Marriage Matters by Ellingsen Cynthia

Author:Ellingsen, Cynthia [Ellingsen, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2013-04-01T22:00:00+00:00

Forty-one

Chloe’s parents were due back from Italy any moment. For a welcome home dinner, June had cooked her famous chicken potpie, and with Chloe’s assistance put together a salad, a side of green peas, baby carrots and rolls. As they cooked, June kept humming.

Even though Chloe had given her a Look more than once, they had not discussed the incident in the garden. Her grandmother had tried, but Chloe held up her hand like a stop sign. “Things we do not speak of. Move on.”

In spite of that little incident, Chloe and June still had plenty to discuss. Geoff was coming to dinner that night to meet both her and Chloe’s parents. “This is serious,” June kept saying. Chloe just smiled.

It was so strange to think that it had only been six weeks since she’d been on that silly practice date with Ben. She’d spent so much time with Geoff—meeting him for impromptu study group at his office, grabbing a quick dinner downtown, sleeping over at his place—that she already felt like they’d been together for much longer.

“You think Mom and Dad will like him?” Carefully, Chloe poured olive oil into a container, waiting for June’s answer.

June dropped a handful of garlic croutons into the salad bowl. “Geoff is Rue Gable’s grandson. What’s not to like?”

To be honest, Chloe wasn’t worried whether or not her parents would like Geoff. She was worried about whether or not he’d live up to June’s standards. Based on a few bits and pieces of stories she had heard over the years, June had been extremely reluctant to welcome her father into the family. Although their relationship had eventually improved, Chloe knew that disapproval had hurt her dad. Besides, Chloe knew firsthand how much it hurt to have June disapprove of someone who she loved.

Over the years, June had been more than clear about not wanting Chloe to end up with Ben. Obviously, that was never even going to happen, but still it hurt her that her grandmother refused to recognize all the good qualities in him. It was almost as though Chloe’s devotion to Ben automatically put him on June’s watch-list. She didn’t want to see the same type of thing happen with Geoff.

“I’m serious, Grandma.” Chloe set the dressing dispenser on the counter and pulled her hair off her neck. The kitchen was hot and the stress of the evening was already weighing on her. “I really need you to be nice to him. Even if you don’t like him.”

“My precious girl, you have nothing to worry about,” June said. “I’ll adore him. According to Rue, he likes you very much.”

“I knew it.” Chloe couldn’t help but smile. “I knew the mahjong group simply could not go on without gossiping about our relationship.”

The fine lines around June’s mouth twitched. “It’s what we do best.”

“Good,” Chloe said, suddenly hopeful. If the mahjong group approved, maybe June would, too. “Just don’t say anything weird when you meet him. You can talk to him about Rue and that connection, but don’t put him on the spot about the future or anything like that.

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