Ring..ring…ring…ring..Whose phone is that? Ugh... What time is it?With my eyes barely open, I roll over and grab my phone to see it is my mom. I’m awake now. I blink a few times at my phone before the symbols on the phone register with my groggy head. It’s a video call. SHIT! I glance back at the nightstand and the clock. My stomach sinks as I realize it is a little after midnight. My previous message and picture I had sent them earlier with Casper suddenly pops into my head. What am I going to do? I’m sure she wants answers and right now, I have no idea what to tell her. Do I even have a choice?I swallow the lump in my throat as I lean over to the nightstand and turn on the lamp. I silently hope things go well and quickly answer the phone call. “Hello, mom.”Both my mom and dad eagerly greet me with smiles, but I can’t miss a spark of excitement in their eyes as they chime, “Hello, son.”My mom then takes the initiative and begins her pointed interrogation. “Mark, w

Am I that easy to read? All morning long, people have kept telling me I have had something good happen to me and they wanted to know what. I’m not telling, though, and I’ve made Brenda promise not to tell anyone, either. I don’t know why, but I just want to enjoy it by myself. As lunch draws near, Brenda stops me in the hall and whispers, “So, is your fiancé coming to have lunch with you? I really want to meet him. Plus, I need a few questions answered so I can really get a rocking and a rolling on your wedding.”I shrug my shoulders and innocently reply, “I don’t know. I have told Mark I couldn’t talk while I was working, so we haven’t talked at all.”Her previously bubbly expression morphs into a deep scowl as she quickly slaps my arm. “Well, call or text him and find out. I need to know.” Her green eyes narrow, almost silently daring me to disobey. I quickly pull my phone out and send a quick text message to him asking if he was coming to the hospital to have lunch with

Before Mark leaves, he lets me know his parents will arrive at the airport around 8 pm tonight. Also, Wanda and Izzy are fixing another big meal for the occasion. I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing the food is taken care of, but it doesn’t calm my nerves. After the horrendous video call with his parents, I hope I don’t mess things up when they get here. I want to get on their good side and not be thrown out with the trash. As the last patient leaves in the afternoon, Brenda walks into my office. “Are you ready to meet your in-laws?”Is it time for that already? I collapse into my desk chair and lean my head back as I mumble, “I’ve had too many patients this afternoon. I don’t even know what time it is. I might have even forgotten what day of the week it is, but I hope so.” My last few words come out more of a question than an answer. My stomach twists. This is it. There is no turning back now.I close my eyes as my heart races. Will his parents like me? I never really

As I sit at the dining room table, I stare down at the old, battered phone. Did I even agree to call my parents? I don’t remember, but the next thing I know my phone is in front of me on the table.Gulp. My heartbeat quickens. I guess there is no turning back now. Ring…ring…ring…ring…My brother’s voice bellows from the phone. “KATIE!!! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU AND WHY HAVEN’T YOU CALLED????”My mouth falls slightly open and instantly turns dry. My long-time fear of what my parents will say suddenly leaves me and is replaced with another one. Why is my brother answering my mom’s phone?“Where’s mom? Is something wrong?” My voice cracks slightly as I lean forward. I rub the palms of my hands along my pants as my foot bounces on the floor. Please, don’t let there be anything wrong. My mom suddenly snaps, “Give that back to me! How dare you take my phone!” She pauses for a second and then calmly says, “Hello.”Relief washes over me. I take a deep breath and my voice trembl

“But I want to see….” I tilt my head and give my mom my sad puppy dog eyes. She glances to her side at me, but she shakes her head and ignores me. “No. I told you before. We aren’t going to show you what Katie has picked out for her dress, and that is that. Plus, don’t you want to be surprised? Now, stop trying to get me to cave.” She presses her lips together and gives me a stern look. I used to fear those looks when I was younger, but as an adult, I simply know I won’t win the battle. When she sinks her feet in on something, she seldom changes her mind. Several books of tuxedos lay across the table in front of us. Each one is opened and a young lady flips through a few pages of the book on top and points out a few outfits. With a soft grin, she glances up at me and politely says, “This one will look good on you. It will complement your height and your build.” I stare down at it and sigh. I don’t know. All of them are starting to look the same to me. This is wh