A/N: This morning I got more writing than planned done, which was cool. My child slept in and played on her own for a while. Now it's naptime!
Love Is Your Color
Chapter 9: Outsider
It was pouring raining as their flight landed. Roxie had been so nervous about this trip. She had no idea what to expect. The fact that Nick's family was so large scared her. She'd only ever had her mom and no other family so the concept of a large family was hugely foreign to her. As he drove the rental car Nick stole glances at Roxie who sat nervously in her seat. He could tell that she was very nervous. During the flight he did his best to reassure her, but that didn't seem to help. He knew that his family would accept her with open arms; well at least he hoped they would.
Nick pulled onto a large patch of property and down to a huge house. Roxie figured they must have arrived. She knew that this had to be the house because you needed quite the space to raise 7 children. Nick pulled the car next to a black Mercedes. He got out of the car and came around to Roxie's side and opened her door. The two of them jogged through the rain to the porch where it was dry.
"Rainbow… don't be nervous. They will love you." He said to her. Roxie still wasn't convinced. She had spent most of her life as an outcast of sorts. She watched as Nick knocked on the door. Moments later it was opened by a small Hispanic woman.
"Hola Nick." The woman said sweetly in a thick accent. "Come out of the cold. I will let your parents know you are here." She said as she moved from the front door allowing both Nick and Roxie into the house.
"Hola Marisol." Nick said sweetly to the woman. He had known her since he was young. She was the family's housekeeper. He knew his mother must have been working her hard getting ready for Christmas. It was supposed to be the first Christmas in a long time that all the kids would be home. Marisol left Nick and Roxie alone in a formal sitting room. To Roxie it reminded her of a room one would see in a magazine. Everything in the room was in its perfect place and it was perfectly spotless. There was a large Christmas tree at one end of the room that looked like they brought it straight from a department store; everything just like this room was perfect on the tree.
"My baby!" called a female voice. Roxie and Nick turned to see a brunette woman standing in the entrance to the room with her arms opened. Jillian Stokes stood there as her soon made his way to her. Nick looked at his mother who was always put together. He swore she must have slept in a pants suit. Nick walked to his mother who pulled him into a hug.
"Hey mama." He said to his mother as she let him go. She looked around him and her eyes landed on Roxie. Roxie didn't really know what to say or do. She was already so anxious.
"You brought a friend." Jillian said still looking at Roxie.
"Yes mama this is Roxanne." Nick said referring to Roxie by her given name. Truthfully Roxie liked when he called her Roxanne.
"Hello Roxanne." Jillian said. Roxie approached her cautiously giving her a nervous smile. "You are sure festive." She said noting Roxie's hair that remained pastel pink.
"Hello Mrs. Stokes it is wonderful to meet you." Roxie said as she put out her hand. Jillian took Roxie's hand and shook it.
"So how do you two know one another? Do you work together?" Jillian questioned.
"Yes... ma'am." Roxie answered quickly.
"Roxie lost her mother a few weeks ago and I thought it would be nice for her to not be alone for Christmas." Nick said. It then hit Roxie that his parents didn't know anything about her. She looked at Nick. Nick knew he was in deep. He hadn't told his parents he was seeing anyone. Truthfully he didn't know how to tell them about Roxie specifically. She wasn't the typical girl they expected him to bring home. She was on the colorful side and they were pretty conservative compared to Roxie and the way she was raised.
"Well I wasn't expecting more people, but you are welcome. I will have Marisol set you up in a room then Roxanne." Jillian said.
"That won't be necessary mama. She can stay with me." Nick said as he put his arm around Roxie's waist. He guessed there was no time like the present to let his mom know that Roxie was here with him as more than a friend.
"Oh…you two are…together?" Jillian questioned.
"Yes ma'am." Nick answered. He wasn't quite ready to break the engagement news and he would wait until he could tell everyone at the same time.
"Well then. I've got you setup in the same room as always." Jillian said.
"Ma'am the butcher is on the line." Marisol called out from another room.
"I better get that. Had a big order this year." Jillian said as she quickly left the room.
