Parachute [Book 4]

Chapter 28 - Merry Christmas And Happy New Year

“Do you think we made a mistake?”

“A mistake?”

“Yeah, a mistake. Do you think we made a mistake? Getting married?”

“Ryder… no, of course not!”

“Are you sure though, Marley? Are you sure we shouldn’t have waited?”

“I’m sure.”

“But we don’t seem to be getting on very well… don’t you think we should have at least dated a little bit longer before-“

“Are you saying you don’t want to be married to me anymore?”

“No, I’m saying I’m not sure we should have gotten married so early on in our relationship.”

***

Good news: Ryder and I had actually made up after that Glee lesson – we just talked it out, kissed a little bit and spent a few hours being together once again instead of ignoring each other.

Bad news: he had asked me if I had made a mistake in marrying him.

The words had constantly been replaying in my head, making me feel uncomfortable. The whole conversation had been repeating itself for the past few days, and no matter how desperately I wanted to stop thinking about it… I just couldn’t. His words were stuck in my mind.  

I hated that he thought we shouldn’t have gotten married. He and I were meant to be together, he knew that, and us arguing was just a part of our life together. He was totally wrong about thinking we should have waited to get married – it wasn’t a mistake, certainly not.

To hear him say that just broke me. My first thought was that he was hinting at a divorce, because all of this fighting had made him fall out of love with me, but then he had reassured multiple times as he walked me home that he just wanted to help our situation. He didn’t mean any harm by discussing it, but it certainly made me feel uncomfortable to think about.

Getting married to Ryder was the best decision I ever made and to hear him doubting it made me concerned as well as frightened for our future.

It had also gotten me very, very confused about everything and it certainly didn’t help with my thought processes over the few days leading up to Christmas.

A knock on my bedroom door made me jump, and I spun around frantically from my spot in front of the window to find Angie standing there, one of Mom’s white mug’s in her hand. “You wanna come sit with us and drink caramel lattes?” Angie asked, smiling softly. “It kind of sucks to be cooped up in your room for Christmas Eve.”

I was excited it was Christmas Eve, I just couldn’t have been bothered to show it since my mind was too crowded with Ryder’s words of doubt. Tomorrow was Christmas, and I still couldn’t get those few little words out of my head.

“Angie, I might not-“

“No, Marley. You’re coming out to sit with us because I don’t like seeing you sad. Forget what Ryder said, it means nothing. He must not have been thinking very well, okay?” Angie stormed forward and gripped onto my wrist, tugging me out of my room.

“I’m not sad, I’m just thinking! I’m fine!” I protested as Angie pulled me down the hallway, to the lounge room, where she shoved me on the seat next to Mom. I brushed my hair from my face and took a deep breath, smiling up at Mom beside me. “Hi Mom.”

“That was… violent.” She said quietly to herself, taking an arm from her lap and wrapping it around my shoulders. I fell into her, resting my head on top of her shoulder, nodding against her. Mom leaned her head forward and kissed my hair, mumbling, “I missed my baby girl so much, you know?”