You'll Say Yes (42 page)

"I miss you," I said to him between our kiss.

He laughed breathlessly. "I miss you too, Abby. More than you'll ever know."

He attacked my lips again and our kiss grew deeper. My hands moved with their own accord and slid under his T-shirt. He moaned lightly and kissed my neck down to my collarbone. I bit my lip to control the overriding sensation from his kissing. He lifted his head and kissed me on the lips again. He broke the kiss briefly and looked at me with dark eyes.

"Marry me."

I smiled. I knew what my answer would be. I opened my mouth to give him my answer when suddenly his cell phone vibrated from the coffee table.

We both took deep breaths and Joshua clenched his jaw. He grabbed the phone and looked at the caller ID. I had some thoughts that it was Natalia, but he rolled his eyes and flipped the phone open.

"Yes, Dad?"

I exhaled in relief and leaned myself to his chest. We were still snuggled to each other. Suddenly, Joshua tensed. "Are you sure about that, Dad?"

I furrowed my eyebrows.

"When?"

I sat up straight in the mattress. I knew him too well to understand William must have told Joshua about something important, but it didn't please him.

"All right. I'll call you back." And then he flipped the phone closed.

He sighed and sat in the mattress too.

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

He ran his hand through his hair and looked at me. "Do you remember the story about my aunt in France?"

I nodded slowly. "Yes."

"She heard about our wedding plans and now she wants to meet us."

Great!

~O~

Actually, I was not worried about Joshua's aunt. Even if she didn't approve me to join The Walsh family, William and Farah's approval were more important because they were Joshua's parents.

"Her name is Carissa," Joshua started his story when I asked about his aunt. We were cleaning the kitchen together after having our dinner the next day and it was strange to see that he was the one who got anxious when he heard about his aunt came to America. I was the one who supposed to feel anxious or nervous.

"She was younger three or maybe four years than my dad. She has red hair just like mine and her husband name is Martin McLaren," He continued.

I raised my eyebrows. "McLaren? It sounds like American name."

Joshua chuckled. "Well, it is. Her husband is American, but they live in France."

"Hmmm...I see," I said thoughtfully. "And your cousins?"

"Melissa and Marissa."

Uh-huh.

"Beautiful names," I said again.

"The last time I heard, Marissa was still in college while Melissa already graduated and now works as a financial consultant. Marissa is three years younger than Melissa," Joshua continued.

I nodded. "All right. Are they...you know...the easy person to be with?"

He grimaced. "I don't know about that either, Abby. I've never met her, remember? Even after my mom giving birth to me, she just said congratulations to my dad from Skype."

I scratched my head. This is weird.

"Don't you think it's kind of...weird...that she wants to see us now?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "I can't tell you about that. Maybe if I met her, I could see what her pure intentions are."

Oh, right! He can tell you from her mind.

"My parents will come here tomorrow and we will have our dinner with my aunt's family on Saturday night." Joshua paused from drying the dishes and then looked at me. "Don't worry, we're in this together."

I chuckled and gingerly took both of his hands on mine. "I'm not worried about your aunt. It's your family that I'm worried about."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't understand."

I smiled grimly. "You and your parents never met her for a long time, Joshua. I'm just worried if she said something that will offend you or your father. Besides, you both still have The Walsh's name. It's different from her."

Joshua smiled warmly and pulled me to his body. I leaned my head to his chest while he kissed my hair. "Abby...my beautiful Abby. I know about that too, dear. That's why my parents will arrive early tomorrow to discuss about that. At least if something happened, we are one family. Not that my aunt is not a family, but she cut her connection from The Walsh Clan so don't blame us if we will defend our family name."

I chuckled softly. "I understand that."

"Wait here!" He said to me and released his hug.

He walked from the kitchen while I was leaning myself to the kitchen counter. Seconds later he showed up and stood in front of me. He smiled and took my left hand. My eyes widened.

"Because we will have a meeting with my mysterious aunt, I think it's the best way if you wear your engagement ring. You can take it off when the dinner is over."

Before I could say anything, he slid the ring into my third finger. The stone sparkled under the kitchen's light and my memory wandered to the time when he gave me the ring in the restaurant's balcony.

He kissed my forehead. "I love you, Abigail Annabel Bennett."

My heart felt warmer when he said my full name. I smiled and kissed him softly. "I love you too, Joshua Arthur Walsh."

~O~

William and Farah arrived at our apartment on Saturday morning. They were so happy to see both of us. I was sure Joshua's parents must have found out about my getaway on the previous week, but they didn't say anything about that. They looked happy to see my engagement ring.

The four of us discussed what we will do for dinner...well, actually it was only Joshua and William. Farah and I just looked at both men and sometimes smiled to ourselves when we watched the similarity between them. The dinner was held in a fancy restaurant and that meant I had to wear a dress. I said to Joshua when his parents excused themselves to take their rest in Joshua's room that I didn't have another new dress. Joshua said that I just wore anything that I liked, because I still looked beautiful.

Ha ha!

When dinner time arrived, we rode with two cars to the restaurant; Joshua's parents are in their black Mercedes while Joshua and I were in his Vanquish. I decided to wear the purple dress so I could match Farah's. Joshua was very anxious and won't stop fidgeting on his seat.

"Joshua, you need to calm down," I whispered to him when we walked hand in hand next to his parents. "Everything will be fine."

He took a deep breath. "I hope so."

