Can't Fall in Love Without You (Christian Yelich)

28

"We're getting close," Elizabeth informed Christian as they passed into the city limits of her hometown. If you could call Marshfield, Wisconsin a city. It was small and quaint and rural. Nothing like Milwaukee, which seemed like a metropolis in comparison.

"Is your dad going to have his shotgun out?" Christian asked, his tone a little nervous. He was nervous, as his fingers anxiously tapped his knees. Elizabeth noticed and rested a calm hand on his thigh.

"My dad is very anti-gun," Elizabeth laughed, trying to imagine her science teacher father toting any sort of weapon. He loved flannel and the Green Bay Packers like any guy from the Midwest, but hunting was never on his schedule.

"Noted," Christian nodded. "Anything else I should know before I meet them? Any last words of advice?" Elizabeth had prepped him most of the drive, but he was still anxious. He wanted everyone to like him. He wanted them to think he was good enough for their Elizabeth.

"My little sister thinks you're hot and might let you know it." Her sister, Andy, was 16 and very into boys in baseball pants.

Christian laughed. "Do you think I'm hot, babe?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Nah, me having mind blowing sex with you every day is just my version of volunteer work."

"I love your sweet talk," Christian said with a smile.

"We're here!" Elizabeth announced to a nervous Christian and a peaceful Ivy as they pulled into the driveway of an older ranch style home with a big pine tree in the front yard. "This is where I grew up."

"I love it," Christian beamed, absorbing the Midwestern charm of it all.

"Brace yourself for the best stuffing you'll ever eat," she informed him, as he took Ivy out of her car seat while Elizabeth grabbed the diaper bag. Teamwork was something they excelled at. They had this down. They were parents, even if Elizabeth still said she was just a friend to Christian's little girl. She wasn't. She was her everything.

"Good, I'm starving because this crazed driver I know wouldn't let us stop for Big Macs."

"There will be so much food here!" Elizabeth countered, approaching the front door.

Her mom, Debbie, answered, immediately wrapping her daughter in a big, warm hug. "My baby!"

Christian smiled at the exchange of love between mother and daughter, and before he knew it, both him and Ivy were on the receiving  end of hugs and kisses. Midwesterners. He liked them.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Reed," Christian smiled as they moved into the foyer.

"Oh, sweetie, call me Debbie, and we're so delighted to have you and Ivy here. Elizabeth can't stop gushing about how much she loves you. Anyone who makes my daughter so happy is always a welcomed guest."

Elizabeth blushed before introducing her to the rest of her family: her dad, Sam, and her teenage sister, who immediately pulled Christian away from everyone and began to rapid fire questions at him. He'd be fine.

"Oh, Elizabeth, you seem so happy," her mother started, as Elizabeth stirred gravy in an attempt to help finish Thanksgiving dinner. "What a lovely little group you guys are. In 27 years, this is the first man you've brought home. Is he the one?"

She was happy, but she couldn't help but feel guilty that she essentially stole him from someone else, someone who wasn't around to defend her relationship. Her parents knew about Sloane. They knew this was all complicated. "He's the one for me," she said softly.

"You deserve all the happiness and love in the world, sweetheart. Now you go sit and let me finish that," her mom declared, taking over stirring the gravy.

Dinner was wonderful. Christian felt comfortable and happy — warm and loved. Her family was so much different than his. Simple. Accepting. Calm. He was starting to get a better understanding of how Elizabeth became the well-rounded person she is. Her mom was loving, kind, and on a mission to make sure everyone was happy. Her dad was funny, sharp, and a bit . . . nerdy. Mix the two together, and, bam, you got Elizabeth, the woman who put the pieces back together again. Who put his life back together again.

He would be lying to himself if he tried to deny his happiness. He was happy, even if it made him feel guilty sometimes. How could he not be with someone like Ellie around? She was perfect.

And someone so perfect picked Christian to love. It shocked him every day.

After dinner, Ellie's dad started a big fire in the living room, and they all watched a Christmas movie, which was apparently a tradition in the Reed family.

Andy played with Ivy while Christian held Elizabeth on the couch. "I'm the luckiest," he whispered in her ear, as he thought about holding her close to him in bed later. Sleeping next to her was one of his favorite things.

Before Elizabeth could respond, his phone was buzzing. "So sorry, it's Collin. I'm going to step out and take this."

Elizabeth smiled and gave Christian room to get up.

He took the call in the kitchen, alone.

"Hey, little bro, what's up?"

Silence.

"Collin?"

"Chris. It's mom. Mom's gone. She's gone," Collin's voice cracked.

And Elizabeth heard Christian's phone hit the ground, as Christian's world went completely black as a familiar, all-consuming pain caused everything to fade away.