Man, oh man. Last month’s dinner with my parents was a disaster. I couldn’t have pictured a worst first meeting and none of it was on Portia. I take most of the responsibility for it, because though I tried my hardest to warn her in one of our many phone calls, I should have tried harder. Also, I should have known my parents would turn this into a party type thing to try and show how she doesn’t fit in. The thing is though, all they did was prove to me why I need her. She is nothing like them.
I came into the office today for a second to sign some contracts before my flight out, and I am finding myself sitting in my office staring out of my window. Though my view is beautiful from the 25th floor, suddenly sitting at my desk overlooking the horizon seems bleak in comparison to the sunshine I left behind when I left Portia at the airport.
It further makes the decision I have been grappling with more plausible, but I still want to do it in a most professional way. As minimal damage to my family ties as possible, because well… they are my family.
“Lisa, I am done with the contracts. Please have them couriered over to Blaine and Associates ASAP. Other than that, I am gone for the day. Why don’t you take off early as well?”
“Thanks Mr. Gentry. That would be awesome. Enjoy the wedding and say hi to Portia for me.”
“I will Lisa. Have a great weekend.” I hang up and begin to gather my things when my office door opens. Looking up, I am none to jazzed about seeing my mom standing there.
“Mother.”
“Perry. Darling have I caught you at a bad time? I was hoping we could have lunch.” She is so full of it. She knows damn well I am going out of town. I had to add it to the calendar, so they knew not to schedule any emergency court proceedings for this weekend and I know my dad told her.
“Mother, I am on my way to the airport as you well know. Lunch will have to keep for some other time.”
“Oh right. Minnesota. For the life of me Perry, I can’t understand why you insist on associating with those barbarians out there. I mean there is nothing by way of sophistication in small towns like that. The Midwest itself is devoid of real culture.”
Is she fucking serious? I swear this family is getting worse and worse, making my decision easier and easier.
“Then mother, I suggest YOU don’t go there. Now if you will, I must be leaving.”
“Fine. I expect you for dinner Sunday night. I will have one of your suits brought from your apartment, so you have suitable attire. Ta, Ta.”
Shit. I cannot wait to be done with this place.
As usual the flight and everything is excellent. But walking into Portia’s apartment and seeing her asleep on the sofa waiting for me is better than anything else I could ever imagine.
When she came last month, there was something about her that seemed different. I mean, she looked the same. All the feelings and lust between us are still present and accounted for, but something about her is different. Her face is clearer or maybe it is that she is filling out a bit in the hips. Now don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with a woman with curves and then some, but it just makes me wonder if she is drowning her feeling about our distance in Ben and Jerry’s?
Bending down on my hunches, I push her hair out of face and once again I am struck by how beautiful she is, and how much she looks like an Angel. Especially right now with her skin all glows and stuff.
I kiss her temple, nose, eyelids, and finally her mouth. When she moans into my mouth and her eyes start to flutter open, I finally feel home. I always need to see her eyes on me, so I can see the same love reflected in them.
“Hi baby. You made it. Sorry I fell asleep.” She says in the cutest raspiest voice ever.
“Angel, I will always make it to you.” I kiss her once again, this time making sure she feels everything I cannot say. “How long do we have before the rehearsal dinner?”
“Hour and a half.”
“Perfect. I need to shower and shave. Want to join me?”
“Uhm…no it’s ok. I already took a shower. I am going to start getting ready myself.” She leans up and gives me a peck before walking away.
What. The. Fuck. She has never turned down a shower with me before. Dread starts to build in my gut. As far as I am aware, everything is fine. The only thing that has changed is she met my parents last month. Overcome with panic, I wonder if they have finally succeeded in finally taking the last of everything I had left?
Shaking off that thought, because no way would I let her go. I succeed in jumping in and out of the shower in record time. I get dressed, noticing that Portia is not in the room the whole time I am getting ready and now I know something is up.
Walking into the living room, I am momentarily stunned. Standing before me, is the most radiant creature I have ever seen. The nude dress she is wearing looks like a second skin on her, given her tan. Her hair is up in a bun style with pieces of hair falling. She has on minimal makeup. I cannot at this moment tell you anything about the dress, because it is her. She makes the dress beautiful. Not the other way around.
“Wow. Angel. You look… there are no words.” She blushes and drops her head.
“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself handsome.”
I pull her chin up and ask the question that has been bothering me.
“Baby, is everything ok? Are we ok?” She looks stunned at the question and then answers.
