Origins

I was sitting outside on the porch listening to music, watching the cars drive by. I needed something to take my mind off of this ridiculous wedding my mother arranged for me. I’m only 23 years old and my mother thinks if I don’t wed now, my father will never get to see me walk down the isle.

“Honey, Derrick is on his way over. Come inside and freshen up a little bit, maybe put on something presentable.”

I roll my eyes at her, as if I’m not already presentable. It’s not like he’s some stranger who doesn’t know me already. He’s known me his whole life, our parent’s have been best friends since high school. He wouldn’t be my choice of a husband that’s for sure. He’s not ugly by any means as long as he doesn’t wear those geeky glasses all the time. His clothes could even be better, but he is sweet and respectful.

“Melanie dear, are you listening to me? I said..” I take off my headphones and turn towards her staring at me. “Momma yes I heard you, what do you want me to do? Put a dress on and do my make up? I mean really? He’s seen me at my worst and he’s seen me at my best. I think what I’m wearing right now is perfectly fine. What is he coming over for anyways?”

“I told you yesterday that he and his mother are coming over to have lunch and discuss wedding plans. Someone has to get the ball rolling, it’s not like you’re doing anything to help”

“To be honest momma you know I didn’t want this wedding in the first place. The only reason I’m doing this is for papa.” She walks over and sits next to me on the porch swing. “I know you are Melanie, it hasn’t been easy for any of us since you’re father was diagnosed with cancer. As you know, his one wish was to see you get married. He doesn’t want to pass without walking his only daughter down the isle. I know that I may seem a little overbearing at times”

“A little mom? You’re more than overbearing, this isn’t going to be the wedding you’ve always wanted for me, you know that right? I don’t love Derrick, and he doesn’t love me, it’s only for the sake of papa. I plan on faking it in front of him, but just know I would rather continue living my life as is without a husband in tow.”

We couldn’t even finish our conversation because Derrick and his mother pulled into the drive way. Momma plasters a smile on her face and walks down to greet them. I on the other hand just stay sitting on the swing. I couldn’t bring myself to get up and act happy to see them, I would really like to just run away.

“Melanie come say hello to Mrs. Carlise and your fiance.” Against my better judgement I get up and walk towards them. Derrick gets out of the car looking happy as ever in his blue checkered button up and black corduroy pants. I wanted to laugh at how goofy he looks, but I decided against it.

“Oh honey you look darling! How are you?”

"I’m great Mrs. Carlise, how are you doing?" She grabs me and pulls me into a giant hug, for a minute I actually couldn’t breath she was holding me so tight. ”Mom let her go, I think she needs some air” Derricks says as he walks up and pulls us apart.

“Hey Mel, I was thinking you and I could go for a drive down to the coast. I assume these wonderful ladies here could catch up while we spend some time together.” I wanted to say no thanks but Mrs. Carlise beat me to the punch.

“Son that is a wonderful idea, we will have some lunch and chat for a little while. Then when you two return we can go over the wedding plans”

I didn’t even get a chance to object before I was being led to the passenger side door. As I’m getting in I look across the street and see my neighbor Mrs. Michealson putting up birthday decorations. The sign says happy 24th Nathan, which I’m guessing is her son whose been away at college. I’ve never met her sons, because we’ve only been living here for about 3 years and as far as I know it’s only her living there.

"Mel are you ready to go?" I snap out of my daze and get in, and buckle my seat belt. ”So where are we going Derrick?”

“Funny you should ask Mel, I actually have no idea. You just had this look like you wanted to get away, so I said the first thing that popped into my head. I dont even know how far it is to the coast from here” We both start laughing as he pulls away from the house. I couldn’t help but notice a handicap van pull up to Mrs. Michealson’s house as we were leaving. I wonder who is in the van. I didn’t get a chance to see before we were off of my street and headed to the freeway.

The car ride was pretty much silent except for the music playing softly in the background. I didn’t know what to say to start a conversation. I’ve known him for so long, which would make you think we’d have lots to talk about. We’ve never really spent that much time together, other than a few cookouts over the summers. He’s always been out of the country working at his father’s company. I assume he’s going to take over one day, I hope he doesn’t think I’m leaving the country once we are married.

“Mel you’re awfully quite, is something bothering you? I know we aren’t that close, but I’m here if you want to talk about anything”

"Derrick I do have something I wanted to talk to you about. Umm do you plan on moving back to the states once we are married? ”

“That’s a good question Mel, I hadn’t really given it much thought. I guess you could say I assumed you’d be moving with me to England where I run my fathers company.”

“ENGLAND, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?” I didn’t mean to yell, but he’s insane if he thinks I’m moving half way around the world just to please my father with this marriage. “I’m sorry Derrick I didn’t mean to yell, it’s just that I dont want to move so far way from my family. I also planned on going to UCLA in the fall after we’ve married.”

“I know you’re not happy about marrying me Mel, but I promise you I will be a great husband and father to our children. I plan on taking this marriage seriously, I don’t view this as some business deal that I have to close. I want to make this work between us, I was hoping you wanted that too. Isnt’ that why you agreed to be my wife in the first place?”

Oh boy is he confused. I don’t know what lies my mother has been feeding this man, all I know is he is delusional if he thinks that I want any of this. I mean Im 23 years old, and this world has so much to offer me than just being Mrs. Carlise.

“Derrick I dont understand, I thought you knew that the only reason I agreed to this marriage was because my father is dying and he wanted to walk me down the isle at my wedding. Although he doesn’t know the details of our engagement, I never planned on having your children or staying married for that long. I have a life I want to live for myself, goals and dreams I want to accomplish in life.”

He pulls into a cafe called the Beauty Blender, it looks really upscale. I couldn’t lie, it was absolutely breathtaking. I knew Derrick and his family came from money, but if going to places like this was what I had in store I can’t be too mad right?

“Mel lets go in and talk about this please, I wanted to take you on and actual date before our wedding. ”

I follow him into the cafe and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought the outside was beautiful, but the inside is so much better. Romance flows through the atmosphere, roses are spread throughout varies tables, the waiters even have on penguin suits. The whole place screams love, I almost fall into it myself.

“This place is amazing Derrick, how did you know about this?”

“Mel you’d be amazed at what this thing on the internet called google can do. Now let's find our seat and get this date started shall we”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his comment as I follow the waiter to our seat, the thoughts of my father's illness and everything else vanishes as we enjoy our first real date. Wedding plans can wait, I have to at least get to know him right?