Chapter 9

Alan's text came in at half past ten.

*I'll be there at 1. Be ready.*

Noah had already warned me about his punctuality, so getting ready early wasn't even a question. By twelve fifty, the teal dress was on, my purse on the bed, and I was standing in front of the mirror for what had to be the fourth time.

Alan texted at exactly one p.m., not a second late, asking me to open the door. Grabbing my purse, I headed out immediately.

Noah was sprawled across the couch watching something on his phone when I passed through the living room.

"Have fun," he said without looking up.

Opening the front door, I found Alan standing outside, dressed in a white fitted shirt. His gaze flicked over me before he gave a small nod that felt like approval.

"Is Noah home?"

"Yes," I replied, turning back toward the house and calling his name through the doorway.

A loud groan came from the living room. "What is it?"

Noah appeared at the door a few seconds later. One look at Alan and suddenly he remembered how to stand properly. "Good afternoon, sir."

"How's your health?"

"Much better, sir. Thank you."

Alan gave a small nod before glancing at me. "Let's go."

********

My attention snapped outside when the car slowed. A massive black gate slowly swung open in front of us. Beyond it was a driveway so long I couldn't immediately see where it ended.

I thought Alan's house was massive. But this... there was no adjective big enough to describe it. Calling it huge didn't even feel right.

We parked in a garage that looked more like a car showroom. I stopped counting the cars after the ninth one. Alan kept walking, so I followed him through the house. Every time I thought we'd reached the main part of it, there was another hallway.

A few minutes later, we stepped into a living room full of people. The faces inside were already smiling before we even crossed the threshold.

"Mum. Dad." Alan started the introductions.

His mother was beautiful. The resemblance between them was uncanny. His father looked a lot less intimidating.

Then his brothers. Colby, who looked me over with open curiosity and a grin. Tristan, quieter and more measured, who nodded in a way that reminded me a little of Alan. And Lory, his sister, who looked me up and down with bright eyes.

I gave a small wave. "Hi, I'm Nora."

"She's so cute," Lory announced to the room.

Alan saved his grandmother for last. The smile she gave me was warm enough that some of my nerves eased. When she opened her arms, I walked over and hugged her.

Her hand rubbed my back gently. "Beautiful girl," she murmured.

She drew back and held me at arm's length, studying my face before patting the seat beside her and waiting until I sat.

"Give me your hands."

Confused, I glanced at Alan. He gave a small nod, so I stretched out my palms and let her take them. The room had gone strangely quiet. Looking around, I realized everyone was watching. His grandmother studied my hands before finally lifting her head.

A smile spread across her face. "You chose right this time," she said to Alan.

Then she pulled me into another hug. "Welcome, my dear."

The tension in the room dissolved like it had never been there at all. Chatter picked up again, and Alan's mother began directing everyone toward the dining room.

The dining table was enormous, covered with enough food to feed twice the number of people sitting around it. The food wasn't the problem, though. The problem was that every time I looked up, someone was looking at me.

Not unkindly. Just curious.

Eating comfortably under that kind of scrutiny turned out to be nearly impossible.

Alan's mother leaned forward. "Is there something you don't like, dear? We can have something else prepared immediately. Whatever you'd prefer."

Before the words could form, Alan spoke first.

"She can't eat with all of you staring at her like that." He said it without looking up from his plate.

"Thank you," I murmured quietly beside him.

He picked up his glass and took a drink without responding.

After that, the staring stopped. Conversation flowed around the table naturally. I tried to chip in when I could. Even Alan contributed occasionally, in his way, which mostly meant a single measured sentence that ended whatever debate was happening. Things were going surprisingly well.

Then his mother glanced at him. "Alan. We need to set the wedding date so invitations go out in time. I'm not having people miss this because of short notice."

"There won't be invitations. Family and close friends. That's all," Alan replied.

"You're my first child and finally getting married, and you think I won't want to celebrate that?"

"There are three more after me."

"That is not the point."

"Three hundred guests," she said. "That's already a compromise."

"Three hundred?" The words were out before I could stop them.

Lory's laugh came fast and delighted.

His mother looked at me with genuine puzzlement. "Is that too small?"

"I... I just think it might be a little much."

She gave a small come-off-it wave. "It really isn't, darling."

"There won't be three hundred guests," Alan insisted. "If you push this, you know what happens when I'm forced into something."

Mother and son held each other's gaze across the table. It lasted several seconds longer than was comfortable.

Then she exhaled through her nose, picked up her fork, and turned to her husband. "He's exactly like you. Deal with your son."

Her husband raised both hands. "I want no part of this. Take it up with him directly."

His grandmother, who had been quietly finishing her meal through all of this, set down her spoon with a small decisive sound. "Alan, if there isn't going to be a big wedding, then there will be a honeymoon."

"Nana, you know I'm busy. My schedule is tight right now," Alan argued.

"No, boy. It is not something you're negotiating with me," she said firmly. "You have two options. A quiet wedding and a honeymoon. Or a loud wedding and no honeymoon. Choose."

Alan didn't answer immediately. He just kept eating while everyone at the table waited for him to make a decision.

"Quiet wedding," he said finally. "And a honeymoon."

His grandmother flashed him a proud smile. "Good choice."

"Perfect," Lory said brightly. "Now that that's settled, Nora, come with me. I want to..."

"No!" 

The response came from every direction at once, so fast and loud that I nearly jumped from my seat. My eyes moved around the table automatically.

Lory, meanwhile, had dissolved into laughter. "You people are so rude."

I looked around the table, completely lost.

Her laughter hadn't even fully died down when Alan leaned in. "Stay away from Lory.”

Turning to look at him, he was already eating again like he hadn't said a word. Across the table, Lory caught my eye and threw me a wink. For some reason, that didn't make me feel any better.