Page 15 of Malibu Rising

And he kissed her, and looked her in the eye, and said, “I love you, too. God, Junie. I love you, too.”

• • •

The next day, Mick came over and held her hand as they stood in her parents’ kitchen and told them they were getting married.

“I wasn’t given much of a choice, it seems,” her father said, frowning.

“Dad—”

Theo nodded. “I’ll hear him out, June. You know me well enough to know that. I’ll always hear a man out.” He nodded to Mick. “C’mon, son, let’s talk about your plan to take care of my daughter.”

Mick winked at June as he followed Theo into the living room. She felt a tiny bit more at ease.

“Get the chicken out of the fridge, honey,” her mother said. “We’ll make chicken and rice for supper.”

June did as she was told, moving quietly, trying to hear what her father was saying to Mick. But she couldn’t make out a single word.

As Christina lit the stove, she turned to June. “He’s certainly as handsome a man as I’ve ever seen,” she said.

June smiled.

“My God,” Christina said. “He looks like a young Monty Clift.”

June got the carrots out and put them on the cutting board.

“But that’s just all the more reason to be cautious,” Christina said, shaking her head. “You don’t marry the boys who look like Monty Clift.”

June looked back down at the carrots in front of her and started chopping. She knew her mother would never understand. Her mother never bought new dresses, never tried a new recipe, never watched TV except the news. She watched her mother reread her old, worn copy ofGreat Expectationsover and over every year, because “why take a chance on another book when I already know I like this one?”

If June didn’t want her mother’s life, then she couldn’t take her mother’s advice. Plain and simple.

Twenty minutes later, as Christina was stirring the rice and June was nervously setting the table, Mick walked in, Theo’s hand on his shoulder.

Theo smiled at June. “You might have picked a good one after all, honey.”

June, overcome, ran to Mick and her father and hugged them both.

“You have my blessing,” Theo said, turning his gaze to Mick. “With the caveats we talked about, son.”

Mick nodded.

“Thank you, Daddy,” June said.

Theo shook his head. “Don’t thank me. Mick here’s got a few years in him to try to make it big and then he’s ready to do the right thing and take over the restaurant.”

Theo shook Mick’s hand and Mick smiled and shook it back. “Yes, sir,” he said.

Theo went over to Christina and June pulled Mick aside. “We’re going to take over the restaurant?” she whispered.

Mick shook his head. “He just needs to hear what he needs to hear right now. And so I gave it to him. But did you hear the firstpart? A few years to make it big? I don’t need a few years. Don’t worry, Junie.”

Over dinner, Mick complimented Christina’s cooking and Christina finally smiled. Mick asked Theo for advice on car insurance and Theo gladly stepped in to consult.

And over dessert, strawberry shortcake, Theo asked Mick to sing.

“June says you sing Cole Porter better than Cole Porter,” Theo said.

Mick demurred and then acquiesced. He put his napkin on the table and stood up. He starting singing “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” And before he got to the bridge, Theo was nodding along, smiling.

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