Chapter 47
“Why are you wearing your glasses?” Stephanie asked as she slid into the empty chair beside Court at a small table tucked into a corner of the restaurant.
They hadn’t seen each other since Court had to work that morning.
A rarity on a Saturday, but every now and again it was the only time clients could meet, so Court met them.
Since Stephanie had to work anyway and she needed to be downtown for lunch, she went to the office.
“I hate to tell you, Stephanie, but I need glasses. It’s my only imperfection.
” She leaned over and kissed her girlfriend.
After almost eight months, it still didn't seem real.
Not only was Stephanie Bexley her girlfriend, but they had managed to live together for months without everything falling apart between them. Every day was better than the last.
In the weeks since they had moved into their house, it felt like Court had been working nonstop to make it livable.
It had been on their first night living there that she had admitted into the darkness of their new house that she might have taken on more than she could chew.
But slowly she had tackled the small projects while hiring out the big ones, like the new roof that was now keeping them dry.
The flooring replacement had been a far bigger job that anyone on the internet had let on.
It had taken over a week, and Court had taken two days off from work and gotten Dylan and Ty to help in order to make that timetable work.
But at least they didn’t have to wear shoes all over the house and still worry about nails and whatever had lived in the carpets anymore.
Next, she had moved onto paint, which was easier, and what she had learned the hard way, she should have done that first. Not that it hadn’t turned out amazing, but she was partial since they had worked on that project together.
Only then did they buy furniture beyond their new bed.
Now the place was starting to look like a home.
She had shifted her focus to the outside, another big job.
Though the grass had been easy to trim down, Stephanie had requested a deck in the backyard big enough that she could do yoga on in the mornings.
Court had taken that as a challenge, and she and Ty had drawn up plans, she hadn’t shown her girlfriend yet.
She had learned she liked to surprise her.
Touching her glasses, she told her, “Nearsightedness is the only imperfection that I try to correct, with contacts.”
“You almost never wear glasses. And never in public.” Stephanie glared at her in silence. Yes, she had never worn them in public because she didn’t like them. Contacts were more her style.
“I knew it.” She said, taking them off in anger, except now she couldn’t see well. “Rebel said I look better in glasses. She was lying, wasn’t she?”
“When did you start caring about looking better?” Stephanie asked, her eyes on the door of the cafe.
“When I was having lunch with my girlfriend’s parents, who might I add, already hate me.
I need to make a good first impression, which I can’t because they already know me and don’t think I’m good enough for you.
Besides, Rebel said they make me look more professional and project the fact that I can take care of their daughter.
” She realized Rebel might not have said it because she actually looked better with them, but she wanted to see if Court would wear them.
“I can take care of myself, Court. And you don’t need to impress my parents, they should be the ones trying to impress you after what they did.
They need to make a better second impression, you did nothing wrong the last time.
They did.” Stephanie picked up the glasses and handed them back to her, because she’d need them because she didn’t have her contacts.
“I wanted to tell them in person that we’re not just together, but planning a future.
If they want to be a part of that, it’s up to them to set aside their objections.
And you in glasses isn’t going to help.”
“What if I had let Ellis dress me? I turned her down this time, but I could quickly go to her place and change into something a little less me.” Court glanced down at the gray silk shirt and black vest that covered it.
Definitely not feminine in any way. There was no way to hide from Calvin and Marlene that the woman she had pretended to be that weekend so many months ago wasn’t the real her.
Not that she wanted to impress them for herself, but she wanted to prove to them that she was good enough for Stephanie. She deserved so much more than her and she’d be the first to say that.
“I like how you dress, and I always have, Court. Ellis may know her way around fashion, but you’re far better at dressing yourself. When you walked into the house with those capris, I had to wonder who the real you was. I do like when you pick out your own clothes.”
“Clarice, you mean.” Court straightened her silverware as she tried not to be nervous. This wait was worse than knocking on the door that first weekend. Far worse.
“Whose Clarice?” She asked in confusion, finally not looking for her parents in the crowd.
How hadn’t this come up before? Stephanie had to know about the woman, didn’t she? It wasn’t like she had hidden that she paid someone to buy her clothes. But maybe it had never come up. Not that she got new clothes often or at home. They were always delivered to the office.
