Chapter 2 Kamryn #3
She laughed. “My mom is the total opposite and, like me, doesn’t really like doing the huge party thing.
” Kamryn shifted in her seat to face him and placed a hand on his arm.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I really don’t want to do most of those things your mother listed.
I’m cool with having a family-and-friends shower, but I don’t need all the other stuff. ”
“Sweetheart, our wedding day should be about us and what we want. No one else. Don’t worry about my mom. She’ll be fine. And you know I don’t want all that stuff either, so it’s all
good.”
“I’d rather have an intimate gathering with the people who we know will be invested in our lives. When one of my cousins got
married a couple of years ago, there were almost four hundred people at her wedding, and she knew less than half of them.
They were friends and business associates of her and her husband’s parents. Then they had the nerve to be upset when she put
her foot down and said they couldn’t add more. Mind you, not one of those parents kicked in one dollar, but with all those
added people, it put my cousin way over budget.”
“That will not be happening with ours. Like I said earlier, the sooner we choose a date, the less she’ll be able to plan.”
They shared a smile, then Tariq refocused on the road.
“Thank you.” And this is why I love him! Kamryn sat back in her seat and stared out the window, her smile still in place. She wondered what her parents would think
about Tariq. She’d told them about him and, during her conversation with her mother last week, mentioned that she was falling
in love with him.
When they arrived at her condo, Tariq came around to help her out of the car. “Maybe I should’ve at least met your parents before springing the whole engagement thing on them,” he said with a little laugh.
“They know about you, and I’ve sent my mom a picture. Sooo, technically, she’s kind of met you.” Kamryn shrugged.
He let out a short bark of laughter and shook his head. “Now, you know that’s not the same thing.”
“Hey, I was just trying to help a brotha out. And didn’t you just do the same thing? I met your parents tonight.”
“Yeah, yeah, you got me there.” He took her key, unlocked the door, then stepped back for her to enter first.
“Let me go get my iPad, then we can call. Have a seat, and I’ll be right back.” She went to her room, kicked off her shoes,
and grabbed the iPad off her nightstand, then went back out front as she powered it up. Kamryn sat down on the sofa next to
Tariq.
“You should probably introduce me before dropping the news of our engagement, I think,” he said.
“Yeah, you’re right.” She found their number and called.
“Hey, sweetheart. Is everything okay?” her mother asked when she answered, concern etched in her features.
“Hey, Mom. Everything is good. I know it’s a little late, but I figured you’d still be up reading.” She got her love of reading
from her mother, and they often read the same books, then had their own version of a book club discussion.
She laughed softly. “You’re lucky you called when you did, because I just finished one.”
“Translation, you wouldn’t have answered because it was at the climax.”
“Bingo. So what’s going on? Are you still dating Tariq?”
“Yes, and he’s here so you can actually meet him.” She angled the tablet so her mother could see Tariq. “Mom, this is Tariq
Bradley. Tariq, my mom, Charlene Brooks.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Brooks.”
“Same here.” She looked away for a moment. “Honey, Kam has her young man online so we can meet him.”
A second later, Kamryn’s father appeared. “Hey, baby girl. Who’s this young man?”
“Hi, Dad.” She made the introductions.
“He treating you good?” Kenton Brooks didn’t care that his daughter was a twenty-eight-year-old woman who had been living
on her own for the past decade.
“Yes, Dad, he is,” Kamryn said, smiling up at Tariq.
For the next few minutes, he grilled Tariq on his family, his job, and where he saw himself five and ten years down the road.
Her father nodded, then asked, “Tariq, what are your intentions with my daughter?”
“To love her with every breath I take for the rest of my life,” Tariq said without hesitation.
“Bam!” She waved her finger in front of the screen. “We’re getting married!” she screamed with excitement.
There was complete silence, and both wore stunned expressions. She and Tariq chuckled.
Her mother was the first to find her voice. “Oh, baby, I’m so happy for you two. Still in shock,” she added with a laugh,
“but very happy. You’ll have to let us know when you set the date and what you need us to do.”
“I’m so proud of you, Kamryn,” her father said, “and I can’t wait to walk you down the aisle. Tariq, welcome to our family.
You and I will need to talk soon, son.”
“Yes, sir, we will.”
Kamryn spoke with her parents a couple of minutes longer before disconnecting. She smiled at Tariq. “Well?”
“Now, that was a huge difference from my mom,” he said. “I think we can use your mom to tone mine down and hopefully meet somewhere in the middle.”
They both laughed and she said, “An intimate ceremony on the beach would be nice, and since summer isn’t that far—”
“Deal,” he said before she could finish.
She laid her head on his shoulder, content for the moment. She just hoped everybody else didn’t have a problem with their
plans.