"Me and you, and you and me.
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be.
The only one for me is you, and you for me,
So happy together."
—The Turtles
Becky waits for the storm.
Their parents know the truth. What are they going to say?
But Carolyn and Constantine both remain silent, completely shell-shocked at what they are witnessing.
The twin lion sculptures look down from their pedestals in judgment. Oh sure, Becky thinks, bet you marble lions have never done anything wrong in your life, ever.
Becky wishes for Carolyn or Constantine to say something, anything – express any single emotion, even if it's fury – but nothing. It's like their voices have been stolen away.
Bear starts to grow visibly antsy, fiddling with the knobs on his camera, but too afraid to say anything in this clearly uncomfortable family moment.
How long will this go on? Maybe Becky should say something. But what can one say in this situation? "Congratulations, and guess what – your step-daughters are also your daughters-in-law!"
Finally, the silence is broken by the sound of footsteps. Then a voice. "Carolyn, I don't mean to interrupt, but you simply must come and see–"
Geraldine emerges into the entrance hall. For all that she loves to prattle on, the scene that greets her is enough to shut her up for once. Becky watches her eyes dart back and forth between the parents and the children while she processes the situation.
Then she screams.
The sound ricochets off the walls of the entrance hall and bounces through the library corridors. It takes so much air, Geraldine looks like she's going to faint, but at least there'll be someone nearby to catch her, because within twenty seconds, every single guest from the wedding pours out into the foyer to see what is going on.
And every single guest, upon seeing Freen and Becky posed as they are on the staircase, joins the same stunned silence as their parents.
Except one person.
"Freen, what's going on?" Pyotr's eyes widen as he finally puts it together. "Your sister?"
All at once, the crowd breaks out into a flurry of questions and demands in multiple languages, with everyone talking over each other. Becky can't even tell if their parents have shown a vocal reaction yet, in all the noise.
"Everyone, SHUT UP!"
Freen's bellow echoes off the marble floors. The crowd is stunned into silence.
"I can explain." Freen takes a few steps down the staircase, then continues calmly.
"All of you know us, or at least, each half of this family knows one of us. But since we're all coming together on this day, let me start over with a proper introduction. I am Freen. And this is Becky. She is my wife."
Freen reaches into her pocket and pulls out the aquamarine ring. She slips it onto her left hand. Everyone gasps.
Freen looks back up to Becky. "Shit, I didn't bring my ring," Becky mumbles as she comes down the steps to Freen's side, "but, uh, you get it..."
Freen chuckles, and pulls Becky's ring out, sliding it on Becky's finger in one smooth motion. "Good thing I think ahead."
"I love pockets, and I love you."
A ripple of gasps runs through the crowd. Apparently the marriage part isn't so shocking as the love that goes along with it.
Then, the objections come. Just like Shrek, now. Like popcorn throughout the crowd, they burst free one after another:
YOU ARE READING
And Our Parents
RomansaBecky, we are all adults here." "It's hard to take that seriously when you have your hand in my pants. The chemistry between Becky and Freen is obvious and immediate, so it's awkward when they find out their parents are getting married. This is a co...
