Together
Chapter 7
Mike made a point to stay by Christine's side, so she wasn't subjected to Marie's anger over the dress. He had seen her in the dress before the wedding, but walking down that aisle; she had lit up the room, despite her hesitancy. She was a beautiful bride and she radiated it. Finally, during the meal with Christine's dad at her heels; Marie approached and Mike prepared himself.
"Where did that dress come from?" Marie asked.
"I bought it." Mike said.
"Why? There was nothing wrong with the one I bought. That dress costed a fortune." Marie demanded.
"Now; Marie. You bought it used." Christine's dad, Louis said.
"Mom, it didn't fit well. I didn't choose it and I honestly hated it. I had lunch with Mike yesterday and was telling him and he chose to buy me this dress that I got to pick out." Christine explained. Mike had to admire her courage.
"And I think she looks beautiful in it. Don't worry, the first gown will be returned to you for you to recoup some of your money." Mike said.
"You have to admit; she does like really nice in the dress. I don't know what the other looked like, but this looks like it was custom made just for her." Louis said.
"Thank you, Dad." Christine said.
"Oh, whatever! There was nothing wrong with the dress I picked." Marie said in aspiration.
"There was nothing wrong with it in the 1980s, but not now. Did you get to choose your wedding gown?" Mike asked.
"Yes, but that's not the point." Marie answered.
"Christine didn't get to choose her dress, flowers, invitations, table settings or even me. She went into this with very little argument. She at least deserved a few decisions. And you are going to leave her alone about it. I made the decision that she'd have the dress she wanted, and she choose this one. We're married now, so stop harassing her about it." Mike told her. Thankfully, Louis was pulling Marie away.
"Its not worth fighting over or making a scene. And he does have a point. We kind of railroaded them into this." Louis told Marie as they walked away. Mike knew that the subject would be brought up again, but he knew that Christine would get some peace from it.
"Thank you." Christine said simply.
"You okay? You're awful quiet." Mike asked.
"My head hurts because of how tightly my hair is done. I can't wait to get to wherever we're going, so I can let it down." Christine admitted. Mike reached over and squeezed her hand.
"Soon." Mike promised.
"Do we have to wait until everyone has left?" Christine asked quietly.
"Let me talk to Mom real quick." Mike said. He gestured at his mom and had a quiet conversation with her. She assured him that she would get things wrapped up. The wedding cake had been served. There had been toasts and a first dance. Even pictures. Christine was already getting exhausted, and Mike wanted a quiet night for both of them.
A half hour later, Mike helped Christine into his truck and they were headed to his apartment. Her clothes and few possessions were in the backseat and their marriage license was sitting on her lap. She was staring out the window and Mike knew she was scared. Her parents hadn't bothered to have anything other than cake there, so Mike pulled into a Chinese restaurant. Christine looked at him in surprise.
"Mike; I can't go in there like this." Christine said.
"I know. I ordered ahead. I got a little bit of everything. Figured you'd be hungry. I'll go in and get it." Mike told her and she breathed a breath of relief.
"Thanks." Christine said simply. She gave him a tired smile before he got out of the truck. Five minutes later; he walked back out with several bags of food. He put it on back floorboard and finished the drive to the apartment.
"Once we get there; I'll take you up there. You can let your hair down and get supper set up. I'll carry your things in and we can get settled for the night." Mike said.
"I was afraid you would want to immediately…you know." Christine remarked.
"I'm not an animal. There's no point in you being miserable even before we start. I want you to be comfortable." Mike told her as he helped her out of the truck. She had the marriage license and the bag that had her pajamas, while Mike carried the food. His apartment was a walk up, so it was a bit tedious in her wedding gown but they finally reached his little studio apartment. He let her in and smiled at how she looked around.
"This is nice." Christine said.
"Its small, but we'll make do for awhile. Do you need any help with the zipper?" Mike asked.
"Yes, please." Christine answered. Mike sit the food and bag down and very gently unzipped the back of the dress.
"This corset?" Mike asked.
"I can get it. Thanks." Christine said.
"Okay. Just relax." Mike said. He put the marriage license away and then headed downstairs. By the time he got back upstairs; Christine was in a pair of flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt. She had their dinner set up and was hanging up the wedding gown.
"I hope this is okay for now? I know you bought those nightgowns but I couldn't imagine eating in one of them." Christine said. Her hair was down around her shoulders and she already seemed more upbeat.
"That is fine. I'm going to do the same real quick." Mike said. He found his own pajama pants and t-shirt and quickly changed. "How's your head?" Mike asked as he sat down across from her at the table.
"Much better. I did take a couple Ibuprofen too. I never wear my hair that tight." Christine remarked.
"I like it better like this." Mike told her. She gave him a smile as she cracked open a fortune cookie and began laughing.
"It says; 'You are beginning the journey of a lifetime.'" Christine said. Mike opened his own and smiled.
"Mine says, 'This is the first day of the rest of your life.'" Mike told her.
"How ironic." Christine said.
"I suppose. So, I figured we'd eat, get you settled in, and maybe watch a movie." Mike explained.
"That sounds nice. I guess I was afraid that you would immediately want to have sex." Christine agreed.
"Nah. We'll get there later. It'll be tonight, but I'm not in a rush." Mike said.
"Thanks." Christine answered between bites of food.
"Did your mother explain what is going to happen?" Mike asked.
"No. She just said that I was to do what you wanted and to not cry or put up a fight." Christine said.
"I see. I hoped she would…I don't know." Mike said.
"No. I'm sorry, but no." Christine answered.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. We will work through it." Mike told her. He reached over and squeezed her hand, knowing she was nervous. The truth was, he was nervous too, but for entirely different reasons. He was wondering if he could be as gentle as she needed. If he could be the husband she deserved. It was all so overwhelming.