Fix It for Us (11 page)

Mrs. Brandon releases me with a tight
thin-lipped smile and a gleam – not a gleam of approval – in her eye, then goes to her husband and tells him it’s time to go.

We wave good-bye from the porch of The Lum.  The Br
andons get into a very familiar-looking black Escalade.  Still waving as they pull away, I twist my face slightly toward him, narrow my eyes, nod a few times and break the news to Davis, “It’s official, your mother hates me.”

“No, she doesn’t
.”

“Yes, she does.” I insist.

“Okay, she’s a little hard to get to know, but she’ll come around.  And if she doesn’t… well… ” Davis can’t finish the sentence.  It’s his mother.

“Yeah.”

***

We stay at the cast party for a few more hours.  My parents have a great time, probably

better than I do.  I am stinging from Mrs. Brandon’s attitude toward me and her unpleasant good-bye.  I think back to the last cast party, when I got in a huge fight with Davis.  When I was supposedly with Jake.  What’s the deal with cast parties?  Can’t I have a good one? I feel like it’s time to leave.

“Lizard baby, come here.”  Davis is standing by my father across the room and calls to me, waving me toward him.  I wonder what’s up?  I barely make it to his side, when he puts his arm around my waist, cupping my hipbone seductively and kisses the side of my head.  My dad says nothing – he’s just smiling like an idiot.  I think he may have had one too many drinks. 

Davis clears his throat and then loudly says, “Can I have everyone’s attention?”  My dad whistles his taxi driver whistle.  The entire room quiets and all head turn to look at the three of us.

             
Davis continues, “Hi, Everyone.  I want make an announcement.  First of all, congratulations to Owen and the cast and crew of Once Upon A Mattress.  Opening night was great and I can only predict that the show will be a smash.  More importantly, though …I wanted to do this in front of all our friends and family and people that mean so much to us.”  Davis pauses and looks down at me, giving me his most mischevious half-smirk, “I just asked Biz’s dad and he was fine with it and I asked Lizard a little while ago and she said ‘yes.’”  There is an audible in-unison gasp of the crowd.  Davis pauses again.  “I am happy to announce that Biz Connelly – Lizard Breath – has agreed to marry me.”  I didn’t know he was going to do this tonight.  We didn’t even discuss it.  I’m a little overwhelmed, but not angry.  I feel my eyes open wide as both my hands come up to cover my mouth as a little squeal of delight and surprise pops out.  I hear even bigger squeals, from Jules and PJ.  Davis scoops me up in his arms and with one hand uncovers my mouth and kisses me soundly.  He pulls back slightly and whispers at my lips, “I said I’d wait, but I couldn’t wait any longer.  I am so in love with you.  This was the perfect opportunity.”

             
I whisper back to him, not wanting to share him for a few moments, “
I
am so in love with
you
.”

             
We are nothing short of attacked in the next few minutes.  I see my dad’s face appear next to us, as he hugs us both.  Then my mother appears from the other side.  She is crying and laughing and giggling, all at once.  Once we are finally released, Davis and I kiss each other one more time and turn away from each other to receive best wishes and congratulations from the rest of the gang.  I have heard Jules’ distinctive squeal the entire time.  She nearly crushes me when she gets to me, “OMG! Biz, we are going to have a wedding… a real one!”

             
That was odd.  What does she mean by that?  A real one? I blow it off and say, “I know.”

             
PJ joins the girly squealing and jumping up and down, telling me that I “absolutely MUST let him make the veil.”  Who am I to argue with the offer of a custom veil?

             
“PJ, I think it’s a ways away.  This is all very new.  We don’t have a date yet.  I don’t even have a ring.  I don’t even know if I want a ring.”  I tell him.

             
“WhatEVER!” PJ groans sarcastically, “His family is loaded… you’re getting a ring.”

