Part 20 (1/2)
”Then I suppose we have nothing left to talk about. When we see each other I hope you'll still be able to speak to me the same way. I'd expect nothing less from you.”
He hangs up and I'm left wondering what the h.e.l.l just happened. Since I'm a little freaked out, I call Callie, hoping to G.o.d we're still getting married in a few short hours.
She answers after the forth ring. ”Hey, babe. Are you nervous?”
”Are you?”
”Not at all. I'm sitting here with my sister telling her all about your proposal. She's so jealous of my beautiful ring.”
”So you haven't heard from anyone today? No calls from your family?”
”No why?”
”I'm freaking out a little bit, that's all. I'm afraid you won't be there when I arrive.” I can't tell her about the call. She'd get upset and this is her special day. I'd do anything to make it perfect.
”I'll be there. We're doing this.”
”Promise?”
”Of course. I love you, Jacob Monroe. This is right.”
”Would you marry me even if none of this s.h.i.+t happened? If I asked you three days ago, what would you have said?”
The line is quiet for about twenty seconds. I know because I'm counting to keep my cool. ”Yes. I would have said yes, because never in my life have I ever felt love like I feel with you.”
”That's all I need to hear. I can't wait to see you.”
”A few more hours.”
”I'm counting down the seconds.”
”See you soon.”
Chapter 27.
Callie ”He sounded off. I feel like something is wrong,” I tell my sister. ”I don't know why.”
”He's a man. Do they really need a reason?”
”Hey, I'm in the room, you two,” Logan, my sister's fiance states from the couch.
”Sorry,” we both say at the same time.
”You have nothing to worry about. Look at the rock on your finger. He adores you. This was his idea. He's not going to back out.”
”I hope not. I want this.”
Ca.s.sie spins me around and finally lets me see the finished product. ”What do you think?”
”I think Cob is going to s.h.i.+t when he sees me.”
A knock at the door startles me, and from the look on my sister's face I can tell she's up to something. ”What did you do?”
She holds up her hands. ”Before you freak out let me explain.”
I'm standing. ”No. Please say you didn't.”
Logan is already at the door letting whoever it is into the room. Then I see him.
My father, followed by my mother, and then Josh. This can't be real.
I'm standing in my wedding dress, fully prepared to walk down the aisle and marry Cob, and they're here to stop me. This is an outrage. I'll never forgive my sister for this for as long as I live, which might not be very long.
Josh burst in front of them chanting like a little kid. ”You're in trouble.”
I place my hands on my hips and stand my ground. ”Don't take another step closer, at least until I have a say.”
My parents, both wide eyed, freeze in place. They're shocked I've demanded this of them.
”Nothing you can say or do will stop me from marrying Jacob Monroe.” My makeup is about to be smeared. I can feel the burning in my eyes as I continue. ”I don't care what I have to give up to be with him, even if it's my place within the family. You've always taught me to be independent. You wanted me to be happy. I left because I was miserable. You can believe what you want, but I've found someone who fills my life with happiness. He's done right by me. Look at my beautiful dress,” I say as I spin around. Then I hold out my ring finger. ”Do you see this? He's made sure this day would be perfect, down to the color of my flowers. You can't barge in here and ruin it for me. I won't let you. We came all this way. It's my day. Please, don't make me choose between you.”
My mom takes a few steps forward. She's in tears too. ”Callie, my dear sweet girl, we don't want to see you this way. You shouldn't have to run off and elope to be happy. Don't you see that?”
”How else will we be able to stay together? You're forcing our hand.”
My dad chimes in. ”What if we didn't come here to ruin your life?”
”You're always interfering,” I argue. ”You followed me here to stop me. You think I'm making a mistake, well guess what, I won't let you do this to me, not today, not anymore.”
I can tell I've hit a nerve. My father's jaw is clenching and that usually means the s.h.i.+t is about to hit the fan. ”Callie Healy, don't you dare disrespect your mother and I this way.”
”I want you to leave,” I demand.
Now Ca.s.sie is pleading. ”Callie, they aren't here to hurt you.”
I'm in shock. ”What?”
”We're here because we couldn't let you do this the wrong way,” my mom explains. ”Your sister didn't tell us what you were doing. Cob's mother did. We talked to them last night. We knew you probably told one of your siblings what you were doing, and it wasn't easy prying the truth from your sister.”
”They knew I was lying, Cal. I only caved after they promised they weren't going to do anything to hurt you.”
I cross my arms over my chest. ”Why did you come all this way?”
My father lets out a loud sigh. ”It seems we've overreacted, especially your mom. Due to the circ.u.mstances around both of our families we've had to take some time to consider how this was affecting you and Jacob. After talking to the boy earlier I can tell his heart is in the right place. He wanted to do right by you, and I have to respect him for that. The truth is, if it wasn't for his mother, none of you kids would be here. It's time we started acting like adults. The past has nothing to do with either of you. It's not fair for us to punish you for our mistakes.”
”Honey, we're sorry for las.h.i.+ng out when we discovered who his parents were. It was a gut reaction. It was devastating. It scared me to know the past was coming back to haunt us.”