I pull my lips tight. Son? He’s met him three times. Ray didn’t even get called by his name. Dad was so indifferent in the beginning and then there was just this animosity that hung in the air. Killian meets him a few times and is now getting son?
“I didn’t grow up with a father, so I didn’t have that example. I hope you’re not offended, sir.”
“I get it, Killian. Thank you for calling now.”
“There’s another reason I’m calling,” he says, eyes bouncing to me and then back to the screen. “It was my intention to marry your daughter tonight. She said yes to the proposal but she’s giving me a hard time about doing it without you guys there. What I wanna know is if you’d object to me and Violet getting married tonight in Vegas, so I don’t have to wait to be able to call her mine completely. And then… we’ll do it again with all the family and the church or whatever she wants.”
The phone is dead silent.
I bite my lip.
I can’t believe he’s just put them on the spot like this. But I’m also having a hard time being angry, because I feel so… so loved. So wanted. I don’t know how to reconcile it right now.
“Or…” Killian says, “I fly you both out and we do it tomorrow with you there.”
“Go for it,” Dad says, “I don’t wanna go to Vegas.”
“Definitely,” Mom agrees. “If that’s what she wants to do, do it. We can have a mulligan when you kids get home.”
“What?” I ask.
“Baby doll,” Mom says, “Why are you denying yourself if this will make you happy?”
“Well…” I say. “I don’t want to disappoint anyone. Not Killian, not you guys either. After all that we’ve been through lately, I just…I don’t know, I’m just trying to catch my breath here.”
“Never know what tomorrow can bring, Violet,” Mom says. “Do it. Say your vows for just one another tonight. Say them again for us when you get home.”
“Really?” I ask.
“Really,” Dad says for her.
“Family is important,” Mom says, “But marriage? It’s everything. You seem like you’re very in love.”
“I am,” I say softly.
“Okay, then it’s settled,” Killian says.
“When do you fly back?” Dad asks.
“Well, I was thinking Sunday evening,” Killian replies. “But my next call is to Violet’s boss so I can see if I can get her two weeks off so that I can take her to Italy for our honeymoon. My fiancée wants to go to Milan to buy some shoes.”
My mouth drops.
“You’ll miss thanksgiving,” Mom says, alarmed.
I wince.
“It’s her honeymoon, Daph,” Dad says.
“We’ll have Christmas together,” Mom readily agrees.
My eyes are bulging. “You’re sure you guys are okay with this?” I ask.
“As long as you are, we are,” Mom agrees. “Waited a long while to see you happy, sweet girl. Come over when you get back. Send us postcards while you’re gone. Okay?”
“Okay,” I say shakily.
“And pictures before Italy. Send some pictures tomorrow if you can, okay guys?”
“Will do,” Killian answers. “Bye for now, Mr. and Mrs. Gates. I promise I’ll make your daughter happy.”
“Call us Mom and Dad,” Mom invites.
Killian’s eyes are dancing with joy as he looks at me.
“Or Daphne and Kev,” my dad amends.
“Mom and Dad,” Mom corrects.
Killian’s shoulders shake with silent laughter. “How about Mom ‘n Kev?” Killian tries.
“Works for me,” Dad says quickly.
And I can’t help it, I smile wide.
69
Killian
“There are the dimples I love so much.”
She just said bye to her parents and ended the call.
I kiss her.
“You okay now?” I ask.
She doesn’t look okay. She looks uncertain.
“Baby,” I caress her face. “What can I do to make you sure? I’ll do anything.”
She bites her lip and then crawls into my lap. I hold her for a minute, kissing her head. I inhale the scent of her hair, absorb the feel of her on my lap, snuggled into me.
“What if I said I can’t? What if I tell you I really think I need more time?”
My chest goes cold.
“I feel like I finally have my voice back,” she says softly. “and you gave it to me. Thank you for that. But what if I feel like this is too fast, too soon? What if I wanna keep learning how to stand up and be me for a bit, figure out who I am now?”
I pull her closer, “You can do that as Mrs. Killian Coulter, you know. I would never ever stop you from being who you are. I promise. Marry me tonight, baby. It should’ve been me that night and it was him because he’s a fucking cheat. I fuckin’ wish I could go back. We would’ve been here by now anyway, fuck, by now we’d probably have babies. The biggest part of me wants to plead with you to not make me wait another day, Violet.”