             
We stay at the party much longer than I intended.  After the announcement everyone wants to talk to us, ask our plans.  Of course, we have none yet.  We haven’t even talked much about this accept for the day it came up – back in January.  And Davis sprung this announcement on me.  I … we have many catch-up steps to make.   It really is time to leave.  We manage to pull my mother away from PJ.  That is an unholy match.  The two of them could have my wedding planned and decorated in no time if I don’t watch out.  Actually, maybe that’s a good thing. 

My parents are staying with us at Davis’ condo, in the guest room.  Davis is going to make a show of sleeping on the sofa until my parents fall asleep.  Then he’ll come to bed.  There are just so many agendas we can push tonight.

              When we return to the condo, I am surprised that my parents want to stay up and chat some more.  We discuss when Davis and I first knew we wanted to get married.  I modify the story, leaving out the graphic details, but tell them it was very early in the relationship and we decided to give it some time.  They don’t seem surprised that it has only been four months.  They may not have been this cool if I told them it was really only after five days.  Davis excuses himself, saying he is going to get changed and get his stuff together for the couch.

             
My mother and father watch Davis leave the room and then move over next to me on my sofa.  My mother starts, “What’s the deal with Mrs. Brandon?”

             
I shake my head.  “I don’t know, Mom… I mean, she’s been through a lot, but she seemed very… ”

             
“Cold.”  My father finishes the sentence for me.  “She is one cold fish.  I never saw her smile all night.  She looked slightly pleased when Davis hugged her, but man, she’s cold.”

“I
… I really don’t know, Dad.”

My mother pipes up and says something so out of ch
aracter, “Biz, she is sort of a… well, a bitch.”  I am surprised by my mother’s candor.  She is usually not so outspoken.   She continues, “It will be challenging to have her for a mother-in-law.  I’d be careful, sweetheart.  She seems like she’ll try to run your marriage.” I smile at her supportiveness – even if it’s not what I expected.  “You just keep your eyes on her.  I really like the Lt. Governor and I adore Davis, I just don’t trust Mrs. Brandon yet.  Something is off.”  Wow, this is quite a declaration from my peace-keeping, non-confrontational mother.  It is right in line with her protective side, though.  My mother stops talking when she sees Davis reenter the room.

“Well, it is very late,” my dad announces, “and you have another show tomorrow,

Princess Winifred.  We are so proud of you …”  He looks at Davis, too, “Both of you.  For the show.  And the engagement.  So proud. Goodnight.”  My mom and dad kiss me goodnight.  My mother hugs Davis.  She looks small in his big embrace.  Davis shakes hands with my dad.  My dad takes one last look before he shuts the door to their room.  He is checking to see that Davis is making up the couch.  He is.

I make a big show of my next words, say
ing them loudly so my parents will hear

me
through the door, “Well, Goodnight Mavis…”  I give him a big wet kiss.  “… see you in the morning.”  Then I pad off to Davis’ bedroom to get in bed and wait for him.

***

“Move over, baby.  Lizard, move over.”  I roll slightly toward Davis’ voice and just

b
arely open my eyes.  A fuzzy blob in front of me comes into focus.  Davis whispers, “Hi, baby” and then pushing both of his arms under my shoulders and knees, moves me over like he is sliding a giant pizza into an oven with a paddle. 

He climbs in bed and as I roll away from
him I ask sleepily, “Time?” He spoons in behind me and pulls the duvet around us.  I meant to say, ‘What time is it?’ but evidently lack the energy to get out a full sentence.  Davis understands my meaning and with an audible smile tells me, “Late.  I fell asleep on the couch waiting for your parents to fall asleep.”  I hear and feel him laugh into my shoulder saying, “Guess I wasn’t the only one.  Being engaged is hard work.”

“Ha! Ha! Smarty boots,” I slur
with a yawn and push my bottom back into him. “Let’s go

back to sleep and I’ll
tell you all about ‘hard work’ in the morning.”

Davis matches my contagious yawn with his own and says
sexily, “Deal.”  We both fall

asleep quickly because the next thing I know,
its morning and he’s frantically scrambling to get out of bed and back to the couch before my parents are up.

“G’morning!”  I hear my dad say as Davis walks out of my door.  Oh, no – busted!

