Sweet Little Lies

Ch. 24 The Duo

After talking to my parents and finally getting my Ma to see that I'm not planning the wedding right away, we leave. I go to my the office and Ajax to goes to his. I sit at my desk paying invoices and balancing budgets. I keep catching myself staring at the ring on my left hand. It really is beautiful, I just cant believe that were getting married. I'm going to be Mrs. Ajax West. In a few years of course but still were engaged, that's enough for now.
I continue to catch up on the work I missed when Remmy was here, then I hear my Ma and Mrs. West having a conversation. I notice that the sound is getting closer. Please, don't let them becoming to see me. I wont be able to take them on as a team, they'll destroy me.
The tap on the door kills all my hopes and dreams of getting work done, and of putting off wedding planning. "Hey, honey. Mind if we talk to you for a bit?" Ma, asks coming into the room.
"I'm real busy. I'm playing catch up for the time that Remmy was here."
"It wont take long." Mrs. West chimes in, taking a chair and pulling it over to the desk. When Ma does the same I know its gonna be a long day.
"We have some save the date samples to pick from." Ma offers, holding up sheets of paper.
"Save the dates? We haven't even picked a date." I remind them.
Ma waves away my response. "Its for when you do."
Knowing I'm outnumbered and likely to stay that way, I give in and start thumbing through the samples. I see a simple black and white one. "This one." I tell them and hand it back.
They look at each other in disappointment. "How about the both of you pick it. Really, I don't mind." I say. Looking back and my computer with the intention of doing work, until wedding invitations are placed in front of me.
"Are you serious?" I ask, shocked.
"It can take months for these to get made. It best just to make a decision now and not worry about it later." Mrs. West explains, tapping the book.
I go through the binder and pick a simple lilac and silver one. "Honey you're supposed to pick invitations to reflect your wedding colors."
"What are my wedding colors?" I ask, knowing they have the answer.
"Navy and yellow. Ajax's favorite color and your favorite color." Ma replies, opening the book to the one I was supposed to have chosen. "This one is perfect its feminine and simplistic, definitely your style."
"Okay, that's fine. I like it." I admit, hoping against hope thats the last of this little impromptu meeting. However, I'm not that lucky, a flower booklet set in front of me. Without even opening it I ask, "What kind of flowers are we going to have?"
"Daisy's, your favorite and hydrangeas, because Ajax loves the smell of them." Mrs. West answers, happily.
"Great, any other matters that need to be addressed? I think its been almost four hours since I got engaged. Should we go dress shopping? Menu tasting? Cake? Who are my bridesmaids?" I question, rapidly. If they can tell I'm being sarcastic, they don't let it show.
"We have to make an appointment for menu tasting but I can call and arrange it, that goes for the cake too. If you're up to dress shopping I know the shop in town is by appointment only, but I'm sure Loretta will make an exception." Ma, says excitedly.
"No, I don't want to do any of this right now. I think what we have is a good start and we can go from there."
"Are you sur-"
"Yes, I'm sure." I reply, trying my best to hide my irritation. I know they're excited, but really! Can I be engaged a day at the very least?
"It's just a start, theres a lot that has to be done, Harper." Ma warns. "For now we can table it and discuss where you two will be living." She states, clapping happily.
"I'm staying with the Kershaw's." I remind her.
"Now, that you're engaged. We need to talk about living arrangements." Mrs. West says, pretending she didn't hear me. "Paxton and I would like to build a house for you both on the property as a early wedding present." She explains.
Stunned by the generosity I ask, "Where?"
"Its about five miles from us but set back in the trees, its one of Ajax's favorite spots the river runs through the back of the property and the lake is about a mile from it. Its gorgeous surrounded by the trees you're going to love it, you can really feel secluded there."
"As newlyweds that's important." Ma winks.
"Oh, dear God. Tell me the house isn't already built." I panic.
"Its not...completed. We wanted you both to put the final touches on it."
"You've got to be kidding me? Why would you have a house built on the chance we'd end up getting married?" I question, surly they have to see the insanity in that?
"We started it about a year ago. We wanted Ajax to have a place of his own. Because, to be frank, Paxton and I need a little alone time together once in a while. But more than that, we are doing this because he has worked on the ranch since he was just a child, he deserves a nice house to go home to. We wanted to make sure of that, but now its your duty as his wife to make it a home."
"Does he know about this?" I ask, curious as to why he'd keep this from me.
She scoffs, "Of course not. Any supplies that came in he was told were for Dan's house. Dan knows though, he's done a lot on the house." As soon as she says, supplies for the house, I mentally think of the account labeled housing. I just figured it was for new bunk houses for the workers. I wasn't expecting this.
"When are you going to tell him, exactly?"
"Tonight, we want you both to decide on wall colors so we can have the painters come in. We also have the driveway gravel to be put down next week."
"Isn't this all so exciting?" Ma asks, breathless with excitement.
"There are no words." I reply, truly in a state of shock.

Okay, not the best...but I got it updated! Xo