Letters to Adonis

Chapter:: Nineteen

Dear Adonis,

A month later, I was in Dr. Edgar’s office for a check-up a week before the wedding.

“I don’t want to speak too early, but your symptoms have slowed down recently. Have you noticed?” Dr. Edgar questions me as he does the regular check up things like check my blood pressure, breathing, and other things.

I bit my lip, “I was too scared to say anything. Like if I did then they would start back up again,” I laugh at my foolishness as Dr. Edgar writes down numbers.

I look over to dad and notice he’s out of it, probably remembering one of mom’s appointments. “I understand,” the doctor nods and maybe he really does understand. I try not to think negatively, and pretend that he could understand my relief that my symptoms have slowed. I looked down at my left hand and look at the ring you gave me. It was silver banded and swirled around with blue sapphire. The doctor follows my line of sight and his gaze lands on my ring. I see his eyebrows shoot up and ignore the feeling of wanting to hide the ring. It’s not that I’m embarrassed, I’ll just have to get used to people noticing it’s there too.

“So if my symptoms have slowed down, does that mean the time between appointments stretch?” I tried to keep the excitement out of my voice but I couldn’t help it. It’s not that I didn’t like the friendly doctor; it’s just what seeing him meant I didn’t like.

“We’ll still keep an eye on it,” he smiles at me before he tells my father and me that we can go. As we walk out of the office, I can only keep my hand on my ring. I watch it as my arms swing back and forth subconsciously. Dad seems distracted; looking like he can barely get through the door with as much attention he’s giving the world.

As we get in the car I search for something to say. Surely this doesn’t all have to be silent car rides? “So are you sure you’re okay with me moving out and marrying Adonis and everything?” Even though it’s been a month since you proposed, I was still waiting for the lecture or the big speech he always had for big decisions.

After I ask him this, he shakes himself like he’s trying to wake up. “Yeah, it’s not like you guys are moving out of the country. You’ll come visit me.”

I watch him as the smile that was plastered on his face wipes off, revealing a man who is just plain tired. But of what? I was moving out soon, mom was already gone. Then I realized he could be sad about me leaving. But like he said, I would always visit him. When we pulled up to the house, I noticed cars in parked out in the street.

“What are all the cars for?” I asked him dumbly.

“Your grandparents, aunt, uncle, and two cousins are here for your wedding. You remember that you’re getting married, right?” he attempts a joke but I now see that the fact that he has to play host to my family from my mom’s side is what has him looking so exhausted.

“It’s okay, they’ll be gone soon. Let’s just get this over with,”

Two hours later, and I forgot how obnoxious my family was. Everyone on my dad’s side was dead except for a brother he had up in Alaska. Uncle David was a bachelor and was more comfortable with a six pack then buying a plane ticket to visit us. Apparently I’ve met him before, but that was before I could remember anything and I don’t think it really counts.

I totally forgot about the fact that I sent them wedding invitations. Of course they would actually show up. But did dad know about it? My mom’s side of the family had a tendency to show up unexpectedly and most likely unwelcomed. Ever since my mom had become diagnosed, my grandparents stopped talking to my father and I. Maybe in some twisted way they blamed her diagnosis on us, which is completely stupid of them.

We get out of the car and go to greet them. We had to put smiles on our faces because they were sitting on the porch and it seems like we came in the middle of a little argument.

“There you are, Ariel! I can’t believe you’re getting married. You aren’t even eighteen yet!” my Grandma Daisy is the first one to voice her opinion, as always. She’s a short lady with white grey hair that she braids probably every day; it’s always that way when I see her. She has laugh lines and crow’s feet and she, along with being my only grandma, would probably be my favorite.

“It’s nice to see you too, Grandma.” I mumble sarcastically while she drags me in for a hug. “I am only seventeen but dad is going to take care of the legalities of it.” I smile at her and look at everybody else while dad scoots by and tries to unlock the door. My Grandpa Burt looks like he always has, strong and serious. My aunt is chewing on her fingernails, like she’s the one who is nervous about the wedding. My uncle just looks at ease while his son and daughter are arguing their way through my doorstep.

“Alyssa, Andy, quit it out. Go take a seat on the couch or something,” my aunt scolds them as she slowly lowers herself onto the recliner. Instead of leaning back and reclining she sits in it straight backed. It was the most uncomfortable position I have ever seen somebody in before.

“Are you guy’s hungry? I could order some pizza,” my dad says as he comes back into the room after hiding out somewhere in the houses, and he has his glasses on. I could tell by the way he’s rubbing his temples that he’s getting a headache and they haven’t even been here for a full day yet.

“I’ll call them dad, you go get some sleep.” I call over to him as I’m closing the door behind me. Before he can protest I throw in, “I’ll bring you some pizza when it comes.”

My dad nods slowly, I can tell he’s appreciative of the break. “There are two twenties in the jar you can use.” I nodded at him to show him I understood as he makes his way upstairs. I listen for the sound of his door closing before I pick up the phone and dial pizza. This would be an interesting week, and I couldn’t wait for you to meet my crazy family.

Love, Ariel