Chapter 7
CHAPTER
SEVEN
Cruz
“You’re getting married?” Brock asks. “That seems to be a bit sudden. You’ve only known each other a few months, if that.”
While we ate, we decided to have everyone come over and tell them at the same time.
Mindy opted to keep the assault quiet, which I don’t agree with, but I’ll support her choice.
Listening to Brock, I realize that where his questions are valid, and as a brother myself, I understand his concerns, that protective side of me, the one that’s all about keeping Mindy’s mental and emotional health stable, has my shoulders squaring as I look to her for a lead on how she’s going to handle this.
Since Mindy and I discussed this on the way back home from the attorney’s, I look at her and let her know I’ll answer him.
“We’ve been seeing each other this whole time, and the bottom line is, we love and care about each other.
What else matters?” It should be as simple as that, but the way Brock narrows his eyes at me says he may be more argumentative than either of us thought he’d be.
Okay, so we care about each other, and based on how I already feel about her, I know love will come. I watch her take a deep breath as she looks at her brother, determination blazing in her eyes. “Brock, this is what I want, what we want. He’s good to me, Bubba.”
I see Brock wince at the nickname and sympathize one hundred percent, although mine is so much worse.
Cruzzy Boozy. While she and I haven’t talked about this part, I speak up again since her parents haven’t said a word, the silence making us both feel uneasy, and say, “We’re planning to go to the courthouse next week. ”
“Oh, hell no,” Jolie interjects. “We have the perfect oasis at our house, let’s do it there instead.
Nonna and Abuela will definitely want to do the cooking, so that’s taken care of and catering won’t be an issue, and I’m sure we can get the Justice of the Peace out there.
If not, we likely know someone who can officiate.
It’s not that hard to get ordained these days.
All you need is an internet connection and a credit card.
Please say yes, Mindy, you know the kids will want to help decorate. ”
For the first time in a while, I see a genuine smile cross Mindy’s face as she thinks about Dex’s younger siblings.
Before the assault, they were frequent visitors and I know she’s fond of the two little girls.
“I’d like that, Jolie,” she says. Then she looks at me and asks, “Will your parents and sisters be able to be here? Outside of our families, Jolie, Dex, the kids, Nonna, and Abuela, I don’t really want many others there, do you? ”
“I’m positive that my parents can come, but not sure about my sisters. One is now a traveling nurse and she’s got a contract in Alaska of all places,” I reply.
“Which one?” Mindy asks. “Serena or Sadie?”
“The oldest, Serena. Sadie’s the SANE nurse in Louisiana,” I tell her. When her eyes widen, I realize what I’ve done.
“What’s a SANE nurse?” Brock asks.
“It’s a nurse who handles victims of sexual assaults,” Mindy says.
“Why would you point out what kind of nurse she is?” Brock queries. “What difference does it make?”
I shrug as I try to play it off. “Honestly? That’s how I’ve always referred to her. Serena’s the travel nurse, Sadie’s the SANE nurse. It’s not a big deal.”
While I still feel as though Mindy should tell her brother what happened, I’ll respect her wishes to keep silent.
If it’d happened to one of my sisters, I’d want to know.
But again, I will honor her set boundaries.
The only problem I foresee, of course, and the way this could come back and bite her in the ass is the trial that still looms and hangs over her head.
If it makes the news, then her name could be leaked and everyone will know what happened to her, even her family.
Unless, of course, Clark chooses to take a plea deal. I guess time will tell.
“Okay, so we have a plan,” Jolie says, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Now, what are you going to wear?”
Mindy shrugs then giggles. “I have no clue. Guess we’re going shopping, huh?”
“Absolutely. Arya and Anni are going to be thrilled to get new clothes,” Jolie says, nudging Dex with her elbow. He simply nods and pulls out his wallet and hands her a credit card. “Mrs. Ferguson, you’re coming with us, right? It’s not every day your only daughter gets married.”
I look at the older woman who has pretty much stayed silent this whole time as she watched the back and forth discussion. She clears her throat and gives her daughter a look full of tenderness, saying, “Yes, I’d like that, Jolie. Should we go now or wait until later?”
“I think now is the perfect time. Dex, can I have the keys, please? We’ll run back to the house, tell Nonna and Abuela, grab the girls then hit the stores.”
Mr. Ferguson smiles then reaches into his pocket and pulls his wallet out before he hands his wife his credit card and says, “Get our girl whatever she’s going to need.”
