Chapter 9
NAUDI
My head is pounding. I want to rub my temples to relieve the pain, but I’m afraid it won’t go away until my family does.
This is so not related to my accident. I’ve made a remarkable recovery. My body is no longer the cause of my discomfort. A new pain started two days ago when we picked my parents up from the airport.
I raise up my fork and fill my mouth so I don’t have to answer any more questions.
I can’t believe my sister came with my parents. Walker took it all in stride and texted his dad, who had another room prepared by the time we arrived. Such an imposition, which I apologized for, but Tom was very gracious about the whole thing.
I glance across the table at my mother and father. They’ve aged gracefully. The moment Ma saw me, she’d wrapped me in her arms, and we’d both cried. My father had kept his distance with only a “good to see you” and a pat on my shoulder.
What did I expect? An apology? I will never get one of those.
Once we got past the initial greetings, all their attention went to the man by my side. My mother’s first words were “He’s not an Indian boy.”
I close my eyes briefly, inhaling through my nose, remembering their coolness toward Walker.
My mother’s eyes had moved critically over him. Taking him in. Measuring his worth to marry her daughter. She’d already decided things she had no right to decide. In her eyes, he wouldn’t do.
Papa had stood beside her, quiet as always, but his displeasure showing plainly on his weathered face. He didn’t need to say a word to get his message across. This man was unacceptable for his daughter.
Thank goodness for Arya. She’d hugged Walker and joked, “I see you didn’t kill her.”
Walker’s mouth twitched. That made me feel somewhat better about the way my family was treating him. He didn’t deserve that.
Walker had stepped up and welcomed my parents and offered his hand to my father. Papa had stared him down, and I wasn’t sure he would stay. Eventually, he gave a single nod and shook his hand.
Then he’d welcomed Ma, who was slightly less icy as Papa, and good manners compelled her to shake his hand and thank him for picking them up.
And then came the ride from hell.
Oh, but before that, their rude reaction to Walker’s truck. It was a very nice truck. It wasn’t a worn and battered vehicle. It was huge and had front and back leather seating. Five people can ride comfortably in it. As long as those five people don’t include my parents.
Papa had moved to the front passenger side, opening the door and climbing in. Walker started to say something, and I felt his irritation at my dad’s entitled decision. I expected no less from someone not used to the India way.
I touched his arm and shook my head. “It’s okay. I’ll sit with Ma and Arya in back.”
He’d looked down at me, not pleased. Not at all, and his obvious distaste made me smile. He cared and that meant something.
We hadn’t been on the road fifteen minutes before the inquisition started.
Thankfully, we’d had that discussion by the old hives so we were prepared.
“You can imagine we have many questions,” Ma started it off.
“I’m sure you do. How about you start with one.” Walker was so calm and assured.
“How long have you known each other?”
This was where we had to fudge the truth. He started coming in the store six months ago, and we’d decided to go with that. Walker answered. Neither parent could find anything wrong with that.
Then Arya popped up and asked, “How did you propose?”
Walker didn’t even hesitate. “It was down by the pond. That’s a special place for us. I asked her to marry me, and she started to cry. I thought she was crying because she didn’t want to marry me, but then she explained they were happy tears and she said yes.”
I was so proud of Walker.
“Where did you meet?” my father asked.
Walker began by talking about how popular my shop and lingerie were. He even referred to my product as lingerie and not underwear. He made sure my parents knew of my success and accomplishments. Then he added he’d come in for his sisters who live in different parts of the States.
“When did you know you loved her?” Arya asked.
“Looking back, I think I fell in love the first time I saw her. She was standing behind the counter and gave me the sweetest smile and asked if she could help me. I mean, coming into a shop like hers is hard for a man to do. But I love my sisters, so what was I to do? Naudi was wearing a white blouse with little blue anchors on it, a blue skirt, and red shoes. She teased me by asking my size, and we both had a good laugh.”
Stunned by his adlibbing, my shocked stare went straight to the rearview mirror and our eyes met. I have an outfit exactly like he described. And while I don’t remember verbatim what was said, I do remember saying something like that the day he came in.
I found it curious that he remembered so well.
“And you fell in love just like that?” she pressed.
“No,” I said.