“We are more than ok, babe. I’m just tired and out of it. It has been a long week. Ok?” I search her eyes looking for I don’t know what, but when all I see is love and sincerity, I decide to move on.
“Ok baby. You know you can tell me anything right?” She nods. I Kiss her nose and we head out.
The rehearsal dinner is more like a mosh pit. UTGARD is packed. All the Crawford’s are here, all the Jorgenson’s, and a few other people I don’t know. Of course, at the center is Carrie as beautiful as ever with Dex attached at her side. Watching them from the other side of the room makes me yearn for me and Portia’s turn. Not too long I vow.
The rest of the night goes off without a hitch and home we go. She is so pooped she falls asleep in the car on the way back and instead of waking her, I undress her and redress her myself. I lay in bed beside her and pass out.
The morning is a myriad of cursing, rushing, and driving. Portia and I overslept. When we finally get up, we have 45 minutes to find everything we need, pack, and get over to their house. We made it with only mere minutes to spare and thus started the day I didn’t get to see her, until the reception was well underway. Between the ceremony, pictures, the bridal party dance, and other duties there has not been a moment of peace.
Finally, when the reception is going full swing, I am able to sit with her and see how she is doing. She was looking a bit pale, but I figured she was dehydrated.
“Angel, you need something? You don’t look well.”
“Just tired. Stomach is a bit upset too.”
“You need to eat. Let me go fix your plate.”
“No, it’s ok. Really.”
Right then, Tabby comes over. “Portia, you need a drink. Here you go.” when she walks away, I notice she doesn’t sip it. Hmmm…
“Babe. You didn’t take a sip? You love Skinny girl wine.”
“Yea. Uhm…I have a doctor’s appointment Monday and they said no alcohol the two days before.”
Is she ok? My mind starts going to some dark and dreary places.
“Is everything ok Angel? Do you need to me to stay through tomorrow?”
“No. God no. I am fine. Just a checkup. All routine. I promise. How about you get me some cake.” I want to believe her, but unless she tells me otherwise I let it go and get her cake.
The rest of the night goes as expected and once again she falls asleep. I do not wake her the next morning when I leave. She looks exhausted. I kiss her, leave a note and Uber to the airport.
The whole flight home I am worried. She doesn’t seem like herself and I don’t know what to do. That is eating me more than anything.
When I finally get into Boston, I go straight to my parents’ house, shower, change, and get ready for dinner. Though my mind is nowhere in it, I show up. At this point, I am literally going through the motions.
“Perry dear. You are just in time.” I kiss her cheek and shake hands with everyone. As I turn to leave for the dining room, my mother intercedes.
“Perry. Darling. Look who stopped by today. Just in time for dinner.”
Fuck my life. Mackenzie Dayton is the worst. We have been neighbors since we were toddlers, and I have long since suspected that our parents hoped for a mutually beneficial match between the two of us. Lord knows she has not been so subtle about her hope for the same. See where as we are old money and wealth, her family is new money and connections we have yet tapped into.
“MacKenzie.”
“Perry. Always so formal. We have known one another for ages. Surely two old friends can share a hug.” She says as she is wrapping her arms around me. Instantly I feel like I have mites crawling on me. The feeling of another woman touching me that isn’t my Angel is abhorrent and fills me with dread.
I extricate myself from her, smile my fakest smile and walk into the dining room. I manage to make it through dinner and dessert and move my chair back to excuse myself when she appears on my lap with her cell phone. Before I can react, she leans her head in for a kiss and I manage to twist mine away landing on her cheek as the camera flashes.
“Can we say invasion of space Mac. Not to mention sexual harassment. In the future, please refrain from touching me without my permission. Mother, as always a delight.” I say in my most sarcastic voice and make my exit.
What the hell was that all about?
I get home but stop to get something to eat on the way because i barely touched my food at my parents.
By the time I shower, get in pj’s, and check emails it has been about two hours and I hunker down to call Portia. As if reading my mind, I get a ping from a text message from her.
Angel: You lying, cheating, no good bastard. Hope you had a good time at the expense of the little people. You two look perfect together. Lose my number.
Not your Angel.
Portia
I call her frantically trying to see what the hell happened and what she is talking about, but she follows it up with a pic and my blood drains from my face. Fuck. They fucking set me up. My own damn family. Not that I should be surprised. Just thought they had more class than this. That’s it. That was the last straw.
Fuck the contract. Fuck my family. Fuck time. I am going to get my Angel back and start our new lives together. To hell with everything else.