Into You (17 page)

“Of course not!”
I answered shocked he would even ask.

Both par
ents let out a sigh of relief.

“Carter and I aren't kids, Dad. And we love each other very much.”

“When can we meet your parents?” Mom asked.

Carter and I shared a look that was not lost on the rest of the family.

“You were with them last night. How did they react?” Mom asked.

“My mother was taken by surprise, more or less like you.”

“And your father?”

Carter looked down at his dish before answering. “My father doesn’t know yet. He wasn’t there.”

“Where on earth would he be on Christmas Eve?” My father's disapproval colored his comment.

“Carter’s parents are divorced.”

“Oh.” My parents didn’t attempt to hide their sour looking faces, lowered eyes, or the head shaking.

“Still,” Dad continued, “didn’t you call him?”

“My father and I don’t speak much these days.”

I could see my fat
her’s face turning bright red.

“Irreconcilable differences,” Carter tried to explain.

“What did you do that’s so bad your own father won’t speak to you?”

“Why do you assume it was Carter’s fault?” I jumped to his defense.

“Don’t raise your voice to me, young lady.”

“Mom, Dad, you’re making too much
of this,” Violet tried to help.

“Mind your business,” Dad scolded.

I jumped up, “Fine. You want to know what happened, Dr. Penbrook married Carter’s fiancé.”

My father looked as if he’d been slapped across the face. He glared at Carter as if he were the one who was found in a compromising position. In dramatic fashion my father made a point of getting to his feet slowly, purposefully. He placed his hands o
n the table and leaned in.

“In the kitchen
now
Elizabeth.”

“No.” my voice cracked. “Anything you have to say can be said in front of Carter.”

“Elizabeth!”

“I’m not going anywhere.” This time I sounded strong, confident.

“Fine! Have it your way. He obviously comes from an immoral family. And he’s been engaged before. This is reckless and irresponsible and I forbid you to marry him!”

“Forbid me?”

“That’s right!” he snapped back.

“Calm dow
n, Louis,” Mom tried to soothe.

“You
forbid
me?” I asked again as if I couldn’t believe my ears.

“That’s right.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” I looked to my mother and sister for help. Getting nothing but stunned silence and long drawn faces I turned to Carter. “Come on. We’re leaving.”

Chapter 42

Carter

Although she tried to play it off like everything was fine, I knew better. I didn’t expect the news of our engagement to go over without a hitch, but I certainly didn’t expect her parents to
forbid her from marrying me.

Forbid her. Elizabeth wasn’t sixteen. She wasn’t rash or reckless. She was her own woman. Strong and level headed. And she made her own decisions. At that moment I realized I had been treating
her no better than her father.

The fury she expressed when we first got into the car dissipated. Now Elizabeth sat silently staring out the window. And I could
feel her pain in the silence.

“I’m sorry.” I gave her hand a little squeeze.

“For what?” she snapped pulling away. “It’s not your fault my father’s a pig headed jerk.”

“No. But I put you in a bad situation.”

“By asking me to marry you?”

“By riding you about work.
I’m sorry. I should’ve trusted you.” I paused a moment, knowing it didn't come out quite the way I meant it to. “I mean I do trust you.”

Elizabeth didn’t answer.

“What can I do to make this easier? The last thing I want is for you to be hurting. And I can hear your heart screaming in what you’re not saying.”

“I’m fine. I just I don’t have much to say.”

She was lying. I knew it. What was worse was she knew I knew she was lying. “Let’s put the radio on. Maybe we could find ‘I’ll be home for Christmas.’”

Elizabeth sighed, “No thanks.” She turned back to the window and remained silent until I pulled into my driveway.

“If you don’t mind I’d like to go home.”

I hesitated. I could physically feel the emotional distance she was creating. This time it wasn't my fault. She wouldn't budge when I tried to push her away, now I felt like she was on another continent. I had to reel her back in. “Sure. We could spend the night at your place.”

“I want to be alone.”

I took her face in my hands and smiled. “Let’s elope.”

She shook her head looking defeated, “Not this again.”

“I can’t help if I’m crazy about you.”

She gave me a sad, halfhearted smile.

I pulled her to my chest, buried my face in her hair. 
and took a deep breath. I got lost in the sweet scent of her perfume.

“Why don’t we go inside and pick up where we left off this morning?”

She shook her head, “I have to be at work early tomorrow.”

“And?”

Elizabeth inhaled deeply and sighed, “Sandy's been on my ass for weeks.” She shook her head looking tired and worn, “I’m not up for a confrontation.”

I ran my hands up the back of her shirt. Since my words weren't working, I thought I might entice her with my touch. “It’s okay. I have an in with the boss.”

Elizabeth pulled back. Her eyes glowing. “You’d do that?”

“What?”

“Speak to your father.”

Not this again. I pulled back further and shook my head. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

“Oh.” Her normally dazzling, dancing eyes looked sad and dull.

After a long pause I asked, “Why does this matter so much?”

“It doesn’t.”

“Don’t lie to me. You think making up with my father will make your parents happy.”

“It’s not about my parents. It has nothing to do with them.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Elizabeth pressed her lips together into a thin line, “I think it would make you happy.”

I snickered and shook my head. "I've been perfectly happy without him in my life. I don't need his love o
r approval; all I need is you."