Roxie turned to Nick. She didn't know what to say. She had expected that his family knew about her. She wasn't sure if she was more concerned or furious with him. Nick knew he was in the doghouse and was going to have to make things up to her.
"You haven't told you family about me?" Roxie questioned in a hushed voice.
"No I just didn't know how." Nick said placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Are you embarrassed?" Roxie then asked. She felt a lump in her throat. She was then afraid of what he was going to say. She hadn't expected to walk into this situation. She figured that they knew about her and their engagement.
"No I'm not…well…I just didn't know how to explain you." Nick said truthfully.
"So you are embarrassed by me?" Roxie asked. Tears had already started to fall from her eyes. She wiped them away quickly. She just wanted to leave. This wasn't at all what she was expecting.
"Rainbow…" Nick started as he pulled her in by the waist. "You know I love you. I'm sorry I neglected to inform my family about you and our relationship. I'm sure they will all love you."
Roxie let out a sigh. She wasn't exactly sure. His mother had referred to her as colorful. She didn't know if that had to do with the fact that she was wearing bright colors and her hair was pink or to the fact that her skin was brown. Roxie was very uncomfortable, but knew she had nowhere to go in the moment. Nick kissed her gently. She knew he loved her, but she hated the way he kept her a secret.
"It looks like the rain has stopped. Let's get the bags from the car. We can go freshen up and get a little rest. I know my brother Rich will be here soon with his wife and kids." Nick said as she ran his hand down her arm. She simply nodded in response.
After getting their bags Nick led her upstairs and into a blue painted bedroom. The room was very formal and of course like the rest of the house looked like it popped from a magazine. Roxie took off her shoes and sat on the bed. She hadn't said much to Nick the entire time. She was still processing everything in her mind about how his family didn't know about their relationship. She hated that he put her in this situation knowing fully that Roxie did have some social anxiety and meeting new people could sometimes be difficult for her. Nick walked through a door that she assumed was the bathroom. She just sat on the bed thinking. Her brain was starting to hurt with all the thinking she had done. Nick re-entered the room. He sat next to her on the bed.
"I'm sorry." He said as he grabbed her hand and laced his fingers with hers.
"Wasn't the situation I was expecting to walk into." Roxie said truthfully as she looked at him.
"I know and it's my fault. Listen it is going to be a great time." He said. Roxie leaned in placing her forehead against his.
"Just tell me you aren't embarrassed by me." She whispered.
"I'm not embarrassed by you Rainbow. You're mine and I want everyone to know." He said before pulling her into a kiss. Roxie kissed him back. She smiled against his lips. She loved him so much. It was hard for her to find the words for how much she loved him.
The two of them were exhausted from working all night and then traveling that they fell asleep together. Roxie opened her eyes. She was in the bed alone. She stood up and went into the small bathroom that was connected to the room they were in. She took a washcloth and cleaned her face before brushing her teeth. She ran a comb through her hair and looked at herself. She looked presentable. She left the room and retraced her steps from earlier. As she got closer to the sitting room she could hear many voices. Her heart was beating quickly. Suddenly a woman with dark brown hair cut into a bob exited the sitting room.
"Hi." The woman said.
"Hello." Roxie said nervously.
"You must be Roxanne. I'm Nick's sister Helena." She said happily as she approached Roxie.
"Nice to meet you." Roxie said.
"You too. Everyone is just sitting around in there." Helena said. Roxie simply smiled and walked into the sitting room. There were a lot of people here. She spotted Nick sitting on the couch with another guy who looked a lot like him and a blonde guy she was sure was one of his brother-in-laws.
"Roxie." Nick said as he spotted her. Roxie walked in his direction. When she reached him he pulled her into his lap. Nick then cleared his throat loudly. All of the talking in the room started to quiet down. "Everyone I would like you to meet Roxie." He announced.
"So this is the girlfriend mom has been talking about." Said a woman sitting near the Christmas tree holding a small baby in her arms.
"Well everyone is here." Nick said. Roxie saw Helena whom she met in the hall enter the room and take a seat next to Jillian. "Roxie isn't just my girlfriend… she's my fiancée." There were gasps that came from around the room. Roxie could feel eyes on her. She was very nervous and hated being the center of attention.
