"Merry Christmas."
My eyes fluttered open and I smiled as Charlie was laying over me with a small but beautifully wrapped gift box.
"Don't you mean Happy Hanukkah?" I laughed.
"You're just trying to get more presents out of me", he grinned.
I took the box and opened it seeing for the first time a pretty gold wrap bracelet.
"Oh Charlie it's beautiful", I gasped.
"You like it?"
"I love it. Thank you, sweetie", I said as he helped me put it on.
"Look on the side. I had it engraved."
Sure enough there were our initials.
"That's so nice honey. Now I have to give you my present.
"What did you get me, a brand new Mercedes?" he joked.
"Yeah it's parked out in our imaginary garage. How did you guess?"
I reached under the bed and pulled out a large box. Charlie was just like a little kid as he ripped open the paper. A huge smile spread across his face as soon as peered into the package."It ain't a Mercedes but I was close, huh?"
"Even better."
Charlie was a car fanatic and an avid collector of toy and model sets. I had bought him a rare Matchbox set only available in Europe.
"Well I'm glad you like them."
"This is awesome, baby, I mean it. Thank you."
He kissed me and we fell lazily back into bed nestled in each other's arms.
"This is so nice Charlie, being here...just you and me. I am so glad we decided to celebrate the holidays alone and together."
"Yeah. We need this time together. We've both been so busy lately. Actually...Mary-Courtney, I've been wanting to talk to you about that."
"About what?"
"About us. I know we've both been slammed at work like crazy. We hardly get to see each other anymore. When we do we're tired or cranky or both and I just feel like..."
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Like I'm losing you."
His statement made me laugh out loud.
"Losing me? Charlie Foreman, what are you talking about?"
"Things have been...different between us lately. Not necessarily bad or good but just different. It kind of bothered me, you know? Ever since that visit to your parent's house..."
"One thing has nothing to do with the other. You're right when you say that we've been busy at work but that's expected. We're both young and trying to move up and we have demanding careers. And yeah maybe we have been a little snap towards each other lately but that's a relationship. Things can't always be perfect all the time. That doesn't mean I love you any less because I don't."
"Well that's good to know because I fall in love with you more and more every day."
I stroked the side of his face lovingly.
"Lucky me."
"No...lucky me. I mean it, babe. I love you so much. Now I know we didn't want to rush things but I can't wait any longer. I want to marry you. Let's make plans."
"Now?"
"Right now? Why wait?"
"I want to marry you too but there is a lot to discuss. We need to choose a location yet we haven't even settled on what state we want to do it in. And even if you don't go to Synagogue anymore, you're still of Jewish faith and I'm Southern Baptist. Charlie, it's so much to decide. I mean, the end result will be great...you and I get to be married but all the hoopla in the middle is nothing but one huge headache!"
"Well what if we skipped all that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Skip the headache. Quit worrying about getting married in Virginia and hurting my family's feelings. Quit worrying about getting married in Chicago and having your folks' upset. Let's not think about religion or flowers or menus or guests or any of that. Let's just hop on a plane to Vegas and do it."
"You mean elope?"
"Yes."
"Oh my God! Charlie...when?"
"Right now if you want to. Whenever baby. I just want to be married."
He had obviously given it a lot of thought and it did seem easier.
"I don't know..."
"If you love me and you want to be my wife and you're sure about us and our future together...hell Mary-Courtney, that's all you need to know."
Charlie was right. Procrastinating wasn't making it any easier. If we were going to get hitched, we may as well have gone and gotten it over with. It was time for me to man up. I had made a promise and given Charlie my word. It was time to put our plan for the future into action.
"Alright", I said. "Let's do it."
"Let's get married?"
"Let's get married!"
He shouted for joy and gave me a big kiss. It was the most impulsive thing I'd ever done but we were throwing caution to the wind and booking the next flight for Las Vegas. My heart thumped wildly as I packed a bag. I couldn't believe we were going through with it.
"Sin city here we come!" Charlie shouted with glee as he opened our door.
I was right behind him and I didn't see who was on the other side of that door.
"Charlie, did you..."
I stopped cold in my tracks as there in front of me were Charlie's parents, older sister and younger brother. We just stood there for a few seconds absolutely dumbfounded just staring at each other.
"Surprise!" Mrs. Foreman finally yelled. "Did we catch you kids at a bad time?"
"Uh...no", Charlie lied. "Um, come on in."
Within seconds the family was in our living room as Charlie and I went to the back to put our things away.
"What now?" I whispered.
"I don't know. This is a hell of a surprise. I mean, what were they thinking without calling?"
"Well they're here now."
"I know. Look, it won't be for more than a few days. Let's just get through this, make the best of it and we'll be in Vegas by New Year's, okay?"
I simply nodded. What else could we do?
The Foremans stayed on through December 31st. They were scheduled to fly out at four that afternoon and Charlie and I had rebooked our Nevada flight at seven that evening. It would be close but the new plan was to be in Vegas and be married before 1979. Of course their unexpected stay wasn't all bad. They were nice people and I actually enjoyed being around them. We only wanted them to leave so we could hurry up and elope. We had decided it best that we tell both families after the fact.
"So how do you lovebirds plan on ringing in the New Year?" Mr. Foreman asked?
"We hadn't really thought about it", Charlie lied. "Who knows?"
"Well we hope this New Year brings a wedding for you two", Mrs. Foreman added. "I am just thrilled with this engagement. You're a lovely girl Mary-Courtney and we're very excited about you joining the family."
"Thank you, Mrs. Foreman. I'm excited too. Charlie is a wonderful man. I know we'll be very happy together."
Charlie squeezed my hand as we looked in each other's eyes. Just a few more hours to go.
"Is that the telephone, I hear?" Mr. Foreman asked.
"Let me get it", I offered.
It was probably my mother anyway.
"Hello?"
"Mary-Courtney?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"It's Ronnie. Ronnie Bass."
"Ronnie? Oh my God. What are you...I mean hi. This is a surprise. Um, how are you?"
"Okay. I'm in Milwaukee actually."
"Milwaukee?"
"Yeah. It was a last minute business trip. I'm only in town for tonight. Anyway, I know it's short notice but if you don't have plans, I'd love to have dinner tonight."
"Dinner?"
"Yeah...if you're not busy."
Yes Ronnie I am very busy tonight, I thought. I am running off to marry my fiancé.
"Uh Ronnie..."
"If you can't, then I understand. I...I just really needed to see you."
There was something about the catch in his voice when we said. All of a sudden, I lost control of all rational functions. All of a sudden nothing mattered to me more than seeing Ronnie Bass.
"Okay...where are you?"
I jotted down his info and promised to meet him within the hour.
"Who was on the phone babe?" Charlie asked.
"Huh? Oh, um, nobody...listen baby I need to run out for a minute."
"Run out? Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine but I really have to go. Something kind of important came up and I'll explain it later but I really need to go take care of it. I'll be back soon."
With that, I grabbed my purse and coat, kissed my puzzled fiancé, wished his equally bewildered family a safe trip back to Chicago and I was out the door. Just like that. It was crazy but I didn't care. All I know is that Ronnie needed me. He needed to see me and I needed to see him too...more than I needed to breathe.