Shame On Me (10 page)

“As soon as she relaxes enough to trust me with her heart then I’ll pop a ring on her finger and have her spitting out kids as fast as we can make them.”

“What’s wrong Amelia? Are you holding back because of that boy?”

Noah had officially become
that boy
after our first break up and my parents still refuse to speak his name. “No Mom, we’ve only been dating for a few months and I don’t want to jump too soon.”

“Amelia look at me.” We lock eyes for a few moments before she speaks softly. “We only have one shot at this life and my advice to you is to jump as often as possible. You may think that I was a hoe but I had a fantastic time and what did it get me? A beautiful home, a loving husband, and a daughter so perfect that God saw fit that she was the only one I needed. So live your life and jump baby, cause trust me the rewards are sweet.” Mom rarely is serious enough to give advice but when she does, it’s the best advice you will ever get.

“Okay Mom,” I whisper.

“Good. Now that that’s out of the way who wants to play some cards?”

For the next few hours we sit around playing cards and having a great time but eventually Ethan and I have to leave. We say our goodbyes and I see my dad slip Ethan his number. I know it’s his way of making sure that Ethan is taking care of me and I love him wholeheartedly for it. I watch as they stand on the porch, waving goodbye to us and I miss them already.

Chapter Thirteen

Surprising Ava

Four weeks later…Saturday

Steve made good on his promise to buy Ava a ring but he made her wait eight weeks before he actually proposed. He has a friend who designs video games and asked him to create a special one for his proposal. Steve offered to pay extra for a rush order but his friend refused.

“You deserve to be happy and if I get to witness that it’ll be worth all the trouble. Plus if you let me record it, it can open up a new side business for me.”

“Allowing you to record a moment that you helped make special is the least I can do.”

****

On Friday I had to play my part in the proposal by getting her out of the house so the hidden cameras could be installed. I woke her up early Friday morning with a fake emergency work outfit crisis. I made her go through both of our closets before we left to go shopping. We hit the stores hard and because I was unhappy with the outfits she chose we left the mall empty handed.

It was only mid afternoon and she was full of energy so I knew I had to distract her with a new task. I pretended to be depressed over the fact that I still didn’t have an outfit and suggested we go see a movie. I purposely chose a long dry movie that lasted for three hours. By the time the movie was over she was tired and it was time for me to go to work.

On my way to drop her off Ethan called me and instigated a fake argument. Our fake argument prompted Ava to join me for my shift at work where I proceeded to get her tipsy. By the time we got home at 2 am she was too tired to sit in the comfy room and watch TV. I waited until she was in her room before locking the back door, that Steve used to get in, and heading to bed.

****

At 9am Ethan calls to wake me up because Ava never sleeps past 9:30 no matter what time she goes to bed. I stumble down the stairs and vow to give Ethan a key so I don’t have to endure the torture of waking up early ever again. I let them in and Ethan immediately begins making breakfast and Steve starts setting up the video game.

Twenty minutes later Ava is galloping down the stairs ready to eat. After her belly is full, Steve talks her into trying out a new game with him. The avatars resemble Ava and Steve perfectly. She looks at him for an explanation but he never takes his eyes off of the screen. They work hard to fight their way through boards that have rain at night (storms and darkness), extreme terrains (uphill battles), and old enemies (ex’s). After defeating the various boards they are rewarded with immortality. Just when the credits are due to appear
marry me
appears instead.

I anxiously watch Ava as a frown mars her face. “What kind of game is this?” When no one responds she turns to look at us and finally sees Steve on bended knee holding a ring between his thumb and forefinger.

“I thought of a million different ways to do this. But there is no other way that I would have rather done this than with you in your pjs, hair crazy, laughing with me as we play a game created just for us. We’ve survived our storms, overcome our darkest hours, fought our uphill battles, and I thank God for all of them because they led to this moment; the moment when I ask the girl I fell in love with over the phone to spend eternity with me. This love that we share will last forever, will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she says breathlessly.

“I’m sorry I can’t hear you.”

“Yes baby! Yes!” Ava yells as she wraps her arms around his neck.

“Do you want to see your ring?”

“The ring isn’t important. All that’s important right now is you and this moment.” I watch as his arms wrap tighter around her and I gaze at the 1.5 carat princess cut double halo ring in a platinum band with a split shank design surrounded by small diamonds.

****

Ethan pulls me out of the room so the couple can have this moment alone and we end up on the enclosed deck out back. I stand behind him and rest my forehead on his back as I wrap my arms around his middle.

“That was sweet.”

“Yeah darlin’, it was.”

“They look happy. I hope it lasts for them.”

“Me too,” he murmurs distractedly while rubbing my hands.

“Why haven’t you ever gotten married?”

“I got close once but never made it past the engagement.”

“What happened?”

“Wasn’t meant to be.”

“How long were you together?”

“Two years.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It was years ago.”

“But you loved her.”

“I did, but now I love you.”

My body completely freezes.

“You do?”

“I do.”

“Me too.”

“I know.” I pinch his stomach, which causes him to laugh and pull me in front of him. “I’m never letting you go darlin’.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“I never do,” he whispers to my hair and I can’t stop my smile if I tried. As we stand there enjoying the view of the water in the distance I remember that I was going to ask him something weeks ago.

