Author's Note: By the way, I completely made up the music conservatory that Ephram and Olivia attend. I'm sure that there is one in London, but I made this one up. Thanks again to all who reviewed!
Part 3
Two weeks later Ephram and Olivia found themselves on a plane to Colorado. In the two weeks they had been engaged they had surprisingly pretty much planned the wedding. Deciding where to get married had actually determined when, and after that everything fell into place.
They were getting married in a small church just outside of Bath, near where Liv's parents lived. However, the church was only available the last weekend in August, or they would have to wait until the next summer. So, they were getting married in August. Liv's parents had volunteered their house for the reception, and Liv had even found a wedding dress.
They both knew that some people would say that everything was happening too fast, but they figured they had done everything else fast, so why not this. Of course, Ephram and Liv didn't really feel like they were moving too fast. And despite what anyone else said, they knew they were doing what was right for them.
Ephram was a little concerned about his father's reaction to the engagement. He knew he wouldn't take it as well as Liv's parents did. Liv's parents had actually been very happy for them. So had their friends. His father however…Ephram had no idea what his father's reaction would be. He looked over at Liv in the seat next to him, and watched as she jotted down some notes on some sheet music, and realized he really didn't care what his father thought. Ephram hoped his father liked Liv and was happy for them, but he was going to marry Liv no matter what.
Liv glanced up when she felt Ephram's eyes on her. "What?" she asked, smiling.
Ephram shook his head and looked back down at the magazine in his lap. "Nothing," he answered. After a few minutes his gaze wandered back to Liv.
"What!" she exclaimed when she felt his eyes on her again.
Ephram shook his head again and shrugged. "Nothing," he replied, and then was quiet for a few moments. "I love you," he finally said as he reached over and took her hand.
"I love you, too," Liv replied, squeezing his hand a little.
"I…I just…no matter what my father says or does we are getting married in August," Ephram explained. "I just needed you to know that."
Liv smiled and leaned over to kiss him. That may have been the sweetest thing that he had ever said to her. No matter how many times he said it, she knew his father's opinion meant more to him than he would ever admit. Maybe more than he even realized.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are beginning our descent, and will be landing in Denver shortly…" the pilot's voice came over the intercom, breaking the moment.
Ephram took a deep breath and put his magazine in his backpack as Liv put her sheet music away.
"Here we go," Ephram said quietly.
"How bad can it be?" Liv whispered. "So what if he hates me, and he thinks we're making a big mistake? It's our life, not his. Besides, we live on another continent, near my parents who love you and couldn't be happier for us. How often are we really going to see him anyway?"
Ephram laughed. "Good point."
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Ephram grabbed their last bag off the baggage carousel and glanced around baggage claim looking for his dad and not seeing him.
"Ephram!"
Ephram looked around again, surprised to hear Bright's voice instead of his father's. He turned around to see Bright coming towards them. Ephram held out his hand to Bright, and Bright pulled him into a quick hug before taking a step back.
Liv nudged Ephram and cleared her throat. Ephram took the hint and introduced her to Bright. "Bright Abbott, this is Olivia Perry. My fiancé," he said proudly.
"Olivia, nice to meet you in person." Bright smiled and held out his hand to her.
"It's nice to meet you, too," she answered as she shook his hand. "Call me Liv, most everybody else does."
Bright nodded and gestured towards their bags. "This everything?"
Both nodded and they all grabbed a bag and headed for the exit.
"Why are you picking us up?" Ephram finally asked. "I was expecting Dad."
"Your dad called me. My dad and your dad had some sort of emergency. So, here I am." Then Bright lowered his voice and looked at Ephram. "Amy came with me. I told her that Olivia was with you and that you were engaged, but…I don't think she's going to believe it until she sees it."
Ephram nodded and took a deep breath. "Where is she?"
"Guarding the car. I'm not exactly in a parking space."
Ephram reached over and wrapped his arm around Liv's waist as he whispered what Bright had just told him in her ear. Liv took a couple of deep breaths in preparation for meeting the girl Ephram had left behind. She had known she would meet Amy eventually, but she had hoped to have a little more time.
