33. Rei
I grabbed my outfit from my locker in the storage room and went to the bathroom to change.
The theme for Lulu’s dance recital was “Dance In Color,” so I wore a bright-color block dress that reminded me of one of my favorite movies growing up—Thirteen Going on Thirty.
Instead of having one claw clip, I picked four that matched my dress and did my hair a little more intricately with two clips toward the top of my head twisting down to a third and fourth clip that kept my loose French braid together.
I had to redo my braid at least three times to make it perfect because I didn’t want to have anything else for my parents to comment on. They’d have enough with my surprise fiancé showing up.
Trying to slow my racing heart, I got out my phone and texted Jada.
Rei: Is it a bad idea to have my parents meet Quentin at my niece’s dance recital?
Jada: That sounds fun. You’ll be occupied the whole time, so they’ll have less of an opportunity to grill you about him. I think it’s a good idea. How did they react to the wedding news?
Rei:
Jada: You haven’t told them???
Rei: I was planning on it tonight.
Jada: ... I mean, at least they won’t make a scene at their granddaughter's recital?
Rei: You’re not helping.
Jada: It’s not like you have a lot of time left to tell them. It’s kind of now or never.
I nodded at my phone in agreement. There wasn’t going to be a perfect time, so I’d just have to settle for now.
Rei: Say a prayer for me.
Rei: And if my parents kill me, I want my ashes spread at New York Fashion Week.
Rei: It’s so dirty in New York no one will notice a vaporized dead body.
Jada: OMG stop. It’s going to be fine. Want me to come for moral support?
Kind of, but also...
Rei: Quentin will be there. He has this calming effect on me. I can’t explain it, but…
Jada: You like him, don’t you?
Rei: I mean, I’m marrying him.
Jada: You know it’s not the same.
A new text came through, this time from Quentin.
Quentin: I’m outside in the car whenever you’re ready.
I swiped back to my thread with Jada.
Rei: Okay, I gotta go. Remember. NYFW.
Jada:
I took a deep breath to soothe myself, only to remember Quentin’s rumbling voice this morning as he called me “good girl.” My sex clenched of its own accord, and I placed a hand over my stomach. “Calm down, girl,” I muttered to myself. “He was trying to keep you from having a panic attack.”
A salacious voice in the back of my mind wondered what other lengths he might go to to soothe me, and I quickly shook my head at the thought. You’re such a horn dog, I chastised myself and walked out of the storage room.
A loud whistle came from the coffee bar, and I looked over to see Dominic grinning at me.
“Looking good, mama,” he called.
I did a little twirl, thankful someone thought so.
He whistled again, and I chuckled.
“You’re gonna make some girl happy one day,” I called back.
“Let it be you,” he said with his hands in a prayer gesture.
“Keep praying,” I teased.
Dom picked up a paper cup and crumpled it against his chest, theatrically falling over, and I giggled before giving him a wave and heading to the private parking garage. As I approached, Quentin pushed off the car. “You look beautiful,” he told me, eyes slowly raking over my body.
All my nerve endings were on fire, and I knew instinctively he could put each and every one of them at ease. “Thank you,” I said, getting into the car. Seeing Divi in the front seat helped me get my mind in a better place. “Divi! How’s your day? Did you memorize the way to the theater?”
He grinned at me. “It’s better now.” He tapped his forehead. “The route is all up here.”
“Good.” I settled back into my seat as Quentin got in. “It smells amazing in here. What air freshener do you use?”
Divi gestured to the passenger seat. I hadn’t noticed before, but there was a massive display of multi-colored roses. “That’s all Q’s doing.”
I gave Quentin a curious look.
He shifted in his seat and mumbled, “I heard we should give flowers to the performer.”
My expression softened as I looked from him to the roses that even fit the theme of the event. “Q, that’s so sweet.” I patted his shoulder. “Told you, you were a big teddy bear.”
He gripped my hand and lowered his voice. “Don’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation.” There was a small curve to his lips that had me smiling too.
“It’ll be our secret.”
It hit me how ironic that line was as we drew closer to the recital, where my family would get “in on” my secret with Quentin. My only saving grace was that traffic stalled us long enough that the show had started by the time we arrived.
Quentin and I slid into the back row, watching dancers wave flags and ribbons across the stage.
The giant bouquet of roses he brought took up a chair on their own.
Several rows up, I saw my mom, dad, and brother, two open seats next to them.
They were saving one for Eleanor and me.
Ellie was probably backstage with Lulu, getting ready.
Mom twisted in her seat with an annoyed look, and I could tell she was searching for me, wondering where I was.
I waved my hand with an apologetic smile.
She seemed relieved and turned toward the front. She hadn’t even noticed Quentin sitting beside me. Maybe she thought he was here with someone else.
The curtains closed for intermission, and I mumbled to Quentin, “If things go badly, save yourself.”
