The silence was interrupted only as Alice Korklan loudly cleared her throat. It was a beautiful day on the Tampa Bay and the plan was for the entire Korklan clan who was in town, to enjoy a barbecue dinner on Matt's back deck. His parents and brother and Mike's girlfriend had arrived late the night before. Matt had been nervous about the trip. It was what he had proposed to his parents the morning he had drove in and surprised them and told them about reuniting with and marrying Chloe. They had been reluctant but out of love and respect for their son, had finally agreed to flying out when Mike and Bryn caught a break in their Indy wrestling schedule. In anticipation the week before, Chloe had been a bundle of nerves. She had wanted the house to be perfect. She had asked Matt a million questions about his family and their likes and dislikes. Before she had never been too concerned with them but this time she was making an honest effort. She wanted them to like her, to give her a second chance and all involved knew that would be no easy feat.
"More tea, Mrs. Korklan?" Chloe politely offered.
"No, dear. This, this is fine. Thank you."
Chloe nodded. The conversation had been tense and strained ever since the family's arrival. But Chloe had been trying. For Matt it was painful to watch. He felt bad for his fiancee which only added to the guilt that had been festering in his heart for a month, ever since he had returned from his excusrion to St. Louis.
"I'll be right back," Matt stood and excused himself after a few minutes.
He walked back to the master bedroom where he sighed and adjusted his glasses. He sat on the bed, praying for an end to the disastorous visit that had only just begun. Burying his head in his hands, he didn't even notice that he had company at the door.
"What's up? You hiding?"
Matt looked up.
"No. I…"
Mike smirked and gave his big brother a knowing look.
"Whatever, dude. You're hiding and I don't blame you. It's pretty painful out there."
Matt let out a small chuckle in spite of the seriousness of the situation.
"Yeah…brutal."
Mike collapsed on the chair opposite the foot of the bed.
"You okay?"
Matt shook his head.
"Not really. It seemed like a good idea at the time and Chloe really wanted this opportunity to make amends."
Mike sighed.
"I'm not a Chloe fan and you know that. Mom and Dad aren't either."
"But she's really trying."
"That I don't actually doubt. Bryn and I were just talking about that last night before bed but sometimes it's a case of too little too late."
"Yeah…"
"Okay, Matt. You love her and you want to marry her. Whatever, man, that's your life. We are trying our best and giving her a chance but the whole open arms thing might take time. Hell, it might never happen and if it doesn't, you can't be mad at us. We're your blood, your family. We love you. A part of us still questions if Chloe really does but I guess only time will tell."
"That's how you feel and you can't help it just like I can't help how I feel. It is what it is, I guess."
"Are you sure you're okay with bumping up the wedding?"
The new date was scheduled to take place in less than a month.
"Yeah. Yeah, um, Chloe…"
"Matt, I didn't ask about Chloe. I'm not concerned about Chloe. We're talking about you."
Matt shifted around uncomfortably on the bed.
"Yeah. It's cool."
"Look, I know you. Something's wrong. Something is up. Talk to me, bro."
"Mikey, I've just got a lot on my mind, that's all."
"Is it work?"
"No. Um, work is good. Everything is going great. I've been riding the big push lately and we've been doing a lot of cool PR stuff, too. It's awesome. I love the WWE."
"And you're feeling okay? Your follow up appointments with the doctors are going okay?"
"Yeah. Clean bill of health."
"You're not depressed again, are you?"
"No. Mike, come on…"
"Then what is it?"
Matt played with his hands. He was already busting at the seams mentally.
"It's Harper," he finally conceded.
"How is she? Tell me you guys have talked."
Matt nodded.
"We have."
"Does she know about Chloe and the wedding and everything?"
"Yeah."
"Damn. Have you guys even talked about what she told you?"
"Yeah. We, um, we didn't talk for a while which was pretty stupid but I guess we were both just scared. I mean, what do you say to that? Anyway, when I saw Mom and Dad in St. Louis, I went with Mom to the store and ended up running into Harp."
"That must have been awkward as hell."
"It was and I knew I couldn't leave it that way. This is Harper we're talking about. So that night after dinner I was headed out of town on my way back here and somehow I just ended up at her place."
"How did that go?"
"We talked."
"Did anything get resolved?"
"I guess so. I don't know. But…"
"But what?"
Matt chewed the inside of his lip. He hadn't spoken a word to anyone of his intimate encounter with Harper.
"You have to promise not to tell anybody."
"Dude, I'm your brother. If you can't trust me, who can you trust?"
"I mean it, Mike. Not even Bryn."
"Okay."
Matt took a deep beath.
"Harper and I talked. While I was there looking at her, I started to have feelings for her. I mean, what is a relationship anyway? Two people who are best friends who do everything together?"
"Yeah and they have sex," Mike joked.
Matt didn't crack a smile.
"Yeah…"
"What? You telling me that you and Harp hooked up?"
"Yes," Matt looked his brother right in the eye.
Mike laughed out loud and it took him a while before he realized Matt wasn't joking.
"You're serious, aren't you?"
"It happened."
"Matt, what the hell?"