“I just want someone to be happy. Is that so bad?” She didn’t try to hide her frustration. “What a fucking thrill.  We get engaged and everyone is miserable. Your mother hates me . . .”

“She doesn’t hate you.”

“Who are you kidding? She’d do cartwheels in the snow if I turned up dead in the morning. And it’s fine because my parents feel exactly the same way about you.”

Her words stung. Maybe it was the cold, hard tone of her voice. I’d never seen so much cynicism in Elizabeth and knew she must be feeling awful, dejected. I wanted to make it better, but not if it meant speaking to my father. As much as I loved her, I had my limits.

I picked up her hand and gently stroked my thumb over her soft skin, “I love you, El
izabeth. But I can’t do that.”

She nodded. “It’s been a long day. I have to go to sleep.” She pulled her hand away from me and looked out her window.

This time I didn’t argue. I didn’t protest. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a crossroad that would change our relationship forever.

Chapter 43

Elizabet
h

I had five messages on my answering machine. I didn't bother listening. Most likely they were from my pissed off parents after I left. I felt the vibrations of my cell phone through my pocketbook in the car. You'd think when they realized I wasn't going
to answer, they'd stop calling.

If they hadn't stopped yet, chances were they wouldn't stop until I answered. At least if I did, I could just keep the phone away from my ear and
let them go off on their rant.

"What?"

"Beth? Is that you?"

Oh, shit.

The voice was familiar. My stomach dropped, like a broken elevator from the penthouse to the basement. Normally hearing his voice would send me into a tailspin of excitement and anxiety. Not now. I had enough to think about, this barely even blipped on the radar.

"You're old number didn't work, and I've been trying to get in touch with you for a long time."

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas."

"Great."

"I miss you."

I didn't answer. My mouth was dry. Why was he calling now? Tonight?

"Can we go to dinner? It's been such a long time and I have so much to tell you."

"No deal."

"Baby, please. I miss you, and I want you back."

"I've got to go."

"No, Beth, wait!" I heard the desperation in his voice. How many times did he pull me, like a magnet, back to him with that half panicked half
I'll-do-anything-for-you voice. Not now. Not anymore.

"And don't call back. I have nothing to say to you."

Without waiting for a response, I pressed the button to end the call. I didn't need to deal with any more drama at the moment. And Mason was drama squared. The last time I walked away from him had been tough. I was crushed, shattered. I didn't stop crying for a month. But it was the right thing to do. I promised myself I'd never go through anything that painful again. Mason needed to stay where he belonged, in my past.

Hearing his voice did do something good for me. It helped me realize what a bonehead I was. I hurt Carter. Not on purpose, but I saw the hurt in his eyes when he left. I didn't want to hurt him, under any circumstance.

Carter was my future. If anything, that phone call solidified that. I thought about calling him and asking him to come back to my apartment. I didn't really want to be away from him. My father just made me so angry. He made me question my judgment. It's not like we set a date or anything. He could've congratulated us and then pressed the issue another time.

Either way I shouldn't have let my dark mood color my relationship with Carter. I lay in bed wondering how I could make it up to him, until a very serious thought crossed my mind and I knew it was time to go to sleep. Maybe Carter was right. Maybe we should just elope.

Chapter 44

Carter

I tossed and turned all night. My bed felt like it took up the entire room. It seemed so big and cold without Elizabeth next to me. I missed her. Just a few hours apart and I felt like I lost a part of myself.

I didn’t like the way we left off and considered calling her in the middle of the night just to tell her I loved her. I thought she needed reassurance. She needed to know we were doing the right thing. But I didn't want to smother her, so I lay in the dark
trying to force sleep to come.

I thought about how much my life changed over the last few months. I never thought I’d consider marriage again and yet here I was, engaged. I swore I’d never step foot in my father’s house, yet I did. And I survived. I even faced Jamie with a small amount of dignity intact. I owed it all to Elizabeth.

The life I planned with her promised to be complete and fulfilling. Since she entered my life everything had changed. I went from being an insincere douche to being me again. And I was happy. I never thought I'd know happiness again. I owed her so much. Why couldn’t I bend once more?  Why not have one more encounter with my father just to make her happy?

Because the thought of the son-of-a-bitch sent ice through my veins.
But one smile from Elizabeth could melt the largest iceberg. One dinner. In a public venue. I could handle that. Maybe.

*

The morning couldn’t pass quick enough.  I needed to see Elizabeth, needed to make things right. I had a plan and hoped it would satisfy her.

I adjusted my schedule so I'd have an extra hour for lunch. First I stopped at a florist and bought a bouquet of mixed flowers. I knew they should make her smile. It was a start. I parked my car outside my father’s office and sat for twenty minutes struggling
with my conflicting emotions.

In the end, what she felt outweighed my anxiety. I forced myself out of the car. I could do it if I just took one step at a time. I looked around before moving toward the front door looking for some
thing. I just had no idea what.

I found my courage once more and entered the building.  With long strides and flowers in hand, I
approached the receptionist.

The same middle aged, overly made up, petite blonde I spoke to a few weeks earlier manned the desk. I hoped she wouldn’t remember me. My embarrassing exit felt more like a murderous getaway than a
casual walk out of the office.

“Hello,” I smiled, flashing my dimples her way.  “I’d like to see Dr.
Penbrook.”