Sweet Little Lies

Ch. 26 Moving In?

   
I laugh quietly to myself peeking into the kitchen, I watch Ma and Mrs. West approach Ajax with a date book, a thick binder and a whole series of questions. He looks taken aback by the confrontation, its perfect revenge for not helping me with them the other day. When Ma and Mrs. West started cornering me about the wedding plans and wanting to make menu and cake tasting appointments, I directed them towards Ajax. Who I lied and said wanted to help with the wedding plans. I've come to the conclusion we're not waiting years to get married, I'd go insane by then. So for the sake of my mind, body and Ajax's wellbeing (because his nonchalant attitude is going to get his butt kicked), we're starting the wedding process. I even went so far as to set up an appointment with the local bridal shops to try on dresses.
He listens as they set papers in front of him and waits patiently for them to finish before he asks any follow up questions. I narrow my eyes at him. He's too good at dealing with them, he could've easily helped me when I asked him to call them off. "Don't you want to join them?" Mr. West asks, as he picks up the coffee pot refilling his mug. He smiles at my attempt to not be seen, by merely poking my head into the room.
My eyes go round and I shake my head in terror. "Please, don't tell them I'm here. I told them to ask Ajax to help. I just wanted to see his reaction. Total let down." I complain, pointing to the happy group at the table.
He smiles. "You underestimate him. He's had to deal with his mother is whole life. He's immune to it."
I shrug. "Still! A little discomfort would've been nice." I pout.
He laughs, drawing attention and like a snap of the fingers I've been spotted. "Harp, we want to put together a tasting menu. Your help is required." Ajax, announces smirking.
"I have work to do, sorry." I refuse.
"Nonsense. Harper, this is important. Paxton, understands." Mrs. West states, looking at her husband for confirmation.
He winces when he looks at me. "Sorry, I sleep with her at night and I have to wake up with her every morning." He whispers.
"I wish your son would think of that." I reply, glaring at Ajax.
He laughs again, "He'll learn. Give him time."
"What are you two whispering about?" Mrs. West asks, curiously.
"I'm telling her the key to a successful marriage." Mr. West answers.
"Aren't you supposed to be telling your only son all your aged wisdom." Ajax, jokes.
Mr. West shakes his head sadly. "Sorry, Son. You're going to have to learn the hard way."
I giggle as we walk to the table. "No sea food." I tell them, taking salmon off the list of possibilities. "There I helped."
"Theres more to it than that." Ma says, shifting the papers and bringing up the list of appetizers.
I'm shocked by the list and when I look around the table, I see a guest list and seating charts...this is so organized.
"Uh, this is all fine." I offer, waiting to run away.
"We need to narrow it down to what we want to taste test, then we decide on what to have." Ajax replies, looking at me amused.
"Oh, excuse me. I've never done this before." I remind him.
"I almost forgot, countertops are in. You can move in as soon as you're ready." Mrs. West says, looking down a list of something.
After picking paint colors the painters were out the next day. With the countertops in, the house is ready for him to move in. I glance at Ajax confused. Do they want us moving in together? Does he want to move in together? Thats not happening. Not until we're married.
"Right away." Ajax, responds. I look at their excited faces. They are so genuinely happy for him and for us, it brings a smile to my face.
"We have furniture in storage if you want to go through it and pick out what you like." Mrs. West tells us both.
I nod, "Thank you."
"Can we do that now, this is going to take too long." Ajax, complains.
I laugh. "I'm sure your parents want you out of here just as badly as you do."
Mr. West smiles. "We've been waiting for this moment your whole life." He jokes.
"Paxton." Mrs. West scolds, laughing and hitting his arm.
"Thats so disturbing." Ajax, replies distastefully.
"Come on. We'll get the guys and our trucks, then go to the storage unit." Mr. West offers, standing up.
"Lets go, Harp." Ajax, demands.
I'm about to refuse to go, but I see Ma and Mrs. West's disappointed looks and stand up. "Right, we want to fulfill your husbands dream of seeing his only son move out." I joke. "Its a big day for him."
"I knew you'd make the best daughter in-law." Mr. West states, lovingly throwing his arm around my shoulder as we walk out the back porch. "By the way, you're doing a great job with the books. I was thinking of expanding your job responsibilities."
"Really?"
"If you're interested, I was thinking you could work at the West End 2 days a week and at the bank for 3. Its more of a challenge, but I we could use you."
"Yes, I would love that." I say, excitedly.
The back door opens and Mrs. West pokes her head out. "Remember we are having Trevor and Bryan over tonight." She reminds Mr. West.
"Can't wait. I miss, Trevor." He grumbles.
The ride to the storage unit takes a little over an hour, but it was worth it to see what was waiting behind the storage door. Tons of furniture, lamps, rugs, paintings, everything we would ever need to furnish the house.
"I remember this set, Ma got rid of it because it wasn't nap friendly, as she called it." Ajax, reminisces. Running his hand along a brown leather couch.
We choose the couch and matching chair for the living room and another set with a light yellow and blue plaid design for the family room. We also pack up tables and lamps to decide where to put later. Ajax refuses to use an old bedroom set I thought was beautiful, insisting he's not sleeping on anything his parents once did.
    On the way back to the house we have to pass through town and Ajax suggests we stop and get my stuff from the Kershaw's. "I don't have any furniture." I remind him, confused.
"I know. I was talking about your clothes." He clarifies, smirking.
"I'm not getting my clothes." I state, as if its the most obvious thing in the world.
"Well, sweetheart I'm all for that." Ajax replies, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
Mr. West chuckles and shakes his head. I hit his arm embarrassed. "I mean. I'm not moving in yet. Not until after the wedding."
"Yes, you are." He corrects, firmly.
"No, I'm not." I reply, just as serious. "I never told you that I was."
"I assumed since its our house, we'd be moving in, together." He says, trying to keep his temper in check. I can tell by the look in his eyes, he's not happy.
"Well, next time don't assume and ask first." I point out.
"Marriage rule number one." Mr. West, sings under his breath.
Ajax takes a deep breath and glances at his father then back to me. "We'll talk about this when we're alone."
"Fine, but I'm telling you its not going to happen. You're going to have to wait." I reply, stubbornly.
"I'm not waiting until September for you to move in." He argues, like its such an absurd notion.
"What happens in September?" I ask, irritated with him.
"September 9th. We're getting married." He replies, like I know all about it.
"You picked the day?" I question, outraged I wasn't consulted.
"My ma told me you wanted me to." He replies, getting angry with me.
"I did not! Wait, I guess I could've. I just wanted them to leave me alone!" I say, defeated.
"Well, thats the day I picked. I figured it was far enough away for you." He responds, almost yelling.
"Why are you so mad?" I ask, his anger unreasonable.
"Because, I would've set the date for tomorrow if I knew you weren't moving in until we were married." He explains, his jaw clenched tight.
I don't respond to him, he is way too upset about this. Its not that big of a deal, yet he's acting like its the end of the world. I guess I should've been more clear that I had no intention of moving in. I just didn't think he'd expect it.
"I would've told you I wasn't moving in sooner. I just didn't realize you thought that I was." I respond, trying to calm him down.
"You're moving in." He states, clearly.