Straightening her sleeve, she said, “The woman who I pay to buy my clothes.”
“You do not.”
“Of course, I do. And sometimes things for you.”
She raised a single perfect eyebrow in question. “Like what?”
“That little black number I gave you for our six-month anniversary.” She started to get nervous. Maybe she should have either bought something herself for such a special occasion or not admitted to having someone buy it for her. Either would have been preferable to the anger in Stephanie’s eyes.
“The negligee? You let someone else pick out my underwear?” Stephanie said in a harsh whisper, her eyes scanning to make sure nobody could hear what she was saying.
Court shrugged. “She picks out mine, why not yours? And her taste is off the charts. Or so I’ve been told. That’s not really my thing, which is why I hired her in the first place.”
“What else does she do?”
“I assume I'm not her only client, so shop for others. A horrid job if you ask me, but she probably likes it, since she owns the company.” Pushing her water glass further from her, not able to sit still now that Calvin and Marlene were late. Were they even coming? She hoped for her sake they weren’t, but for Stephanie’s she wanted them to walk in the door. And not just to stop this conversation.
“Doesn’t that cost a lot of money?”
“Everything costs money, Stephanie. You just have to choose what you spend your money on.” She watched as Calvin and Marlene strolled into the restaurant and stopped at the hostess desk.
“Why didn’t I know this before?”
“Let’s see, have we ever once gone shopping for clothes together?” Court asked as the couple walked their way. They didn’t look happy to be there.
“No.” Stephanie’s eyes were on her parents. She had to notice they were disappointed that Court was there. Despite the fact that Stephanie had told them she would be.
“You’re welcome. I’m horrible to shop with.” She wrapped her arms around herself to comfort herself for what was to come.
“Personal shoppers.” Stephanie whispered and shook her head before smiling at her parents in welcome as she got to her feet and hugged them both stiffly.
Court followed her lead and got to her feet, but kept the table between them so there would be no hugging.
That wasn’t going to be happening again this time.
Or ever, if she could help it. No matter what role they played in her life, she wasn’t a hugger.
“Stephanie, you look good.” Her mom said, not saying anything to Court.
“Thanks, Mom, my life’s going great. How are you two doing?” She took Court’s hand before sitting down again. Weather on purpose or not, her parents saw it, but didn’t say anything about it.
Marlene and Calvin took the empty chairs at the table, and both looked intently at their daughter. It was like they were going to ignore that Court was even at a table for four. This time, she wasn’t going to let that happen. She’d stand up for herself and for Stephanie.
“We’re good.” Marlene said, not expanding or asking anything else.
Last week when Marlene had called and invited Stephanie to the lake house for a weekend.
She had acted as if what had happened months ago hadn’t.
To the point that she pretended to be shocked that Stephanie was still dating Court.
Something the older couple knew from Dylan, who had recently spent time with them, and told that they were still dating.
Dylan had said as much when he stopped by a few days before.
Court had been in the room when Stephanie had taken the call.
And when she hadn’t been invited, Stephanie had turned them down.
Marlene, it seemed, had missed her daughter enough to suggest getting together for a meal in the city, in public.
Stephanie had jumped at the suggestion and had invited Court herself.
Not letting Marlene have a choice in the matter.
Sadly, based on their sour faces, Calvin and Marlene were proving her right. All she wanted to do was tell them off. That they didn't need their approval, they didn’t need anything from them. Never would. Except Stephanie hadn’t seen disappointment beyond redemption, not yet at least.
“Why did you want to meet? As you can see, I’m still dating Court?” She didn’t say living with, but dating might be as much as the older couple could handle today. Baby steps.
“We wanted to see you, talk to you.” Calvin ignored his wife as he spoke. “Dylan said we were being unreasonable about you two.”
“It took Dylan to say something. You couldn’t just want to see me because you want to see me?” Stephanie sounded defeated.
Grabbing her hand, Court turned to the couple.
“I want you both to know that we didn’t plan on falling in love.
But she’s the best thing that ever happened to me.
” Unable to stop herself, she caught Stephanie’s eyes, then her breath caught because the light from the window was making her glow. She grew more beautiful every day.
Across the table, someone cleared their throat.