I’m such a chicken-shit. I’m scared of death of my dad’s reaction to my moving; I’m going to have my mom soften the blow. I called and asked her to meet me for a drink tonight so we can talk before our planned family dinner on Sunday.
School has already started off with more work and demands than last year. Luckily Brent, Mari, Kyle, and I have teamed up again. With the program and tracks we’re on, we will probably share at least one class until graduation. We already have a project due in three weeks and because of this I didn’t go to The Steamroom last night. Declan acted like a petulant child, but I threw my syllabus and text books in his lap to make him understand. It’s like he completely forgot the way the program works, since the full-time MBA program is broken into four different sessions, it’s like mini semesters. The classes are not generalized business classes; they are more geared toward my focus which is Human and Organizational Performance.
The small studio MJ is working with has a loose schedule right now, so Sayge has been there every day this week. From what I’ve been told MJ and Kelly often join them. Charlie loves her new job but has a hard time dealing with Kelly’s attitude. Several times Kelly has asked Charlie questions about Declan and my relationship. I get another bad feeling. What’s with this girl?
Declan said the recording is goin
g slow. MJ has assured them that this is normal and when recording a new album he wants a variety of songs to choose from. Even though they’re set on the four tracks recorded in South Carolina, they want more new music.
Friday nights are busy around campus, so my mom and I agreed to meet in Brentwood. She’s waiting for me when I arrive. I join her and order a glass of wine. She tells me about the Gala this year and the plans for the speaker.
“Okay, Raven, spill it. Why are we here?”
“Mama, I need to talk to you about a few things before Sunday. I’m hoping you can maybe work on dad’s reaction.”
“Sounds serious.”
“Well, I’m engaged again and we’ve set a date.”
“I saw the ring the minute you walked in but waited you out. Your dad and I knew it was coming so none of this sounds like something that would cause a ‘reaction.’”
“In order to talk Declan into a spring wedding, I had to agree to move in with him.” I hope to God she doesn’t make a scene in the bar. Instead, she surprises me by laughing.
“Oh, Raven, I thought for sure you had something serious we needed to discuss. I was a little concerned.”
“Mama! This is serious! Dad will freak out. I need you to handle him.”
“You’re being dramatic. No one’s going to freak. You need to realize your Dad, Robbie, and Declan all have similar tendencies. We also knew he was going to make his move about getting married soon. Robbie is a huge gossip, and he hears all the juicy details from the guys. And since he can’t keep his mouth shut, usually James and I get updates. And besides, Declan called your dad.”
“Wow, I guess I can quit worrying then?”
“Yes, you can quit worrying. Let’s talk about your wedding.”
For the next hour, I tell her about my meeting with my advisor and the confirmation that graduation is on May eighth, which falls on a Thursday. So it looks like I’m getting married on May seventeenth. We discuss several venues that can hold up to three-hundred people. I don’t want to have a reception that big, but I have to remember all my parents’ business associates and charity acquaintances. And our group of friends and families is already large.
We finish our wine and hug goodbye. I text Declan that I’m on my way, and he replies for me to hurry. I laugh at myself as soon as I get in my car. I really was worried about my dad, but my mom is right. Let’s hope Robbie doesn’t have a heart-attack.
*****
“Do you really think we’re going to have that many people at our wedding?” Declan asks my mom and me.
“Honey, I know it seems like a lot but it really isn’t if you start to think about it. Think about all your dad’s friends and their spouses or guests. Think about our core group of friends. You’ve got a label now–we have to invite them. Unless we do something small and just for friends and family, or a destination wedding, the list is huge.” I answer him.
My dad and Robbie are doing a very poor job at hiding their amusement.
When I got to Declan’s on Friday night, I told him the date and the few locations I was thinking of. Then we went through a few churches in the area I wanted to talk to about the dates. Even if everything else takes a back burner for a while, we need to secure the location. This made him very happy, and he spent hours letting me know how excited he was.
Then last night at The Steamroom, he told our friends to save the date before I had a chance to tell Abbi, Ella, or Charlie. I received a few threats of bodily harm if I kept any more information from Charlie. And even though Sayge was performing, I spent the night on a text chain with Kendall and Harper.
Most of our conversation tonight has been about the wedding. My mom is going to call a few places I like and confirm if our date is available. If so, Declan and I are going to look at them. The only thing my dad and Robbie add to the conversation is that we have to have a full bar. My mom and I are going back and forth about an inside or outside venue and the pros and cons of each. So far we have avoided talking about my move.
“Declan, you available Wednesday night to help me move some stuff into my new place?” Robbie asks.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll be done at the studio around four. Do you need extra hands? I could ask the other guys to help too.”
“Sure, Tripp and Gabe will be around, but Jimi is working.”
“So can Mom and I come over Saturday and start our decorating?”