    We don't say anything to each other the rest of the drive to the house. After things are unloaded and we make it back to the West End for dinner I see Ajax's uncle Trevor, who I know doesn't get along with Mr. West, but I always liked him. He says exactly what he's thinking. Which can be hilarious at times, he reminds me of Mrs. West, actually.
"Uncle Trevor." I greet him, with a hug. Noticing him favoring his left leg. "How are you?" I ask, remembering the accident. He fell off a hay-bailer years ago leaving him with a jacked up knee that never healed right.
"Better than you are. What's a nice girl like you doing marrying Paxton West's offspring?"
I laugh. "You mean your nephew."
"He's only half Pickett. Thats not good enough for you. His cousin, Jamie is single." He says, only half serious.
"Wouldn't he be half Pickett too?"
"Yeah, but he got the good half." He states, ridiculously.
"I think I'll stick with the Pickett DNA reject." I say, smiling.
"Stubborn aren't you?"
"Extremely." Ajax interjects from behind me. I glance behind me to see he has his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
"Hey, I'm defending you. So, watch the attitude." I warn.
"We need to talk." He states, moving towards the barn.
I roll my eyes at his back. "See, the bad half." Uncle Trevor states, pointedly with amusement in his eyes. He walks away and I turn to go after a grumpy Ajax.