Love is Lame

Chapter 40

OLIVIA

My mom would be late to a lunch with her daughter she hasn't seen in months. I sat at a booth right by the door so she would see me. Marina fell asleep in the car thankfully because it is her nap time and she would be so snotty if she didn't sleep.

I'm so nervous to see my mom, my hands are shaking as I'm trying to eat. This could either go very well or absolutely terrible and there won't be an in between. She will send me out of here in tears or smiling like I won the lottery.

She walked in from the melting snow and spotted me immediately, smiling. I smiled back as she slid into the other side of the booth.

"God, you look so beautiful." She sighed, looking at Marina sleeping in her carrier on the table. "I'm going to go order my food." She stood up and I rocked Marina's carrier as a time passer. She shuffled in her sleep, turning and making a small moaning sound. I smiled at her as my mother sat back down.

"Oh, she's so big," She smiled at her.

"Yeah," This is awkward. "How are you?" I took a bite of Mac and cheese.

"I'm good, actually. It gets a little lonely at home," She sighed, "But that's okay. Carter's parents keep me updated every few weeks."

"That's good. How old is he?" Marina was moving a lot and I knew she'd wake up soon.

"Five months, only a little younger than this one." She was being so gentle. "I, uh, I have a question." I creased my eyebrows at her so she would go on. "Are you and Harry engaged yet?"

I half laughed as Marina stretched awake. Surprisingly she didn't cry, she just looked around and reached her arms out to me. I picked her out of the carrier and held her against my chest, rocking her awake. "Good morning, love," I kissed her hair and she stretched, smiling at me. I looked to my mom, who was about to cry. "But we aren't officially engaged, we've discussed it. We're going to get married." I thought about all the times after Harry and I had sex that he told me he wanted to marry me. I thought about when we were walking through Target and he was carrying Marina and I danced throughout the store, and he told me he couldn't wait to marry me. I thought about the running away idea, getting married on the beach with no one there but us, Marina, and the dude who marries us. Perfect.

"I want to pay for the wedding, every last drop of it. The dress, the food, the cake, the place... everything." I looked at her with wide eyes. Marina was tugging at my shirt and I found a bottle in her bag without breaking eye contact with my mom.

"Mom..." I whispered as her food came to her. She shook her head, looking at Marina. Her eyes were welling with tears and I wanted to be anywhere but here.

"No, I owe it to you. I owe you all of this, and thensome. I don't deserve to be here with you right now, watching you be a better mother than I ever was. Hell, she's only six months old and I know you'll be better than I was. Please." A tear fell down her cheek. "Let me pay for the wedding."

I was quiet for a minute while Marina tried holding her own bottle. She can with her sippy cups but not the bottle.

"Okay." I breathed. "But if Anne wants to pay some you have to let her."

"Who is Anne?" My mom's eyebrows creased and I almost laughed when I realized how little she knows.

"Harry's mother back in England. He's got a lovely family. His father got remarried a couple months ago in Chicago, and his sister and her boyfriend live right by Harry and I." I filled her in and she nodded.

"I'm glad you've found a place you belong."

Throughout the rest of the lunch, she finished eating and held Marina and we talked about her for a little bit before we both left. I texted Harry when I got home, and Marina was already back asleep.