"Fiancée?" questioned Jillian who was obviously shocked. Roxie bit her lip. This wasn't how she expected this moment at all.
"Yes a few weeks ago I asked Roxie to be my wife." Nick said proudly.
"Well congrats little bro." said a guy from across the room. He looked a lot like Nick, but older with a thick grey beard and greying hair.
"Thanks." Nick said holding onto Roxie.
"Umm son… can we talk to you for a minute in the kitchen?" Jillian asked.
"Sure." Nick said unsure of what was the big deal. Roxie quickly moved from his lap, but he took her hand for her to join.
"Alone please." Jillian said with her eye on Roxie.
"I'll be back." Nick said to Roxie as he let her hand go. Roxie sat in the spot that Nick had occupied. The room was silent and Roxie could feel the eyes of everyone on her. She wanted to crawl in a hole in that moment.
Nick followed his parents into the kitchen. He stood against the counter with his arms folded. He was confused to why they would call him out. He knew it had to do with Roxie, but what couldn't they say in front of Roxie to him. His parents eyed him for a moment. He felt like he was 10 years old and about to get in trouble for something.
"Nicolas." His mother started. He knew this was big because she never called him by his proper first name. She sighed. He could tell she was still formulating her words.
"Pancho son…is this some kind of joke?" His father Bill then spoke.
"Is what a joke?" Nick asked.
"Bringing in this random girl and telling us she is your fiancée. How much are you paying her for this?" Bill said.
"I'm not paying her anything and she isn't some random girl. She is my fiancée." Nick stated. He was starting to get angry, but he checked himself not wanting to lash out at his parents. He respected them and he only wished that they could respect this decision.
"I was hoping it was a joke." Jillian then said as she started to cry.
"Mama don't cry." Nick then said.
"How long have you known her?" Bill asked.
"I've known her a few months. She is a CSI." Nick stated hoping they could see something.
"How old is she?" Jillian then asked.
"She's… 27." Nick stated hesitantly. He knew that her being much younger was not going to go over very well.
"You are nearly 40 and you are dating a girl who can barely be out of college." Jillian then said. "How do you think this looks?"
"Why is her age a big deal?" Nick asked. "You'd never know it. She is very mature and very independent."
"Oh you'd know it." Bill said with a chuckle.
"You would with that pink hair. Who does that?" Jillian questioned.
"How are we going to tell our friends that our son is marrying a…" Bill paused.
"A black girl with pink hair." Nick then said finishing his dad's sentence. "Are we really going there?"
"I didn't say anything to that nature." Bill then said.
"But you were thinking it." Nick said starring his father down. He hurt thinking of the way his parents saw Roxie. He only wished that they could see her in the way he did. She was smart, fun, sweet, independent, mature, and hardworking. She was everything he could ask for in a woman.
Everyone could hear that voices were starting to raise in the kitchen. Roxie was very uncomfortable. She just wanted to hide or wake up knowing this was all some kind of dream. It couldn't actually be reality. She wished she could speak to the one person that she couldn't, her mom.
"So Roxie…" a voice came from across the room. On another couch was a woman with dusty blonde hair in one long braid that went down her shoulder. Nick had gone over a photo of his family with her and she knew the blonde sister was Trista.
"Yes." Roxie answered weakly.
"Where are you from?" Trista asked breaking the ice.
"Las Vegas, born and raised." Roxie answered.
"Cool." Trista said. Roxie gave her a weak smile. "Our family is obviously huge. Do you have any siblings?"
"No…only child." Roxie answered.
"No way!" came the voice next to her. This she knew was Rich. He was closet in age to Nick.
"Yeah just me." Roxie said.
"So what do you parents do?" asked another voice. This she knew wasn't a sister, but one of the sister-in-laws, she hadn't quite memorized all of the in-laws names.
"My mom was a cop… she passed away a few weeks ago." Roxie said.
"Sorry for your loss." Trista said.
"So your dad is all alone for Christmas?" questioned Helena.
