19. Chapter NineteenFiona
Chapter Nineteen
Fiona
I slowed down to a stop when I realized the figure I was looking at was actually Mason. He was dressed in a suit and standing in front of the house I now know belonged to his ex-wife.
Instead of walking past him like usual, I stood next to him and watched the house, too. He turned to look at me, but didn’t say anything because I didn’t look away from the house to acknowledge him. We didn’t get along well, but Christian has been kind enough to tell me it had nothing to do with me.
The sky was starting to take a tinge of orange, and any time soon, Christian would be coming to my house to drive me to dinner with his parents. I wasn’t sure how that was going to go, but I was terrified.
It was nice to see someone who was feeling the exact same thing I was feeling. The man who lived in the house with Cherie, the ex-wife, has not been around for a while. I knew because I’ve been keeping close tabs on the house.
Mason let out a sigh, but his eyes never left the house. “I have no idea what to say.”
“I think she would appreciate the truth.”
“What if she is well over it? I wouldn’t blame her; it’s been seven years. I honestly have no idea what I’m doing here, but Christian has put this idea in my head, and I can barely get a shut eye because I keep thinking what if.”
“Christian says you have daughters.”
“Two of them,” Mason replied with a ghost of a smile.
“Well, I’m sure that your honesty will pay for something. You might get your children back even if you don’t get your wife back. It’s not like she’s married to the man, right?”
Mason nodded. “It’s not like she’s married to the man.”
We both went quiet.
“Christian tells me you’re having dinner with his parents tonight.”
I nodded in response. “I’m terrified about what the outcome would be. I love Christian, and I don’t want to lose him, but I don’t want him to lose being the company’s CEO. He’s worked too hard for this.”
“I’m going to say something that will sound very hypocritical, but deal with it. Christian is willing to make the sacrifice for you because he believes you’re the one for him. If you have any doubts, now would be the best time to let him know.”
He looked over to me, and I quickly shook my head. Mason returned his eyes back to the house.
“Good. All you need to start thinking is that you’re worthy of being the one he chooses. That’s all. He loves you; you love him. That’s all that is supposed to matter in this scenario.”
I nodded. I could do that.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go and try my hands at getting my family back.”
“Good luck.”
Mason offered me a smile, and I stood long enough to see him knock on the door and get invited in. I wore a smile on my face before turning and walking to my house, sparing Christian’s a look before going in.
In a few hours, we were going to be meeting his family, and I was going to believe that I deserved to be with their son. I was going to be as brave as Mason.
****
The dress I ended up wearing was navy blue and came to a stop just below my knees. Allison and I decided upon it. And the entire time, Allison told me to stand my ground to her parents.
“It’s important that you don’t let them scare you, Fiona.”
I’ve heard so many variations of the advice that I was determined to not disappoint any of them.
The necklace, paired with the navy blue dress, was made of white pearls that Christian had gotten for the occasion. The shoes were also white. I looked elegant when I stared at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t help but feel a little bit overdressed. It felt like we were going to a ball or some overly formal event.
The bell to the apartment rang through, and I stood frozen, watching my reflection in the mirror.
“You look wonderful, Fiona,” Allison’s voice came from the speaker, pulling me out of my head. I looked over at her on the screen with a smile as the bell rang again. “Don’t keep my brother waiting. It’ll be fine. Speak to you later.”
I nodded, and walked out of the living room, clutching the accompanying white purse. I opened the door to find Christian in a navy blue suit. I couldn’t hide the grin on my face.
“You look beautiful,” Christian said, taking my hand. I blushed to the floor before replying.
“You look handsome, too.”
Liam smiled at me as we approached the car. He opened the door to let us in, and I smiled at him, too. I hoped to the heavens that it would go well, as Liam pulled out of the compound and into the street. Christian held my hand, rubbing his thumb in a circular motion all around the back of my hand.
****
The dining table was quiet save for the sound of the cutlery touching the plates. I couldn’t tell how the food tasted because I was anxious. And it didn’t help that the other occupants of the table kept eating like they didn’t know why we were there.
Occasionally, I’d feel like Melissa was looking at me, but her eyes were fixed on the plate in front of her when I looked over at her. It felt like I was going crazy with paranoia.