“What do you do on Sundays when you leave here?”

“Sometimes I go to church if I’m not covering a shift at work.”

Well, that was unexpected.

“I’d like to visit your church one day.”

“That would be nice.”

We decide to climb into the hammock and snuggle while taking in the calming vista. By the time we decide to hang out in my room we notice that the happy couple has disappeared. I guess they decided to go back to Ethan and Steve’s place for some privacy.

Chapter Fourteen

Mom Knows No Bounds

One week later

Ethan has just grabbed my bag off the conveyer belt and is now trying to explain to his dad where we are.

“Boy when have I ever not known how to find you?”

We both turn around and Ethan’s dad can easily pass for his slightly older brother. They have the same build, complexion, southern drawl, dark hair, and are the same height. The only difference between them is Ethan’s lips. Ethan and his dad hug and shake hands before they look my way. Before I can introduce myself a petite brown skinned woman taps Ethan on the shoulder.

“Mom!” Ethan yells in excitement as he pulls her into a tight bear hug. Mom? This woman is African American and Ethan doesn’t look like he’s mixed.
At all
. When he pulls away she has a smile that I’ve seen a million times before.

“Mom and Dad this is Amelia. Mia these are my parents Melissa and Liam Grant.”

“I-It’s nice to meet you both.”

Melissa stares at me for a beat before glaring at her son. “You didn’t tell her you were mixed?”

“I didn’t think it mattered.”

“Do you think it matters now?”

He takes a moment to study me before speaking. “I’m sorry Mia I should’ve said something on the plane.”

“The plane! Ethan you should have told her at the beginning of the relationship.”

“Mrs. Grant its fine I was just momentarily shocked. I’m sorry for staring earlier.”

“Well who wouldn’t want to stare at my Melissa? She’s the prettiest girl I’ve ever met.”

“You only say that cause you got stuck with me when I got knocked up.”

“I say it because I got you knocked up so you’d be stuck with me.”

“I’m starting to think you aren’t joking when you say that.”

“Because I’m not and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

“Why on earth would you purposely get me pregnant?”

“Have you seen yourself?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It has everything to do with it darlin’.”

“Liam I will hold out on you if I find out you got me pregnant cause you thought I looked good.”

“Well that and you have an amazing p-“

“Can we please leave and not hear about Mom’s amazing anything? I’m sure Mia is starving and tired.”

“No I’m not.” No way am I going to miss this show.

“Liam behave yourself before you scare the poor girl off. Lets go eat so I can fatten you up some before you leave,” Melissa says as she leads us to the parking lot.

****

Later that night

We are at a restaurant near the beach and I’m eating the best fish and chips I’ve ever had when I get a text from my dad.

Dad: I couldn’t stop her, please don’t be angry.

Me: Be angry about what?

Dad: We’re two tables away from you.

My body stiffens before I tentatively look around and spot my mom happily waving at us. I groan and turn back to look at Ethan who is smiling. “You invited them?”

“They were already in town and I figured they’d have to meet my parents at some point so...”

“I know they would eventually meet but I was hoping to convince your parents that I’m a sane person first!”

“What’s wrong Mia?”

I don’t take my eyes off of Ethan when I answer Melissa. “It seems that Ethan has invited my parents to dinner.”

“Well call them over we have plenty of room here,” boasts Liam.

I walk over to my parent’s table and give my mom the “don’t be weird” speech before I bring them over to meet Ethan’s parents. My mom is acting normal during introductions but it quickly goes downhill when she hears Liam’s accent.

“I was wondering how you hooked a black girl but now that I’ve seen your eyes and heard you speak, enough said.” I close my eyes in embarrassment but they pop open when I hear the table explode in laughter.

“She couldn’t resist all my manliness and when she heard the voice I knew I had her in the palm of my hand.”

“Whatever Liam, you know I made you work for it.”

“Honey we had sex the first night we met and we made Ethan a week later.”

“Okay so I didn’t make you work too hard for it. Sheesh, you make me sound like a slut.”

“Melissa sweetheart being a slut can be very liberating. Let me tell you about this time I gave Dave a blowjob in a movie theater bathroom-“

“Mom no one wants to hear about you blowing Dad on the sink of a public restroom.”

“I do” I heard echoed around the table and mom had a blast telling her stories and giving Melissa tips on how to give better blowjobs. Daddy must have felt bad for me because he eventually changed the subject.

“Do all the men in your family have hazel eyes?”

“Men and women.”

“Oh Amelia you two must have babies!”

“Babies? Ethan you’re having babies?” Melissa asks.

“Not today Mom.”

“Mia please marry my boy and make babies with him. I think it will help get Liam off my back about having another one. I mean who waits until your child is almost thirty to want to have another one?”

“Honey just gone on and give Liam one. With a body and face like yours, your guaranteed to pop out a supermodel. I mean look at Ethan and all his sexiness.”

“Mom!”

“You’ll have to excuse her, Amelia hates when I talk about sex. Amelia I’m good at it and by the smile on Ethan’s face, you took after ya mama.”

I drop my head to the table and everyone erupts in laughter.

****

At the hotel…

“Do you not want to get married?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Whenever your Mom mentions it you either get defensive or tense up.”

“I don’t mind getting married, I just don’t like how she has already planned the rest of our lives.”