"No dad in the picture. Always been just my mom and I." Roxie said. She'd never been interrogated before; she normally did the interrogating. Suddenly then she felt like she was saved when the heard footsteps coming. Nick entered the room. She could see on his face that he wasn't completely happy. Her heart was beating quickly.
"Alright we better get into the dining room for dinner." Jillian said forcing a smile. Everyone started to get up from their seats and leave the room. Roxie stood, but Nick took her by the hand.
"I'm sorry about that." Nick said to Roxie who stood there. Roxie really had no words. She felt like a complete outsider like she'd felt like her entire life.
The next couple days were just as awkward for Roxie. The first day she really tried her best to get to know everyone. Most of Nick's siblings were pretty great. The oldest sisters didn't seem to keen on her, but the only thing Roxie could do was try. It was Christmas Eve and Roxie sat in the bedroom reading a book. Everyone was downstairs having a great time, but Roxie didn't feel like wasting her time. She felt like they had made up her minds about her. She sat starring at a page in the book she had been reading. Her mind had drifted away. She looked down at her engagement ring. She didn't know if she could marry into a family that didn't seem to like her. She wiped a tear away just as there was a knock at the door. She looked up to see Jillian enter the room.
"I'm sorry dear. I thought the room was empty. Just bringing fresh towels." She said as she sat the towels down on the dresser.
"Thanks." Roxie said. Jillian stood in the doorway for a moment and then fully entered the room closing the door behind her. She then sat on the edge of the bed.
"Roxie… this is hard for us… I know you can tell. Nick is my baby and I've seen him through a lot. He falls easily and well he fell for you. You aren't what we expected for sure, but over the last couple days I see the way he looks at you. He loves you beyond anything I could imagine. I want to apologize for not accepting you right away. I still have a ways to go, but I want my son happy and it seems happy is with you." Jillian said. Roxie just looked at her. She didn't expect this.
"Thank you." Roxie then said. "I appreciate it."
"So… when's this wedding?" Jillian asked.
"I have no idea." Roxie admitted. "I want it to be soon though. Maybe over the summer."
"I bet your family is thrilled." Jillian said.
"I don't have a family. My mom was all I had. There is one else." Roxie said. She hated saying out loud that her mom was dead. She hated to think about it. She hated knowing that she had no one left.
"You're kidding?" Jillian questioned.
"No ma'am." Roxie said.
"Well if you don't mind I would like to help you with the wedding." Jillian said. Roxie turned to her shocked. She hadn't expected this at all. It was like night and day the turn around in his mother's attitude.
"Yes please. I'd love that." Roxie said.
"Fantastic." Jillian said clapping her hands together. "Would you like to come down? Most of the girls are down in the garden room. The guys are out in the cold playing football."
"Sure." Roxie answered.
Roxie followed Jillian down into the Garden room, which was a large indoor patio room. All the girls sat having drinks and watching the smaller children play in a corner. Roxie took a seat closet to the door. She could feel eyes on her.
"I invited Roxie down." Jillian said as she took the seat next to Roxie. "I am so excited to help with this wedding."
"Where will it be?" one of the sister-in-laws asked.
"I have no idea." Roxie said.
"You should do it here." Helena said excitedly. "Like here on the Ranch. It will be beautiful."
"That would be perfect." Jillian said clapping her hands together. Roxie smile. It did sound perfect to her. Just then the guys walked inside all muddy. Nick came to Roxie and smiled. He was happy to see that she was spending time with the others and not locked away in the bedroom alone.
"You guys are going to make the cutest babies!" Helena said excitedly.
"I know right." Nick said as he pulled Roxie up by the hand and pulled her close.
"Stop you're all dirty." Roxie said trying to fight him off, but he continued to pull her close and planted a kiss on her lips.
"Now you have to come get clean with me." He whispered in her ear.
"Get a room you guys." Trista said.
"That's where we're going." Nick said winking at his sister. Roxie just shook her head. There was now a permanent smile on her face. Things had gotten much better and she was happy to be here and be there with him.
A/N: This chapter struck close to home. I totally know what it is like to marry into a family that doesn't really care much for you and being a complete outsider in your new family.