Mindy’s eyes well up and I know it’s probably a combination of pregnancy hormones as well as the love that exudes from her family. “Thanks, Daddy,” she says. “Okay, if we’re going, let’s do it.” Turning to me, she asks, “Can we maybe grill out once we’re back?”
“Absolutely, it’s not a problem to run out and grab the stuff,” I reply.
Mr. Ferguson stands and asks, “What does my girl want?”
“Steak, shrimp, and chicken,” she replies. “Oh, and baked potatoes, grilled asparagus, and also roasted corn on the cob. Maybe some strawberry shortcake.”
“Why don’t we do it at our house?” Dex asks. “There’s plenty of room and I know Nonna and Abuela would enjoy cooking.”
I glance out the sliding glass doors to see my Blackstone and sigh. “What kind of grill do you have?” I ask Dex.
He laughs and points through the glass. “I’ve got one of those bad boys. Best money I’ve ever spent outside of rings for Jolie.”
Thank God we stopped in at a jewelry store and I bought her an engagement ring before we got home. There’s no way her family would’ve believed we were getting married without one. “Okay, we’ve got a plan in place. I can stop for the meats on my way over, Dex.”
He starts laughing even harder. “Dude, we’ve got multiple freezers full of meat.”
“It’s not thawed, Dex,” Jolie interjects.
Dex shakes his head but gives his wife a smile full of adoration. “And we can make that happen, babe. I don’t anticipate that y’all will be back in an hour.”
She snickers and replies, “You’re right. Okay, ladies, let’s blow this popsicle stand.”
Standing, I help Mindy up and kiss her temple. “I’ll see you in a few hours. You gonna be okay?”
“Yeah, I think so,” she whispers.
“I hate that she wants to keep this from them,” Dex says as we stand at the grill watching the meat.
“I do as well. I feel like it’s going to blow up in her face, but I’ll respect her decision and be there should it all implode. We’re not saying anything about the pregnancy yet since it’s still early, though. Did you say the JP was good to go?” I ask.
“He is. Abuela has a book club with his wife and she made the call while Nonna was making some of the side dishes for this cookout. Did you reach your family?”
I made the calls while I was out picking up some things for the evening since I had some privacy in case they got invasive and asked questions that I don’t want others to overhear, and after both of my sisters ensured I’ll never hear clearly again, they said they’d be there.
My folks are coming as well, even though my mom gave me shit about ‘keeping Mindy a secret’.
“They’ll all be here,” I confess. “I suspect your grandmothers and my mother in the same room might be chaotic.”
“Those two women are chaos on their own merit,” he admits. “So, adding another to the mix should be workable.”
I wish he understood the tornado that is my mother.
She’s something you have to experience for yourself though, so I never try to explain her.
She’s so full of life and energy that most people have a hard time keeping up with her.
What I can vouch for is that she is the best mom my sisters and I could’ve asked for.
She stepped up to the plate when she didn’t have to and took in three emotionally distraught kids and helped us cope and heal.
We got all the therapy needed to overcome our beginnings.
“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” I ask.
“And we’ve got plenty of room, so they’re welcome to stay here since both yours and Mindy’s places are small,” he adds. “In fact, Jolie insists.”
“Of course, she does. I’m glad though, because I’ve seen glimpses of Mindy today that have been absent since that night,” I admit.
“Shit, I just realized I need to look for a house. I’m sure her staying in her place doesn’t help her heal, and they’re not all that big to begin with, as you just pointed out.
Plus, she’s gotta have an office for work. ”
“Funny you should say that because the farm across the road just came up for sale. As for Mindy, she'll get through all of it,” he says, glancing around. “But I still worry about how Brock’s going to handle things because that shit’s bound to come out.
” I read between the lines and add that it’ll hit the fan once it does.
I can see how that’ll happen because it’s exactly how I’d react if the roles were reversed.
“You and me both,” I say.
“Dex!” Arya exclaims, yelling like a banshee while running over to us and hugging him.
“Jolie says we get to decorate the backyard for a wedding!” Her little face is so excited and some of her enthusiasm rubs off on me.
Somehow, despite what happened to me, I’ve been folded into a unique family unit, one that reminds me a lot of my own.
“Yes, you do,” he says, leaning down to pick her up. She’s old enough that she doesn’t need to be carried, but Dex doesn’t seem to care. “I’m sure Jolie, Nonna, and Abuela will love having your help, too.”
“Me and Ani got new dresses,” she whispers. “And Jolie said she was going to curl my hair!”
I shake my head as I wonder what Mindy is going to have. No, what we’re going to have. Part of me hopes it’s a little girl, but at the end of the day, as long as both the baby and Mindy are healthy, I don’t care.