Page 112 of Love Unforgettable
The salesperson brings out two different clutches and three pairs of shoes. I pick the shoes that I like, Kat and Remi pick the clutch; I give the girl my credit card and ask her to giftwrap everything.
“Is that an American Express Black Card?” Kat asks me when the girls hands it back.
“It is,” I respond.
“I’ve never seen one in real life. Can I hold it?” she asks again.
“Uh . . . sure,” I say, handing it to her. “You’re an odd duck, aren’t you?”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Remi chimes in. Kat gives her the finger. Remi sticks her tongue out. The salesperson hands me a bag with everything giftwrapped inside, not batting an eye at their shenanigans, and we are back out in the car in under twenty-five minutes.
My kind of shopping.
We go over the game plan one more time. The girls are going to drive up in about an hour to bring Lexie the dress for tonight. Then they will surprise her that they are going with us to the event. In the meantime, Lexie believes that I am bringing the dress with me and will be there an hour or so before the ceremony begins.
My parents are flying into the San Francisco Airport directly and getting a car service to the hotel. I will be driving Mavis and Babs from San Soloman. My parents were able to get a two-room suite so that Mavis and Babs can stay with them. It’s amazing to me how often suites are still available, even when the hotel is sold out. Since I have a suite for Lexie and me, Kat and Remi will stay in Lexie’s original room.
My girl will attend the conference as usual and will be none the wiser until we are seated for dinner. At which time she’ll meet my parents. I get a little acid reflux at the thought of it. Not because I think they all won’t like each other, but because this is not something that Lexie and I talked about or planned. And it’s sudden as far as our relationship is concerned. Just because me and my family are all comfortable with the lightning bolt theory, doesn’t mean everyone else is.
I haven’t known her long enough to gauge the emotional response this will result in. Kat is convinced it will piss Lexie off. Remi thinks she’ll be stressed out but touched. Mavis and Babs don’t care, but that’s mainly because they think they are responsible for this entire relationship. That they have arranged the coupling of Lexie and me, and it would not have happened otherwise.
I go home after dropping Kat and Remi off at their respective homes. I like those girls. They may be a little odd, but they are solid, no bullshit. Just like Lexie. It makes me happy to know she has people like that in her life. She’s gonna need them after the shock of tonight.
