probably wouldn’t have wanted to meet Garrin from his sick bed. Perhaps it’s better this way. When he’s feeling better, I can introduce them.
“I have something to tell you.” Concern flashes across my mother’s face. “Why don’t we sit?”
“Is everything okay?” Her face shifts between me and Garrin.
Garrin sits next to me while my mom sits on the couch across from us.
“Everything is great. Better than great, really.” I smile over at her and reach for Garrin’s hand.
I don’t really know how to broach the subject, so I opt to just blurt it out. I don’t think the delivery will make any difference; she’s going to be shocked either way.
“Garrin asked me to marry him, and I accepted his proposal.”
My mom’s mouth falls open, and she blinks a few times. “You’re engaged?” she whispers.
I nod and Garrin squeezes my hand.
“Oh my goodness.” My mom pops up off the couch and walks over to me.
I stand and she wraps her arms around me, pulling me in for a tight hug. “Congratulations, honey. I’m so happy for you.”
“Th-thanks.” I hug her back and she releases me and steps over to Garrin.
“Congratulations.” She hugs him, and at first Garrin doesn’t hug her back, but he eventually settles into the embrace.
“Thank you. I couldn’t chance letting this one get away from me.” He smiles at my mom and wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side.
I rest my hand on his chest and my mom stands there in front of us for a few seconds, taking us in, a huge smile on her face.
“I wasn’t sure how you’d react. I thought maybe you’d say it was too soon.”
She waves me off. “Everyone told your father and me we were rushing into things and look how our marriage turned out. I love him more today than the day we were married.”
“I know it’s soon, but I assure you that I plan to do everything in my power to make your daughter happy.” He leans down and kisses the top of my head.
It’s plain to see that Garrin has won my mother over in the short time we’ve been here, what with the way she’s gazing up at him with stars in her eyes.
“How do you think Dad will react?” I ask.
She tilts her head side to side. “He’ll definitely be surprised, but in the end, he’ll be happy for you. As long as you’re happy, he’s happy. And it’s clear to me that you’re happy.” She gestures to my face. “You’re beaming.”
My mom’s happiness makes my smile grow even bigger.
“I’ll tell him in the morning before I head out to work.”
“Let me see your ring.” Her hands move to prayer pose in front of her, and she shimmies side to side like she can’t wait.
“Oh.” I reach into my pocket, where I stashed the ring so that she wouldn’t notice it before I told her. Then I slip it onto my finger and hold out my hand. “Here it is.”
She gasps and looks at Garrin. “Oh, you did well.” She takes my hand in hers and moves it every which way to inspect the ring. “It’s absolutely gorgeous.”
“Nothing I could find would ever compare to her beauty, but I did the best I could,” Garrin says.
My mom gives him a sly grin. “I see exactly why my daughter has fallen for you.”
He chuckles and my mom releases my hand.
“So, when is the wedding going to be?”
“We haven’t even discussed that, Mom. Things have already happened so fast. We’ll probably wait before we start planning.” I look to Garrin to see if he has an opinion on the topic.
“I’d like us to be married as soon as possible,” he says.
I step back and release myself from his hold so I can look at him. “You do?”
He nods, then shrugs. “Why wait? We’re both committed to one another and know what we want. What’s the point in delaying the inevitable? To appease other people’s idea of what they think is right? Screw them.”
This is not what I expected. I thought for sure Garrin would drag his feet on planning our nuptials, but apparently, I was wrong.
“I agree with Garrin, honey. You’re already engaged, what’s the point in waiting?”
It’s not that I’m against getting married sooner rather than later. This is just all happening so fast I need a minute to digest everything.
“Maybe. We can talk about it after I’ve told Dad.”
“Oh, I’m so excited to help you plan everything!” My mom claps her hands