He Loved Me First ✓

He Loved Me First (15)

Chapter 15

We walked in the church and I, for the first time in more than five years, participated in the Mass. When it came time for communion, I knelt and received on the tongue. It was something I saw others do before (Felicity included), but had never actually done. I knew I could never go back to receiving in the hand after that. It was so much more reverent this way.

Felicity and I stayed behind for a few minutes after Mass was over. I wasn't sure what she was doing, but I was counting my blessings, while soaking in the silence. It was beautiful. When we were both finished, we stood up and walked out together. Neither of us said anything. We didn't need to. The silence was comforting.

Finally Felicity said, “When you kneeled for communion, you made ever trad cat girl in the place go crazy, including me.” She shortened the words 'traditional Catholic' to the now popular phrase 'trad cat.'

“Really?” I said. I hadn't thought about how that would make anyone feel. I just knew it was the right thing to do.

“Yes! When I saw that, I was like, 'Wait a minute while I plan our wedding and name our ten children.'”

I laughed at her enthusiasm. “Really?” I repeated. I was having a hard time believing it.

“You've only been back on your feet for two days now. You're not fully a trad cat, but don't worry, I'll convert you, and then you'll understand.” She smiled brightly at me.

I returned her smile and we slipped back into silence. It gave me time to think about her comment earlier. I knew that if I proposed to her again, she would probably say yes, but I also thought that maybe I shouldn't rush things. I didn't think of weddings for a long time after that, even when we got back together in the following months. Or in the following year when we both graduated and moved apart. Felicity had found a job as a substitute about an hour away from my parents, and two hours away from where I had settled down.

Things were more serious this time. I hadn't thought of Felicity's family at all when I had proposed to her before. Now I wanted to meet them: her parents and all six of her siblings. Luckily, her birthday was coming up soon and her parents were coming out to the school. She told me this when I took her out to lunch one day. “I want you to meet them,” she told me. Any thoughts I may have had about her being ashamed of me and not wanting her family to know about me vanished. “They'll be here tomorrow morning. You can stay at my place, if you want. It's too far for you to drive in the morning. They like to come early.”

“No, no,” I told her. “It's great that I get to finally meet them, but I can't stay with you tonight. That will put us both in a tempting situation. I'll find another place to stay. You aren't my only friend, you know,” I teased her. “I'll find another to stay with.”

To my surprise, she smiled at me and told me that my solution was brilliant. We parted ways after she gave me a time to arrive, which was about twenty minutes after she knew her parents would be there. I did exactly as I told her and begged another friend to let me stay with him for the night.

The next morning, I was dressed nicely and at Felicity's doorstep at the time she told me to be. I saw an unfamiliar car parked in the driveway. I held my breath and knocked on the door. “Breathe, Oliver,” she told me when she answered the door. I took a deep breath and went inside.

Two people were sitting at the kitchen table. “Mom, Dad, this is Oliver Watts, my boyfriend,” Felicity said. I wasn't sure that her flinching after she'd said that was such a good sign.

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Jones,” I said pleasantly, masking my nervousness as much as I could. “I have been wanting to meet you for a long time.”

“Is that so?” her dad asked, eying me. “Well, sit down then.” Felicity and I both took a seat at the table.

He began drilling me for answers. He wanted to know where I had been born, if I had any siblings, what my major had been, what I was planning to do with my life, how long I had known Felicity, if I was Catholic. He looked impressed when I told him that I was, and that my sister had had a calling to the religious life. “Is there anything else you'd like to know?” I asked him.

“No, that's all,” he said.

“Ralph can be a bit overbearing at times. I'm sorry for that, dear,” her mother told me. “I can tell you that he approves though. It's a good sign that he hasn't thrown you out of the house yet.” She winked at me and I understood that was a joke. I laughed uneasily. Both of them smiled at me and I felt more at ease. Before they left, I had a standing dinner invitation with them and the rest of their children.

Felicity shut the door behind them and said to me, “I'm glad that's over! I was so afraid they weren't going to approve. My dad is extremely picky about who I date. You're the first boyfriend I've ever had him meet. I'm so happy he likes you though!” She smiled at me and I kissed her.