And then we arrived at a private room. There were four people there, a tall man with sandy hair and brown eyes, a woman with red hair and hazel eyes, a girl with light brown hair and brown eyes and a girl with red hair and hazel eyes. I instantly recognized Joshua's aunt from her strong features on her face, the legacy from The Walsh family. Her eyes were hazel, but it was the same piercing one as her brother and her nephew.

"William! Farah! Bonjour!" Carissa greeted William.

William smiled and hugged his sister. "Carissa! Long time no see. It's very nice to meet you." And then he looked at Carissa's family. "It's nice to meet you too, Martin, Melissa and Marissa."

They all smiled at William.

"And this must be Joshua," She greeted Joshua. "You look just like your father."

Joshua smiled slightly. "Bonjour, Aunt Carissa. It's very nice to meet all of you."

And then Carissa turned to me. I felt Joshua's hand tensed on mine. I squeezed his hand gently, telling him that I was fine.

"Ce doit être Abby," She said in French.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see William, Farah and Joshua stiffened. I didn't have to be a mind reader to know that Carissa wanted to test me. I smiled sweetly. Well, two could play at the game!

"Oui, Madame McLaren," I answered.

All of their eyes widened, especially Joshua. Carissa raised her eyebrows. "Parlez-vous Français?"

I smiled again. "Pas couramment. Seulement les bases."

Joshua's jaw almost dropped and I pressed the urge to giggle.

Carissa laughed lightly. "Il est tres agreable de vous rencontrer."

"Le plaisir est le mien," I answered back.

Carissa laughed again and finally, she hugged me tenderly. "Tu es belle, Abby."

I chuckled softly and released her hug. "Merci."

The red hair woman turned back to all of us and gestured us to have a seat. The dinner went uneventfully. Looks like I already impressed Carissa with my French. Joshua's cousins didn't speak much, just occasionally and it was in French. Martin sometimes asks me and Joshua questions, but it never lasted in long conversations.

We had dinner in a European restaurant and I started to feel uncomfortable from the heavy food. I needed to go to the restroom just to have time for myself.

"Excuse me, but I'd like to use the restroom," I said to all of them.

"Oh, of course!" Carissa interjected. "I think I need to use the restroom too." She turned to her husband. "I won't be long." She rose from her chair and I turned to Joshua. He looked at me with worried expression, but I smiled and squeezed his hand again before I also rose from my seat and walked to the restroom.

Carissa was already using the sink when I arrived. I turned on the sink and felt the cold water in my hands.

"So, Abby, you're an editor, right?"

I smiled slightly and turned off the sink. I looked at her and leaned to the counter. "Yes, Mrs. McLaren."

She chuckled. "Please, just call me Carissa."

"All right, Carissa," I grinned.

She leaned herself to the counter too and sighed. "I'm sorry if this dinner seemed a little bit forced. I guessed this is the best time for me to meet with William and his family after I left America years ago."

She looked at me. "You are a great girl, Abby. I can see Joshua loves you so much."

I chuckled nervously. "Thank you, Carissa."

Carissa smiled tenderly. "I know you must be curious why I decided to visit my family right now."

I blinked.

"My father, Joshua's grandfather, didn't approve my relationship with Martin. It was not because of the money or things like that, but more like he knew Martin will take me to France and far away from him."

I gaped at her. "Really?" Well, it was different from what Joshua told me or maybe that was his father told him.

She chuckled. "I'm sure Joshua already told you the story. I bet you think that I'm cutting away all the connection from my family."

I blushed slightly. I think all The Walshs had the ability to read minds or it's just my lack ability of lying.

"But, I love Martin and now we have two wonderful children. I will never regret my decision to leave America and live in France. My father always detests the idea, even refused to say goodbye to me at the airport. William was the one who took me to the airport."

I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry...to hear that. I think William has his own reasons not to tell Joshua."

Carissa smiled. "Oh, yes. I know that because I was the one who asked him to tell Joshua the version of the story."

I furrowed my eyebrows.

"I have every intention to come back to America someday and prove to my family that I'm happy with my life. No second thoughts."

I nodded thoughtfully.

Carissa gingerly took my hands on hers. "I can see Joshua is not pleased to see me, but I can see he will listen to you. You're the only one who can tell him about my story."

"Why me? I mean, why does it have to be me? You just met me a few hours ago," I said to her.

She grinned. "I don't have much time in America, Abby. I heard from William that both of you will soon get married and I thought this is my chance to meet you and meet my family. I'm sure Joshua will listen to you."

I made a face. "How can you be so sure? He probably will think you've brainwashed me."

Carissa giggled and then pursed her lips. "I don't think so, Abby. Besides I think you're a terrible liar."

My eyes widened and I could feel my cheeks flush.

Carissa smiled and gingerly raised my left hand. She looked at my ring lovingly. "Ah, a family heirloom. Did Joshua give this to you?"

I smiled slightly. "Yes."

And then she hugged me tenderly. "Bienvenue dans la famille, Abby."

I smiled. "Merci, Carissa."

We walked back to our table with Carissa holding my hand. She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before she returned to her chair next to her husband. Joshua instantly held my hand when I sat back in my chair and questioned me with his eyes, but I smiled to him and he released his tense posture.

After dessert was served, we said goodbye to Carissa's family. Melissa and Marissa both congratulated me for my engagement and promised to come to my wedding. They didn't speak much with me during dinner, but their acceptance for me really warmed my heart. Carissa's husband, Martin, also congratulated me and gave us his blessings.