"How about these?" Erika's mother suggested. Erika and her mother were currently planning her wedding and trying to decide on which flowers to use for her bouquet.
"I like the roses," Erika responded, and then the two decided to take a break since focusing on just planning a wedding all day become quite boring sometimes.
While taking their break, Erika's soon-to-be husband, Willie Cauley-Stein got home from his practice. Erika and Willie had met back in their freshmen year at Kentucky. People believed that they rushed their relationship since he proposed to her during their freshmen year, which was also the year he declared for the draft but they didn't care. They were in love and they knew that, they didn't care about what others had to say about them.
"Hey baby girl," Willie said, walking up to her before leaning down to kiss her quickly, "Can I talk to you about something... alone?" He asked.
Erika looked up at him before nodding slightly. "Yeah, let's go." She said, standing up and leading him out to the backyard of the home the two shared. She sat down on one of the patio chairs, "What's up?" She asked.
He took a seat on the chair across from her, "Well you know how we're getting married and all... I was wondering what you were going to do about the whole last name situation since I know you take honor in your maiden name... but you are going to take my last names, right?" He asked.
She looked at him blankly, she did fear for when he was going to ask this but no matter how much she truly loved Willie, she just couldn't see herself changing her last name. She took high honor in the last name she was given when she was born, she was one who wanted to keep her last name the way it is. "Actually babe... no." She answered.
"That's good then- wait what?" Willie asked, not knowing if he had heard her correctly or not. Did she really just say that she wasn't going to change her last name to his? "What do you mean, no? I thought you said that you were willing to change your last name to mine when the time came." He said, getting frustrated with her.
"Willie, I love you, I really do but I don't want to change my name. Understand that babe, please." She spoke calmly, not trying to start any commotion or worse, a fight. When she got into a fight with Willie, things went bad.
"You're unbelieveable," was all he said before getting up and walking into the house, leaving Erika behind feeling upset about what just happened. She sighed, before heading back into the living room to see her mother and Willie's mother making more plans for the wedding.
"Erika, baby, what happened? Willie walked in and he seemed mad..." Erika's mother asked, looking up from her laptop.
Erika shook her head, "It's nothing. He just uh... got upset that I told him I wouldn't be taking his last names when we got married," She explained.
Both mothers looked at each other before looking back at her. "Sweetie, Willie only got upset because he's very dedicated to his family, you know that. Family is the number one thing in his life, so having you take his last names would make him happy because it means you are apart of his family. He loves you, darling, he really does. He's just frustrated, but really I think you should take his last names. Eventually in your life, when the time comes where you tie the knot, you'll change your last names. I had to do it when I married Willie's father, and your mother had to it when she married your father," Willie's mother explained, and Erika nodded, completely understanding everything this time.
"You're right.. thank you Marlene," She smiled before rushing up the stairs to their bedroom. "Willie...?" She said, walking into the room to search for him. She found him looking out the huge window of their room.
He didn't even answer her, but she still walked over to stand next to him. "I know you're probably still very mad at me, and I understand why. But, I talked to your mother and mine and it was mostly your mom that made me realize how wrong of me it was to tell you that I wouldn't take your last names. This time, I'm one hundred percent sure that I am more than willing to take your last names when you and I get married," She said, looking up at him.
"Really?" He asked, earning a nod from her. He couldn't help but smile and pulling his soon to be wife into a tight hug. Now he could definately call her, Mrs. Cauley Stein. "So, you ready to become Mrs. Cauley-Stein, babe?" He asked.
Erika giggled, hugging him back, "Of course I am, Mr. Cauley Stein." She smiled up at him.
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I hope this is what you wanted, Erika but I hope you like it! 😊♥️
