Whirlwind

(49) consequences

LIBBY

***

I liked marriage so far.

I loved the feel of the ring on my finger, I love the sound it makes when it hits against a mug or a glass. I love the feel of Jasper's when he holds my hand. I love the feeling of loving someone so much that you feel like you have to declare it to the world.

What I didn't love, though, was the crushing guilt of getting married here and not in front of my family. Yes, fine, we'd have a bigger party when we got home with all of our friends. But I knew my mum would be completely crushed when we got home.

But Jasper and I agreed we didn't want to hide it this time. He said he when he proposed in January, he didn't know why he did it, when he felt like he was doing it for the first time in front of the family back in April. So this time he wanted to come straight out and say it, and I had to say I agreed with him. Although it was nice to have a little secret to ourselves, I didn't see the benefit of keeping it for all that time.

It had been three days since we got married, and we were due to fly home in three weeks. So I was starting to wonder if I should call my parents and tell them now. If I told them now, it would give them three weeks to calm down before I got home. If I told them now I would find it easier to handle the shouting rather than if the shouting was happening live. I knew my parents would flip, but I was just hoping they would understand our side of the argument.

Today, though, was Jasper's last day of the Seattle book tour. And he was, in his words, fucking relieved. We were due to drive down to the airport at three today, then fly out to New York, which is officially where the tour was ending. He'd made sure it ended there because he wanted to stay with Jules and Paul, as all his stuff was there. But I wanted to see them too, as I hadn't seen them since Christmas. I loved going there because I loved hearing about their childhood stories. And as a bonus, because he'll be out all day, I can hear as many childhood stories as I want.

As I turn around in bed, turning to face my husband, the question of telling my parents comes over me again, and I find myself chewing my lip.

"Baby, don't worry about it," Jasper says, his voice husky with sleep. He hasn't even opened his eyes.

"I do worry about it though." I'd been lying awake practically all night worrying about it for the last three days. "I'm going to ring her."

I turn around and start to get out of bed, but I feel an arm go around my waist, keeping me back. I kiss his lips briefly before kissing his cheek, his shoulder and then his lips again, but then I pull away, pulling the sheet with me as I go to our balcony for some relative privacy.

It's about four in the afternoon now, but I seem to remember that Mum had today off.

I dial her number, putting my phone to my ear. It rings and rings and rings for ages, before I hang up and try again. Again it just rings out, so I'm thinking maybe I got my days wrong, and that she was working.

I hear the balcony door open and I look up to see Jasper, scratching his head as he wipes the sleep from his eyes. He sits in the chair next to me, in nothing but his boxers, and encourages me to put my feet in his lap. I do so as I continue to listen to Mum's phone ringing out.

"She not picking up?" He asks quietly, massaging my foot as he speaks.

I shake my head and turn my mouth into a line. I try one more time and finally after seven or eight rings, she picks up.

"Hello?" She sounds out of breath.

"Hey Mum, it's me." I chirp into the phone.

"Oh hi Libby! I was wondering how you were getting on," she laughs. "Was that you that just tried to ring?"