“Uh, Um …Hi, Mr. Connelly …” Davis says sheepishly.

My dad teases, “Oh no, please call me Cal.”

“Oh, okay… Cal.  I.  I was just waking Biz up.  She…she should be out soon.”  I am

giggling into the covers hearing this exchange.  Davis is really tap dancing.
  The funniest part about all of this is we really didn’t do anything but sleep.

“Uh, huh
.”  Dad says.  Then my dad gives Davis a bit of advice, “Davis, You might

want to move away from the door or even get back on the couch before Diane comes out.  I’m just saying.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Cal, please.”

“Cal” Davis repeats.

I enjoy listening to my dad give Davis a hard time.  It’s fun.  Davis might be scared to

death, but I know Dad is only messing with him.  I don’t know where Dad comes down on the whole “sleeping together before marriage” thing, but I know my mother is way against it.  I think my dad might feel like he has to act that way.  I get up, throw on my yoga pants and a hoodie, make a pit stop in the bathroom and then pad out into the next room.  By the time I arrive, Davis is off the couch and entertaining my parents in the kitchen – making breakfast and being very solicitious.

Davis turns and greets me with an enthusiastic
, “Hey, sleepy-headed Lizard!” and open

arms.  I walk right into them and cuddle into his chest as he kisses the top of my head.
  I turn my head slightly to peek at my parents, seated at the bar, and smile.

             
“Good morning, guys.”

             
They say in unison,  “Good Morning, sweetie” and “Good Morning, Biz kid.”

             
I have to ask.  “Did everyone sleep okay?”  Davis and my parents all report they did. “’Cause I slept like a rock.”  I was about to say, “Right, Davis?” but bite my tongue just in time.  Over the delicious breakfast of waffles, bacon and eggs that Davis has made, we discuss the show, how long it will run, the rest of the school year and what will happen after graduation.  I’m not prepared to answer questions about the latter.  I have some ideas.  They just aren’t firm yet.

             
I answer the best way I can.  “Well, graduation is in what, six weeks?  I’m mostly thinking of getting through the show and classes.  There is a big Midwest audition/interview weekend coming up for theatres in the region to find actors and production staff, so maybe that will pan out.  You think, Davis?”

             
“Yeah, I think we should both be able to find work for at least the summer.  I go back to school in the fall.  Still working on my Master’s.”  Davis elaborates.  He is walking in the graduation ceremony, but actually finished his Bachelor’s in December.  He has at least two years until his Master’s is complete.

             
“So…” I interrupt, “everything is still pretty much up in the air about the summer and after that.  I, of course, want to be near Davis, so … we’ll see.”

             
My mother can’t stand it, she has to ask, “And wedding plans, right?  You need to make those.”

             
“Yes, Mom, but really I just need to take one thing at a time.  When I, we, I guess I should say, have summer jobs and are ready to make wedding plans, we’ll call.  You’ll be the first to know.”  She smiles, so I know I have appeased her a bit, for now.

             
I have a one o’clock call for a matinee of Mattress at 2 pm, and my parents need to get on the road to get back home.  We all excuse ourselves and go to our respective rooms to get ready.

I don’t know what my parents think of Davis following me into the bedroom, but they haven’t said anything
so far, so I am just going to act like it’s no big deal and hope they do, too.

             
Once alone in his room, Davis grabs my hand and pulls me back to him, placing his hands on my ass and mashing me up against his pelvis.  He questions, hot, naturally-guy-linered eyes burning.  “Hey, you were pretty elusive with your parents out there.  You
are
still moving in with me, right?”

             
I answer, “Of course, that’s my plan.”  Okay, now Davis is kissing me and I am getting flushed and excited.  When he moves on from my lips to my cheeks, ears and neck, I finally get out,  “I…I…I just, I’m not ready to tell them yet.  I don’t have a job.   And yes, we are engaged, but that’s all new for them, too.  I figured once we had jobs and some firm summer plans, I would tell them.”  His kissing intensifies.  I really just want to push him on the bed and forget my parents are a room away.