian the planner had run off to Vegas for a week and came back with a bride in tow, the hows and the whys would be the best part once the rumor mill was done spinning.
"I take it you made up with your fiancée, then?" Tammy was fishing for information, and she didn’t try to hide it. As much as he loved her, he also knew that not only did Tammy own and operate the only diner in town, she was also president and CEO of the local gossip mill, anything good and juicy usually came her way first.
Brian just smiled up at her, "Nope, I decided to skip the fiancée part, it didn’t work out so well for me the last time." He feigned nonchalance, he knew that stirring the pot and adding fuel to Tammy’s fire wasn’t the smartest idea, but he just couldn’t resist. People were going to talk, may as well make sure they had a little truth in their tales.
"Well, I’ll be, Brian Harris, Mr. Type A himself gone off and married a stranger, why I never…" she trailed off, no doubt preparing a thousand questions to ask them. He was always surprised that she used her notepad for taking orders and not jotting down all the juicy tidbits she sopped up. He cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Oh, I’m sorry, you know me, drifting off into la-la land. What’ll it be tonight, folks? Brian, I assume you want the tenderloin, with everything, sweet tea, and a piece of my pecan pie?"
"You assume correctly, Aria, what looks good to you?" She had been intently studying the menu and, he assumed, tuning everyone else out since they sat down. She glanced over the top of her menu, "I’ll have a Coke, and…I think I’ll try the mushroom burger with fries, please."
"You got it," Tammy said with a wink, and made her way back to the kitchen stopping to pick up empty glasses and plates, and share a little gossip on her way.