Charlie and I had managed to pull the wedding details together, with a little help from our friends and a wedding coordinator. Charlie had even coaxed me into expanding out guest list to include some professors at CalSci and some of my old friends. I couldn't help but notice that most of the guests were coming for Charlie, and not me, but I tried my best not to think about it.
The doorbell rang on Sunday – only 6 days to go – as Charlie was whipping up some pancakes as a late breakfast. "Baby could you get that? I'm up to my elbows in pancake batter!" Charlie yelled from the kitchen.
I pulled on my t-shirt and scurried downstairs to answer the door. I was curious to see who would be coming to see us at 11 A.M on a Sunday morning. I swung the door open and froze. "Mom? Dad?"
"Amita." My father greeted stiffly.
"Hello, darling!" my mom hugged me enthusiastically.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, ushering them into the house.
"A Charlie Eppes contacted us and asked us to come for your wedding. Why did you not tell us you were getting married?" my father said.
"Dad, you're the one who stopped talking to me and moved to India," I said defensively
Charlie came out of the kitchen just then, drying his hands on a towel. I groaned inwardly. My parents are very traditional and I had hoped to warn them about Charlie and I living together.
"Mr. And Mrs. Ramanujan," Charlie stuck his hand out, which my father hesitantly shook.
"Mom, Dad, this is my fiancée Charlie." I told them.
"What is he doing here?" my father asked.
"Um…it's his house," I bit my lip.
"Then what are you doing here?"
"I live here." I avoided my parents' gaze.
"Amita!" my mother gasped.
"Mom, I'm a big girl. I can make my own decisions!"
An awkward silence followed.
"Pancakes, anyone?" Charlie asked.
So that's how I ended up eating pancakes at my kitchen table with my fiancée and my parents. I wouldn't classify it as the best meal of my life, to put it lightly. My father alternated between glaring at me and Charlie and my mother just sat there timidly, not wanting to upset Dad.
"Well, that wasn't the best idea you've ever had," I told Charlie as we got ready for bed that night.
"What? I wanted your family to be here."
"I'll bet you don't anymore. I wasn't kidding when I said that my parents were impossible. Did you see how my dad kept glaring at you during breakfast?"
Charlie laughed, "Yeah, it was kinda funny."
"No, it wasn't!" I insisted.
"Yes, it was."
I picked up my toothbrush and began to brush my teeth as angrily as I could. Brushing your teeth isn't really something that's easy to do angrily, let me tell you. I met Charlie's eyes in the mirror and promptly began to laugh, spewing toothpaste all over the counter.
"Told you it was funny." Charlie said after he had helped me clean everything up and I had rinsed my mouth out.
"No, it wasn't."
"Whatever," Charlie said before kissing me. He lifted me up and sat me down on the counter without breaking the kiss. I knew that I wanted this, but was hesitant.
"Charlie," I said in-between kisses. "My parents are sleeping down the hall."
"I know."
"And my mom nearly had a coronary when she found out we were living together."
"I know."
"And my dad sleeps with a knife underneath his pillow."
This got Charlie's attention and he pulled away. "Seriously?"
"Seriously." I wasn't kidding either. There had been random hate crimes against Muslims in my neighborhood as a child, and ever since then my dad had slept with a knife underneath his pillow.
Charlie took my hand and led me to the bed. Very worn out from reuniting with my parents, I laid down and closed my eyes immediately
"We'll just have to save it for the honey moon," Charlie said suggestively.
I took an extra pillow and hit him in the face with it.
"Goodnight, Charlie." I said in a singsong voice.
"Goodnight, baby." He gave me a quick kiss on the lips and pulled me into his arms.
I snuggled up to him and was soon asleep.
A/N Yep, so that's Amita's parents. Nice people aren't they? Personally, I agree with Charlie. I think they're funny!
xoxo
Lia