"I couldn't help myself. And it felt great. It was natural. Yeah, it was sex and the sex was good but it was more than that, so much more. I made love to her, Matt. It was the closest I have ever been to anyone else in my entire life. It was an amazing experience. And I realized Harper is the perfect woman and we're so good for each other and I could totally see myself with her for the rest of my life."
"Then what's the problem?"
Matt sighed.
"Chloe. I love her, too. I'm in love with two different women and my head is so messed up and my heart is so confused and I don't know whether I'm coming or going."
"Matt…"
"I know you don't like Chloe and that's fine. But I care about her. I asked her to be my wife. We're supposed to be getting married in three and a half weeks."
"Were you thinking about that, about Chloe when you were in Harper's bed?"
"Don't do that. Look, I was wrong and I feel bad enough about that, believe me."
"You can't marry Chloe. Matt, you slept with Harper. I know you. You're not the cheating guy. The only reason you would have slept with Harper is because you really love her and a hell of a lot more than as a friend. That's worth taking a look at. Marrying Chloe isn't gonna make it go away that you slept with Harper. It won't make your feelings for her go away either. You have to deal with it and face what you've done and realize that maybe, just maybe, the beautiful best friend who makes you laugh, who has supported your career since day one, who gave up her life to take care of you when you could barely walk is the woman for you instead of the selfish, inconsiderate super model that's in the living room trying to convince our parents that she would make a good daughter in law."
Matt stood.
"Don't you think I have been thinking about that? Don't patronize me, Mike. It's all I think about. I don't know what to do, okay? I admit that. I don't want to break Chloe's heart. And a part of me is happy with her and I am convinced that we could make a good life together. The other part of me is crazy in love with Harp but that scares me to death. It scares me."
"Matt…"
"I have to get back," he shoved his hands in his pockets and brushed past him.
Matt returned to the living room where Chloe was still talking to the Korklans and Bryn.
"Well, this is certainly a change of plans," Joe Korklan acknowledged. "What made you decide to get married in St. Louis?"
Chloe looked up and gave Matt's hand a gentle squeeze.
"I know that's what Matt wants and it just feels right. Before I was preoccupied with the big flashy wedding and wanting to impress people. That was wrong. I was focusing more on the dream wedding instead of the dream guy. This time we're going to do it right. I want a small ceremony with just a few family and friends in a nice church, right honey?"
Matt forced a smile.
"Yeah. Um, of course, babe."
She gave him a kiss and headed towards the kitchen.
"I'm going to start getting everything ready for dinner tonight."
"Okay," Matt nodded. "I'll set up the grill."
He headed on the deck and began gathering everything he needed. Truth be told, he just wanted some alone time but a few minutes later his mother joined him.
"Hi sweetie."
"Hey Mom."
"Need some help?"
"Nah. I got it. Why don't you go back inside and relax? I'm sure you're still tired from your trip."
"I am but I wanted to talk to you."
"Okay," he said reluctantly, not liking the way that sounded. "What's going on?"
"I've spent the day with Chloe and I must say she has certainly made an effort to be nicer to us. I see a lot of positive changes. I see a different side of her."
"I told you."
"Maybe people do change. I certainly hope she is being genuine. If you love her and you want to marry her, that is your decision but I honestly don't see what the rush is."
"Mom…"
"Hear me out, honey. I'm not trying to run your life or tell you what to do. I'm just concerned. We love you so much and only want what is best for you. I'm not saying the wedding is neccesarily a bad idea but perhaps the rush to the altar is. If you love her and want to marry her now, those feelings will last a lot longer than three weeks. Give it some time, Matt, please. Why don't you put the wedding off for a year or at least six months?"
"Mom, I know how you feel and I know you're just trying to help but my mind is made up. I love Chloe and you say you guys understand and respect that but you sure don't act like it. This is my choice, our choice and this is the way it's going to be so you guys better learn how to deal with it. I am marrying Chloe in three and a half weeks and that's final and I don't want to hear another word about it. I mean it. If you guys can't be happy for us or at least respectful then I'd rather not have you around at all."
Matt had always been so laid back, so non confrontational, and so respectful to everyone in his conversations, especially his beloved mother. Now he was on the verge of losing it. His defenses had kicked into high gear.
"Is everything alright?" a concerned Chloe poked her head out on the deck.
"Everything is just fine," Alice walked past her back into the house.
Chloe waited until she was gone.
"I thought I heard yelling."
"It's okay. It was nothing."
"It's about me, isn't it?"
"Chloe…"
"You don't have to protect me, Matt. I know they don't like me still and I know they don't want us to get married."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is."
She folded her arms, obviously upset. Matt sighed. He walked over to her and pulled her close.
"It's alright. Look, you tried and that's all you can do, right?"
He kissed the top of her forehead.
"I'm really trying."
"I know you are. It doesn't matter what they think."
"It's not supposed to matter but it does."
"You know what I think?"
"What?"
"I think that we're getting married in three weeks and everything is going to be okay."
Chloe gave him a smile as she buried her face into his chest. Matt closed his eyes. He was doing the right thing. He knew he would have to spend a very long time convincing his family of that. But first he had to convince himself.