“Yes,” Walker said at the same time.
I looked at him in the mirror again, but he didn’t look up at me. He just kept driving.
“It took her a little time to warm up to me,” he explained.
In truth, it did.
Arya asked to see my ring which I proudly showed off. She loved it and even my mom couldn’t find anything negative to say about the stunning piece of jewelry. She understands heirlooms and family heritage, and it’s obvious the ring is dripping in it.
By the time the three-hour drive to Colley Point was over, everyone had gone quiet. Until we pulled down the live oak-lined drive. The house came into view slowly and even though I had already seen it, it still took my breath for a second.
Ma noticed. Of course she did. She sat up a bit straighter. “This is where he lives?
“Yes, this is Colley Point. It’s been in his family for generations.”
“It is… large.”
“That’s one way to say it,” Arya muttered.
Papa didn’t speak but his eyes took in everything. The land. The house. The wide, open space. My father was calculating all of Walker’s property as a means to support a wife. There was no way he could find him lacking in that department.
“Mrs. Sharma, this is the most delicious thing I think I’ve ever put in my mouth.”
Tom’s comment brings me back to the present.
Yes, just as I knew would happen, my mother has taken over the Colley kitchen. At least Tom and Walker don’t seem to mind. If fact, they seem pretty happy with the Indian dishes.
“Now, Tom. It’s Anita. Thank you. Your kitchen is a dream to work in.”
“Very smart of you to travel with a box of spices. You’d never find some of those here. The island is pretty basic,” Tom remarks.
Once dinner is over, Walker and I clear the table. I grin at the memory of the first night they were here and Walker did the dishes. I thought Ma was going to pass out, and my Papa almost choked on his sweet tea.
I am so proud of Walker for not giving in to my mother’s demands that he allow the women to clean up. He washes and I dry and put the dishes away.
“Are you sure you want to take your folks into your store tomorrow?”
“Yeah, they’ve been asking to see it. Not that I think they’ll be impressed or anything.”
“Want to take a walk in the garden when we’re finished?”
“I would love that.”
It takes us less than ten minutes to wrap it up. Walker grabs a light jacket off of a hook by the back door and hands it to me. “It gets chilly at night with the ocean breeze.”
I accept the offered coat and drape it over my shoulders. His thoughtfulness is getting to me.
He holds the door open, and I step out ahead of him, the cool night air against my skin carrying that mix of salt and flowers that I’m beginning to recognize.
Moonlight reflects off the pathway, lighting our way through the flowers and plants. Distant waves crash on shore and a light breeze keeps my hair fluttering around my face. I’d left my hair down at dinner, but now I take the elastic from my wrist and quickly tie it up.
Our hands brush against each other and then find their way to a finger-wrapping clasp. I attempt to tell myself it means nothing. He’s only being cautious by keeping me from falling if I stumble in the dark.
For a few minutes, neither of us speaks. We’re both simply enjoying the night.
“How are you doing?” he asks.
“Do you mean physically since being hit by your truck, or do you mean how am I doing with lying to my parents by faking a relationship?”
“That’s going to follow me forever, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I say sweetly. “It absolutely is.”
He shakes his head, but I can see him fighting a smile.
“I’m doing well. Even my wrist is feeling better. I was able to put my shoes on this morning without gymnastics.”
“That’s good. So how about the second one? I think we’re doing okay.”
“We are. After my mom found out your many-times-over grandpa was the famous pirate Robert Colley, she’s been on board with bringing you into the family. She will have big bragging rights back home. Huge.”
“I’m glad Great-however-many-grandpa Bob could be of service.”
We slow as we reached the middle of the garden. The flowers look different at night. Softer. Muted. The colors blending into one another under the moonlight.
“I didn’t think it would go this…well,” I admit.
“That’s one way to describe it. While your mom may be coming around, I’m not so sure about your father.”
“I doubt he ever really will.” I sigh and take a seat on a bench beneath a palm tree.
Walker sits beside me, our hands still clasped.
“I don’t know what I expected. I’ve never had a close relationship with my father.
He’s nothing like your dad. I’d like to actually have a conversation with him, but I don’t think he would be comfortable with that. ”
“I can understand that. He owes you an apology at least.”