Rob and Celia were on speakerphone at Rob’s place, talking to Rob’s parents. Together they had just told them they were engaged. The Bentons responded, as expected, with surprise, happiness and congratulations. Rob’s youngest sister Maria, still in high school, got on to squeal at them with excitement and make sure she would be a bridesmaid.
“Of course. I mean, we haven’t discussed details, but of course you’ll be one. No pink, though,” Celia said.
“Lime green?” Maria asked.
“Put Mom back on,” Rob said. “You’ll be the first to know what color the dresses will be.” He rolled his eyes at Celia, who smiled, though she was thinking, yikes, I have a wedding to plan. And pay for. Celia had no money, her mother had no money, and Dad – well, Celia hadn’t talked to her father for months and hadn’t seen him for three years. Asking him to finance a wedding after blowing off his overtures toward her seemed rude at best and at worst, hypocritical. Rob had a good job, but he had school loans and a car note over and above his living expenses. He always seemed worried about money.
Then, even if she figured out the who-pays part, would she have to invite her father? Would he expect to play father-of-the-bride? In fact, until Maria had mentioned it, Celia had not thought about dresses, walking down aisles, or any of it. While she knew from watching friends that couples seemed to enjoy being engaged and planning weddings, suddenly Celia was overwhelmed. She wanted to snap her fingers and be married. Even the moving into Rob’s apartment part. On some fantasy plane she had believed that by getting engaged, she would be married, but it hadn’t hit her until Maria had asked about bridesmaids.
Celia walked to the sofa and plopped down, pulling her legs underneath Indian-style. She watched as Rob, genuinely happy as he narrated the how of their engagement (eating fast food together as he recovered from the flu), paced back and forth as he talked, laughing easily. Rob could be so relaxed with his family, Celia thought. They really like each other. The first time Celia had met Rob’s family was at the wedding of one of his cousins, and it had been a wonderful time, with everyone happy, engaged in the activities, and freely expressing love and family togetherness. Celia had not attended that many weddings in her family, but the few she had were marked by drama and drinking more than joy.
Rob was talking golf with his dad, which Celia knew meant the conversation was almost over. How did I get someone so normal to fall in love with me, she thought?
Rob disconnected the call and walked toward the sofa, grinning. “So, lavender or lime green, roses or daisies, chocolate or carrot cake?” he said, sitting next to Celia and leaning in for a just-told-my-parents-we’re-engaged smooch. Celia responded accordingly, then pushed Rob back far enough that she could look him in the eye.
“Rob, what do you think about eloping?”
How does Rob respond?