I looked over at Christian, and he smiled at me before holding my hand under the table. Over and over again, I told myself that I was worthy of Christian. I wasn’t going to back down from a confrontation, and I wasn’t going to let them think that I couldn’t stand by their son.
Indeed, I couldn’t boast of as much money as they could, but if Christian felt the same way I felt and I was certain of how I felt, I wouldn’t let him fight for us alone.
The dinner table was cleared, and all left were the glasses of red wine. I didn’t bother drinking mine for fear that my hand was going to shake, and they would all know how nervous and scared I was.
“I heard from Kevin that you invited him to a restaurant to tell him and his family off,” Christian’s father said, breaking the silence.
I snapped my head to look at Christian, who immediately rubbed his thumb on the back of my hand, his eyes never leaving his parents.
“I didn’t tell them off.”
“Saying you don’t need them sounds like the same thing to me.”
Christian exhaled and looked to the side before turning his attention back to them. “I needed to make sure they understood what I meant at dinner the other day. And I didn’t want the both of you interfering with it.”
“We’re your parents,” Melissa said immediately, sparing me a look as if I was going about pointing at random people and trying to convince Christian that they were his parents.
“I know that, Mom,” Christian said, shaking his head. “Isn’t that why you should be happy that I found someone I love?”
I squeezed Christian’s hand to show him I was there for him. When Melissa looked over to me, I offered her a small smile. I didn’t back out of the staring even when it got too much.
“I don’t understand why it must be her,” Melissa said. “She’s Allison’s best friend for Pete’s sake. What does your sister have to say about this?” But she doesn’t wait for a reply, as if she already knew Allison wouldn’t be opposed to the happiness of her best friend and brother. “If I had known that you would end up bringing this much trouble to me, I would have stopped your friendship with Allison a long time ago.”
“I love her,” Christian said again, “and you know her. Shouldn’t you be grateful I’m bringing someone you’re already comfortable with?”
Melissa opened her mouth to say something, but she closed it again. I looked away from her to Christian’s father, who had said nothing. I found him watching me, and again, I didn’t try to look away from his stare.
“I know I don’t seem like the right person for your son,” I said, looking away from him to Melissa, who looked the maddest in the room. “The entire time I was a kid, I didn’t feel like I was the right friend for Allison either. Over and over, I tried to get you to like me, to forgive me for whatever sin I committed against you, but it didn’t matter in the long run. Nearly eight years later, you’re still thinking the same things. Normally, I would have tried to avoid you, but this isn’t as easy as being friends with Allison in a way you approved. This isn’t about making do with the fact that you didn’t like me. I love Christian, and you’re his mother. You mean the world to him, the both of you.”
I looked over to Christian’s father to make sure he knew he was still a part of the conversation. “I don’t want him to lose his family over this, and honestly, I’m not about to let go of him either.”
I squeezed Christian’s hand tighter, desperate for something to cling to.
“I don’t want Christian to give up being CEO for me. He’s worked too hard for it, and Allison has no interest in being the CEO. And I know you don’t want to lose your son, and even though he’s trying to be tough, I know he doesn’t want to lose you too. I know it would break my mother’s heart if I did not speak to her again. I’m not going to let go of Christian because he’s made me the happiest I’ve ever been. And I’m greedy like that. I want to cling to him; I want to make him as happy and safe as he has made me feel. So, if you could take that into consideration and give us your blessing, that would mean the world to us.”
I took a deep breath and squeezed Christian’s hand again. He squeezed mine back, and I looked over to him with a smile. Christian was also smiling back at me.
When I looked over to his parents, his father still had the same blank expression. Melissa, on the other hand, was worrying her lips. I took a deep breath and waited for them to reply.
Those words were way more than I expected to say. I thought I’d sit next to Christian and follow his lead. I thought the second he started talking, his parents were going to see reason and give in to him.
“I can’t believe this,” Melissa said, looking at her husband.
He looked over to her, and I could see the smile on his face. “Let’s stop fighting him on this. The kid’s mind is already made up, and if he stops calling because we refused to give in to this one thing, can you handle it?”
Melissa rolled her eyes and looked over to us. “I’m going to be watching you closely, Fiona. If you hurt my son, I’m going to make sure I hurt you just as well, your mother would have to come and hear the reason why.”
I grinned widely even though she just threatened me. Calling me Fiona was as green as the light I would get in respect to Melissa.