Chapter 20
The drive back to the Andrews’ the night of Colin’s dad’s birthday dinner was silent. Becky barely uttered five sentences throughout the twenty-seven minute ride.
“Sweetheart, please say something,” Colin pleaded when he stopped the car in front of their building.
“What do you expect me to say?” she retorted. “Your mom embarrassed me several times in front of everyone at your house today.”
“I know.” he rubbed the back of his neck and squeezed her hand. “And I apologize again on her behalf.” “You know she did it intentionally,” she said sadly. “Why does she hate me so much?”
“Please, don’t talk like that, sweet,” Colin squeezed her hand more. “She doesn’t hate you.”
“Oh,” she opened the car door. “I hear you,” she said and got out of the car. Becky didn’t even want to fight him. She wished he didn’t ask her to say something.
“Sweetheart,” he called out desperately as she climbed out of the car.
She walked up to the front door and unlocked the door with her copy of the house key. Colin was right behind her by the time she opened the door.
“Let’s talk about this,” he pleaded, following her inside.
“Colin,” she called out in a whisper and leaned her back against the wall dejectedly. “God knows I love you with all my heart, but your mom doesn’t like me.” She crossed her arms on her chest, “this thing between us can’t work.”
“It’s going to work,” he said vehemently, leaning his own back against the door. You don’t have to pay any mind to my mother. She can’t stop me from being with you.”
“I haven’t been happy since you introduced me to your parents.” She shook her head. “I can’t continue like this.”
“But my dad loves you,” he said gently.
“I know,” she shot back at him. “But your mom’s acceptance is very important. If not more important.” “Please,” he gathered her into his arms. “Be patient with me. She’s going to come around.”
“What happens if she doesn’t?”
“She will, you will see,” he said emphatically. She can’t decide who I will give my heart to.
Colin moved closer to her, so they were now within inches of each other. “I love you, Becky Andrews with all of my heart,” his voice came out in a hoarse whisper. He gathered her into his arms and rested his head against her shoulder, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. “It’s you I want,” he panted as intense emotions burned through his body. “It’s you I want to be with.”
Becky pulled away from him, leaving some gap between them. She looked up into his eyes, which softened all over as their gaze met. “I need some time to think things through.
What do you mean?” He looked aghast. “Becky, talk to me…time?” “I don’t know if I can continue with…this relationship.” She said, “I need some space.
“No, sweetheart, it hasn’t come to that.” He ran a hand through his hair.
“That’s what I want,” she insisted.
He moved closer to her again, leaving no gap between them. His hands were warm as they cradled her face, his kiss gentle and passionate as his tongue pushed into her mouth, swirling in harmony with hers.
She welcomed the kiss, giving herself up to him, whimpering into his mouth. Then she pulled away slowly from him, panting. “Sweetheart,” he dragged in a long ragged breath. “What is it?”
Silence fell over the room and lingered for a few moments. She looked up into his eyes, wanting to go back to his arms and tell him she believed that his mother would eventually come around. But the other part wanted to stay annoyed at the situation.
“Colin, please go,” she said, almost in a whisper. “Leave, I need a break.”
“Hey, we can…” he said.
But she cut him off, “go Colin, leave me alone.”
“I get it,” he said and raised his hands up. He gave her a pointed look for a second and then left.
Becky plopped down on the nearest sofa. She was suddenly tired and weary. She opened her bag and brought out her phone to dial her sister’s number.
Betty couldn’t come along with her to the birthday dinner because she got a frantic call from one of her friends, begging her to babysit her five-year-old daughter for her from Saturday morning till Sunday afternoon. Eva, the said friend, had gotten an unexpected call from her father that her mom was sick. So she and her husband had to travel out of town.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
“Hi, sis,” Betty picked up at the second ring. “How was the dinner?” “I’m back home,” Becky said into the phone.
“You are back home?” Betty was taken aback. The plan was that they would both come back home in the afternoon on Sunday. “What happened?”
“You can’t imagine what Colin’s mom did to me today.”Becky sat upright. “Colin’s mom really took her time to embarrass me.” Becky told her sister.
“She did?” Betty said in astonishment. “I’m so sorry about that.”
The moment she found Debbie and Mrs. Blake going through a fashion magazine in the large family room when she and Colin arrived, she knew there was going to be trouble.
An old lady whom she hadn’t met before came out of the kitchen a few minutes after she and Colin walked in. The woman smiled at Colin and said, “this must be your Becky, right? The one you told me you want to get married to?”
Before Colin could utter a word, his mom quickly said, “that’s Becky, but they are not getting married.” She gave Becky a scornful look.
“Of course, aunty Hilda,” Colin wrapped an arm around Becky’s waist. “Yes, this is Becky, he gave his mother a stern look. “Don’t mind, mom, she was only joking. “She is my fiance, the woman I am planning to marry soon.”
His mother rolled her eyes at him and looked away.