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Amy looked around nervously as she leaned against the passenger door of Bright's car, desperately trying to figure out why coming with Bright to the airport had seemed like a good idea. Knowing Ephram was engaged was one thing, but meeting her and seeing them together was something else entirely. She turned and reached back into the car for her sunglasses, and then turned back around. There they were…
It was amazing how little Ephram had changed…physically at least. His hair was shorter, but that seemed to be it. He had his arm around a young woman's waist. This must be Olivia. The picture she had seen last fall didn't do her justice. Olivia was…stunning; her long black hair was pulled into a braid, and was wearing a pale blue sleeveless shirt, and long flowing black skirt. She was slender…but not skinny, and almost the same height as Ephram. As they approached Amy, she noticed Olivia's eyes; they were such a pale blue they were almost colorless.
"Hi," Ephram said when they arrived at the car. Bright took the bags and started putting them in the trunk.
"Hello," Amy replied.
"Olivia Perry, this is Amy Abbott," Ephram introduced them.
Olivia held her hand out to Amy. "It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
Amy nodded and got back in the car without shaking Liv's hand.
Olivia lowered her hand and glanced at Ephram, who looked at Amy in the car. She was looking away from them, so Ephram stepped closer to Liv and kissed her quickly before opening the back door for her. Liv rummaged in her purse for her sunglasses, and as she put them on, Amy saw her engagement ring for the first time in the mirror. Amy felt tears sting her eyes as she looked out the window. Ephram and Bright got into the car and they headed towards Everwood.
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The drive to Everwood was long and mostly silent. After a few failed attempts at starting a conversation Bright eventually gave up. Bringing Amy with him to the airport had been a mistake, but he hadn't had time to argue with her before leaving.
Ephram spent most of the trip mentally composing his "we're getting married" speech, and dreading every mile marker that brought them closer to Everwood. While Liv spent part of the drive talking to her parent's on Ephram's cell phone. She had called to let them know they had arrived, and made the mistake of asking her mother if the florist had called back.
"No, Mom, I want lilies…Mom…Mom…can we talk about it when Ephram and I get home?…Is Daddy home?" She looked at Ephram and rolled her eyes. "Kill me now," she whispered to him before returning her attention to the phone. "Daddy, make her stop…I…I don't know…hold on…"
Liv covered the phone and turned to Ephram. "Did you mail the deposit check?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered, nodding. "I mailed it before we left."
Liv spoke into the phone again. "He mailed it before we left…I'll call you later, okay?…I love you, too, Daddy. Bye." Liv hung up the phone and handed it back to Ephram. "Why didn't we elope?" she asked him quietly, only half joking.
Ephram leaned over, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and kissed her on the forehead. "If you really want to elope, we'll hop on a plane to Vegas, and get married. Whatever you want, baby," he answered quietly.
Liv sighed and leaned into Ephram closing her eyes. Ephram rested his head on hers and began mentally composing his speech again. Meanwhile Amy, who had heard the whispered conversation, looked out the window, attempting to hide the tears that were threatening to fall.
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Bright pulled into the Brown's driveway, and Andy quickly came out of the house to greet them. Ephram got out of the car and looked at his father for the first time since the previous fall. Then he turned around and offered Liv his hand to help her out of the car.
"Hi, Dad," Ephram started.
Andy surprised Ephram by pulling him into a hug. After he released his son he looked over at Olivia. So this was the girl he stayed in England for.
"You must be Olivia…it's nice to meet you," Andy said.
"It's nice to meet you, too," she replied.
Bright finished unloading the car and spoke to Ephram for a few minutes before leaving. Liv didn't miss the fact that Amy hadn't gotten out of the car, or said a word since leaving the airport.
Andy and Ephram picked up the bags and they entered the house.
"Where's Delia?" Ephram asked, surprised that she hadn't come out to greet them.
"Brittany's parents invited her to go camping with them for the weekend. She'll be home tomorrow," Andy explained. "So, I was thinking Olivia could stay in the guest room," he said as they started up the stairs.
Ephram stopped and looked at his dad. "Dad, we live together. We're going to sleep in the same room."
