Sweet Little Lies

Ch. 27 The Gift

    I walk into the barn to see Ajax leaning against the door to the office. "You're being completely ridiculous about this, you know that?" I complain.
"What is the harm of you moving in today? Why are you so against it?" He questions.
I seriously hate being made repetitive. "I just rather be married thats all. It doesn't mean I wont come over." I explain, not see what the big deal is.
He growls in frustration. "But I want to start sleeping and waking up together. I want to come home to you, not an empty house."
"Well, I'll sleepover sometimes." I compromise.
The set of his jaw tells me I'm not going to say anything to pacify him. Ajax can be understanding, but if he's made up his mind about something, there is no hope to change it. This is going to be an ongoing argument until I move in, too bad it will be after we're married. I can be just as stubborn as he is, I cross my arms mimicking his stance.
"I guess we'll be getting married sooner than you thought." He says, his eyes watching me intently.
I smirk. "You already picked the day." I remind him.
He takes a deep breath and I decide I've had enough of him today and leave the barn. I walk through the back door, finding the kitchen full of people. Dan is just inside the door standing next to Kira. "When did this dinner turn into a party?" I ask, stunned by the mass of people.
"Its your engagement party." Dan replies, actually smiling full out.
I turn to him my eyes wide. "You're joking." He nods his head toward the counter. A large cake with Congratulations, Harper and Ajax written on it. I groan, closing my eyes and taking a deep cleansing breath. Of course, the dynamic Mother duo would do this without so much as a word to me. If Ajax knows about this, he never once let on to it. He walks in confused by the quantity of people, I beckon him over and show him the cake. His scowl turns into a smile as he looks up at me. "Its not funny." I seethe, impatiently.
"Is just kind of predictable at this point ain't it?" He asks, laughing. "We should've seen it coming."
I roll my eyes. "Ajax, swear you didn't know?"
"I swear." He replies, seriously.
Mr. West appears before us. "I'd like a word with both of you." He says, moving past the crowd full of well wishers. I smile the whole time, but really I just want to cry. When did my life, stop being my life?
All three of us walk into the office and Mr. West closes the doors after us. "What is it?" Ajax asks, confused and slightly worried.
"I just wanted to give you your gift in private." He replies.
He hands a envelope to Ajax and I watch as he opens it. As I start to read I get more and more confused. A flight to Las Vegas, leaving tomorrow morning? A vacation? A pre-honeymoon.
Ajax laughs. "This is exactly what we need." He turns to me. "Want the wedding planning and parties to stop?" He holds up the piece of paper. "We now can have things our way." He states, smugly.
"Get married in Vegas?" I question for clarification.
"What do you say, Harp. Wanna run away?" He asks, wiggling his eyebrows.
I think about the wedding planning, the parties, I hate it all. I love my parents but this isn't me, its never been me. "Lets go." I answer, decidedly.
Mr. West chuckles. "Just don't tell anyone I gave you those tickets." He demands.
Ajax looks at him suspiciously. "Ma, knows. There is no way you'd do this without her."
He shrugs. "She could tell Harper wasn't happy. She agreed we'd give you the option and we'd respect whatever decision you made." Mr. West explains.
Ajax looks truly happy about the arrangement. I was kind of nervous agreeing to Las Vegas, it seemed to me he was enjoying the wedding details. "You're sure?" He asks, me watching my face intently.
"I'll leave you two to discuss it, but don't be long or they'll come looking for you." Mr. West warns, opening the door and closing it quietly behind him.
I turn to him. "I'm sure. The only reason to put off the wedding is because planning it or even having one just isn't what I want to do. None of this is me. Granted, our mothers have done a very nice job, its just overkill for me. The wedding isn't about us anymore, its about flowers, cake, menu, God knows what else."
"So, were going." He nods, his smile getting bigger.
"There you guys are! Come on this night is about you. Don't leave your guests waiting." Mrs. West says, happily.
"You could have shared with us that this was our engagement party." I mutter.
"Then it wouldn't of been a surprise." Ma, giggles excitedly.
I vaguely think about reconsidering when I see her face. I know it would disappoint her not to have a wedding. "By the way I had Dan go get your things from the Kershaw's. Kira packed it all up for you. So remember to thank them both."
"Pack me up for what?" I ask, my mind still on Vegas. Does she know?
"To move into your new house." Ma answers, like its obvious.
I let out the breath I was holding. "I was going to wait until after we are married." I tell her.
"I think we should start planning a house warming party for next week." She says, if she heard my previous statement it made no difference to her. I guess its good she keeps talking, because the more she does the more sure I become. Vegas is the only place I want to get married.
"The happy couple!" Mrs. West shouts, introducing us to the room as if they don't know who were are. "I'd like to make the first toast: To my only son and my baby, Ajax and the love of his life, my daughter to be, Harper. May your lives be blessed with a lot of love, and a lot babies!" She says, pointedly.
I laugh at her demand for lots of grandchildren, I wouldn't expect anything less. Ajax, leans down to whisper, "We'll have to start trying or you'll never hear the end of it."
I scoff. "Thats not reason to have a child."
"Think about it. If you get pregnant they'll have to forgive us for eloping." He winks.
"You're certainly ready to be a dad." I tease, looking at the shin of excitement in his eyes.
"Ready when you are." He states, lovingly.
I think about having a little boy just like Ajax, or a daughter just like him. "Not yet." I say, hesitantly. "Lets christen every room in the house multiple times over, before we give up all freedom to do so. Starting with the living room fireplace." I suggest.