Quentin chuckled. “I wouldn’t leave you to the wolves.”
“Wolves’ teeth aren’t as sharp,” I muttered before getting up and walking to the lobby to meet my parents. Quentin’s hand on my low back was a soothing presence as much as a reminder of what I had to tell my parents.
“Rei, who is this?” my mother trilled. In the rush of people coming out to the theater lobby, she’d snuck up on me. I turned to see her, Dad, and Dennis looking from Quentin to me with confused looks.
I held on to Quentin’s arm. “Mom, Dad... This is Quentin. My... fiancé.” I tried to smile, but I’m pretty sure it turned out to be a grimace.
Mom blinked quickly like I’d told her there were aliens on her front porch or that tea was better without sugar.
“Fiancé?” Dad asked with some attitude to his voice. “You didn’t ask me first.”
That’s what he was worried about?
Dennis said, “But Conrad came to Christmas dinner with you...”
“Conrad didn’t come with me,” I groused, but Quentin stuck his hand out to my father.
“It’s an honor to meet you, sir, and I apologize for my lack of manners.
I’m just so taken with your daughter I couldn’t wait.
” After Dad shook his hand, Quentin drew me into his arms, looking in my eyes like he really did love me.
He was so convincing it made breathing harder than it should have been.
“Hold on,” Mom said, putting up her hand. “You’re engaged? And you chose my granddaughter’s recital to spring this on me? I didn’t know you were dating anyone!” She gestured toward the doors. “There are little girls in leotards out there, and you brought a strange man I don’t know!”
“Mom!” I hissed at the same time Dad said, “Honey...”
Mom shook her head, eyeing Quentin skeptically. “You proposed, but did you set a date?”
Quentin and I exchanged glances. This really wasn’t going well. I cleared my throat, but my voice came out small. “New Year’s Day.”
It felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room as they took that in. Then my mom laughed. Hard. She grabbed her belly, trying to catch her breath. Even Dad smiled uncertainly.
“You and your pranks,” Mom said, wiping at her eyes. “I should have known when I didn’t see a ring on your finger. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“My pranks?” I looked at her, trying to understand. What about me telling her I was engaged screamed prank?
Quentin muttered, “You do pranks?”
Mom laughed even harder. “Remember when you were little and you would leave bugs in your brother’s shoes? So silly.”
Dennis frowned. “I didn’t like that, by the way.”
I glared at him and then my parents. “Mom, my engagement isn’t a prank. I’m getting married in two days.”
“Ha ha.” She wiped at her eyes, shaking her head.
Dad took her arm. “I don’t think she’s joking.”
No, I wasn’t. In fact, angry tears were brimming in my eyes, and Quentin’s grip had tightened on my waist like he could sense my distress.
Dennis said, “I think I heard Ellie calling me. I’ll just...” He turned tail and ran. You think he’d have a stronger stomach for family drama, working in the ER.
Mom and Dad shared a look before she said, “You are not getting married.” It was almost the same tone she’d used when telling me I couldn’t stay out with my friends past midnight or miss Sunday School the next morning.
“Well, my wedding dress says otherwise,” I retorted. Just like a petulant teenager.
“Wedding dress?” she nearly shrieked. Thank God the people around us were being so damn loud they didn’t notice her outburst.
Not that it would have stopped me from replying.
I hated that she treated me like an impulsive, careless child.
“Yes, wedding dress. Mom, I’m getting married to Quentin!
We’ve been seeing each other for a while, and it’s gotten serious.
We want to go into the new year as husband and wife.
It’s a small ceremony, family and close friends only. Will you be there?”
“Is your brother invited?” she asked as if he hadn’t just turned tail. I tried not to be bitter that her mind instantly went to my brother.
“Yes, although it will be hard to give him his invitation with him running away.” I reached into my purse and retrieved two invitations. “Please give him one.”
She took the envelope, staring at the wax seal with mine and Quentin’s initials pressed in. “I really thought you were joking...” she said again.
“Remind me to tell better jokes at the next family gathering,” I drawled.
“Andrea!” she said, exasperated. “You can’t get married. I don’t even know him! Maybe if you’d said Conrad...”
His name sounded like a swear on my ears. “Quentin is here, and he’s hard to miss.” I looked over at my big hunk of a fiancé. “No offense, babe,” I added.
“None taken.”
I put my hands on my hips and gave my mom a pointed look. “Will you be there, or shall I let them know not to prepare the extra plates?”
“Well, your father needs to see if he’s available.”
I nearly screamed, but sucked in a breath as I looked at my dad. “Shall you consult your golf buddies to see if you have time for your daughter’s wedding?”
“Hey now,” Dad said.
But I shook my head. “We’re leaving.”
“Rei,” Quentin murmured.
“Please,” I whispered, “just take me home.”