"Ephram, I would feel more comfortable-"
"We're getting married," he blurted out interrupting him. So much for the speech. Liv groaned and walked back down the stairs as Ephram followed.
"What?" Andy asked. He couldn't have heard him right.
"We're engaged," Ephram said quietly. "We're getting married."
Andy set down the bags he was holding and walked into the living room. "When?" he asked as he sat in a chair.
Ephram and Liv followed him and sat on the couch. "At the end of August. We wanted to tell you in person, not over the phone."
Andy sat in silence for a few minutes. He felt like he should have seen this coming.
"Dad?"
Andy stood up and headed for the door. Ephram looked at Liv and raised his eyebrows questioning her. She shrugged in response. "Where are you going?" Ephram asked as he followed his father.
"For a walk," Andy replied as he slammed the door.
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"So, you want to talk about it?"
Andy looked up from his coffee and at Nina across the table. "Ephram's getting married," he finally said.
"What?" Nina exclaimed.
"Yeah. I was telling them that I would feel better if Olivia slept in the guest room, and Ephram responded by telling me they're getting married," Andy explained.
Nina got up and refilled her coffee cup and sat back down, thinking. "Explain to me why that's a bad thing," she said after a few minutes of silence.
"Well, they're only 19 for one thing."
"Yeah." Nina nodded. "But they've lived together for what…eight months? They have jobs, they go to school…"
"He's making a mistake!" Andy yelled.
"You don't know that," she replied calmly. "They just got here. Have you spent any time with them? Have you talked to him?"
Andy stared at his coffee cup again, trying not to listen to her.
Nina sighed and reached across the table taking away the coffee mug. "You've spent over an hour staring at that cup of coffee, and you haven't taken a drink. Go home and talk to your son."
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Andy entered the silent house, briefly wondering if they had left when he noticed Olivia's purse on the coat rack. He slowly climbed the stairs and stopped in Ephram's doorway. Ephram and Olivia were lying on the bed fast asleep. Andy looked at his watch in confusion. Why were they asleep now? It was just about dinnertime…but it was the middle of the night in England….
Andy leaned in the doorway and watched them for a moment. They were both lying on their side with Ephram's chest against her back. His arm was across her waist and their fingers were laced together. Andy walked over to them and tapped Ephram on the shoulder.
Ephram stirred and woke up, surprised to see his father standing over them.
"We need to talk," Andy whispered.
Ephram nodded and slowly moved away from Liv, trying not to wake her. Then they went downstairs and sat at the kitchen table.
"I'm sorry I just blurted it out like that. I had this whole speech prepared, but…" Ephram started.
"I probably could've reacted better," Andy finished.
"You think we're making a mistake?" Ephram asked quietly, already knowing the answer.
"I'm concerned…that…that you might be moving too fast," Andy answered. "She's the first girl you met after breaking up with Amy. And after everything that happened with Madison…"
"So, you think what? That Liv is a rebound?"
Andy nodded slowly. "The thought had crossed my mind."
"I love her," Ephram replied matter-of-factly. "I…I can't imagine my life without her."
Andy was quiet for a moment, thinking. "Are you sure getting married is a good idea? Marriage is a big step, and I don't want to regret it later."
Ephram nodded and thought for a few minutes, debating whether or not to tell his dad something that his mother had told him. In the end he did. "When I was 14…right before Mom died, I asked her how I would know that I had found the one, that person I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with. She said that she could only tell me what it was like for her. She told me that when she met you, she knew she was either going to marry you, or she wasn't going to marry anyone." Ephram paused before continuing. "That's how it was with Liv. I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with her. There wasn't going to be anyone else for me. And I haven't doubted that for a second."
Ephram got up and grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. "You think we're moving too fast?" he asked as he sat back down. "We don't. Everything has just felt…right. Like it was the obvious thing to do."
Andy contemplated that for a moment. "All right, explain it to me. Tell me about your relationship. Tell me how you felt when you made the decision to live together and get married."
"That could take all night."
"So, it'll take all night."
Ephram nodded and took a drink of water. "I had been in London for two weeks. I went into this coffeehouse, and when I came out I walked right into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen…"