Changing Seasons

Seventy-One

****

"Nice of you to drop by so unexpectedly," her mother told her in a way that made Atira feel like Alexandria expected her to grovel and beg for her forgiveness.

"I wanted to talk to you for a few minutes," Atira said, "Can I come in?"

Alexandria stared at her momentarily, wanting her daughter to understand how scorned she felt. "I suppose so." She told her finally, moving out of the way. Atira followed her mother into the front room, sitting in a vintage-styled chair. "What brings you here to see me? I'm guessing you aren't here to apologize."

Apologize for what? She wanted to ask. For living my life as I place. "I just wanted to share some news with you before you heard it from anyone else," Atira began.

"You're pregnant?" Alexandria interrupted.

"No. I'm getting married," she blurted out. "In a few weeks."

Her mother looked stunned, "Married? To whom? Because it certainly isn't Kevin, which is a complete shame."

Atira released a shaky breath, "I'm marrying Krist," She told her. "My boyfriend from high school, Krist Samson."

Alexandria's ice queen complexion flushed with red. "You're joking," she stammered, clearly taken back by the announcement.

Atira stood her ground, "I'm not. You are welcome to attend the wedding if you can respect us as a married couple. If you cannot do that, you aren't welcome in our lives."

Alexandria stared at her only child with ice-cold eyes, her mouth tight. "Was he too scared to come with you to tell me this lovely news?"

Atira rose to her feet, "No, Mother, I told him not to come along because I know how you are," she snapped, "I see that you haven't changed at all."

She turned, taking long, intent strides to the door.

"When is this...wedding going to be?" Alexandria called after her.

Atira turned, facing her mother. "Don't worry about it, you're not invited. Take care, Mom."

Standing up to her mother was something she had dreamt of doing for years. To actually do it, felt amazing. She actually stood her ground.

Atira called Krist when she got and settled in front of her computer. "You'll never guess what happened?" She asked when he picked up.

"What's up, baby?" Krist wanted to know.

"I told my mom she's not invited to the wedding, and if she can't be supportive, then she isn't going to be part of our lives." Atira enthused a smile spread from ear to ear.

"Way to stand up for yourself. I take it she tripped out on you?"

"Mm...not so much tripped out as she was just an uptight bitch about it. Not a surprise, to be honest," Atira admitted.

"That sucks. Fuck her, though, if she can't even act right or pretend to be happy for you."

"I agree, fuck her."

****

Krist felt bad that Atira's mother had reacted, well, as expected, when being told about their upcoming wedding. It was clear that Alexandria had never gotten over the grudge she held against him over ten years ago.

He remembered when they'd first announced to Mrs. Allen that they were officially a couple, she hadn't taken it well and actually commented to Atira in front of Krist: "But his brother is such a lovely young man. "

Alexandria had made it clear she disapproved of Krist for her daughter, though she didn't forbid them to see one another. She did have a strict set of rules; if Krist came over, he could only stay in the front room. No touching, no cuddling, no blankets with lights on.

Of course, they still messed around around everywhere else they had gotten the chance to. Atira would tell her mom that she was studying with a friend at the library and would instead go to Krist's house.

Linda was pretty lax about the rules. She'd tell them to keep Krist's door open if Atira was in the room, but she never came upstairs to see if he followed it. That meant they spent a lot of time making out and dry humping...and a whole lot of blue balls for Krist for a while.

After they'd make out for an hour or two, Atira would straighten herself up, and he'd walk her down to the library so she could study before her mom showed up.

Krist knew that Alexandria had bitched Atira out about wasting her time on someone like him and how she could do better. Atira cried to him on multiple occasions about how mean her mom would speak about their relationship. He felt bad that their relationship cost her so much grief, but he couldn't bear to let her go, and he had tried to be optimistic that her mother would warm up towards them as a couple. Which she clearly never did.

"You handling everything ok, baby?" he asked as they sat on the balcony once Rocco had gone to bed. "Like about your mom."

Atira sipped her tea, holding the cup with two hands to keep warm. "Yes. I'm just proud of myself for standing up to her. I've spent my whole life letting everyone make decisions for me, and I am through with it."

Of course, Atira would never have uttered those words in front of Cami because she felt that Atira had obviously given Krist the authority to run her life now.

"You should be proud. Boundaries are hard," Krist told her, taking a hit off a preroll.

Atira glanced over at him, a smile playing upon her lips, "I forgot to tell you, I had my birth control taken out."

Krist looked at her, astounded. "No, you did not! You better not be playing with me," he told her, trying not to smile. Atira slipped her arm out of her sweater, showing him that the implant had, in fact, been cut out. "No fucking way!"

She grinned, "I did. Are you happy?"

"I am. I didn't think you would want to try so soon," he admitted. "It's not a bad thing. I'm hella happy." He pulled Atira into his arms and kissed her. "You have no idea how happy I am."

Seeing Krist react so positively made Atira feel amazing. She absolutely could have waited to take her birth control out and wouldn't have minded waiting. Still, she thought that the possibility of a pregnancy would encourage Krist to focus on sobriety even more.

"I was reading it can take a few months to actually happen," Atira informed him, "So I'm not expecting it to happen for us until summer or later."

Krist finished his joint, staring off into the horizon. He never would have expected his life to turn out as it was, and he was forever grateful.

Author's Note:

If you'd like to read more, check out Book Two in the Samson Family Series-Turning a New Leaf