21 Ready for marriage

I go downstairs earlier than usual. It’s hard to sleep feeling this excited. Stefan loves me and I feel like I’m walking on clouds. Everyone is surely still sleeping so I try to be quiet as I go down. I walk towards the kitchen to make coffee, but then I stop midway when I hear a heated discussion coming from my dad’s office between him and Mike. I tiptoe near the office door, remaining at a distance where I’m close enough to be able to hear the argument, but not close enough in case they come out unexpectedly and I have to run.

“How can you be so calm after what they did?!” Mike asks angrily.  

“Shut up! I didn’t ask for your opinion. I know what I’m doing,” my father replies. 

“It doesn’t seem that way. The men know you are no longer in control and they doubt you can regain it...”

I hear a glass smashing. The noise is so loud I look around to see if my mom or Roxana have heard it, but there’s no sound coming from upstairs, just from the office. 

“Do you think I care about what they think?! No one is going to question me! I built this business from the ground! If anyone questions me, I’ll kill them!” My dad yells furious. 

“Come on, uncle Vittorio, can’t you see I’m on your side? I want to have your back, but it’s hard to understand what you are doing. I can’t conceive why on earth did you let him get close to Olivia.” 

I take a step closer when I hear my name. Up to this moment, I had no idea what they were arguing about, but now I know, this whole fuss is about Mike’s jealousy of Stefan. So childish of him! 

“I know what I’m doing with my daughter,” my dad replies. 

“She’s my cousin and I care for her,” Mike states firmly.

I roll my eyes back, no you don’t, you care about keeping your job. 

“Then stop meddling! Do your job and let me make the decisions. Olivia is safer with Stefan, it was a struck of luck he became infatuated with her. You and Doris are too stubborn to realize it, you are blinded by your feelings, but this is the only way to guarantee she won’t be harmed. Let me decide what’s best for her.” My dad explains in a calmer voice.

What are they talking about? I won’t be harmed? 

“I wish it was so simple. But having to share my table with that rascal...” 

“MY table, Mike, you are sharing my table with him, don’t forget that.”

I hear my dad getting up his desk and walking towards the exit. I sprint to the kitchen right before he opens his door. Shortly after, Mike comes into the kitchen.  

“Good morning, Olivia,” he greets me with apathy. “Is Rox up?”

“I haven’t seen her yet,” I reply curtly, I won’t forget so easily he just called my boyfriend a rascal. 

“What do you say you help me make breakfast?” Mike suggests. 

I nod and help him gather the ingredients and cookware needed. We start working in complete silence. It’s weird, we usually get along just fine and now it’s like there’s an invisible wall between us. 

“So... tell me, is it serious between you and Stefan?” Mike asks after a few minutes of silence, he tries to sound casual, like he’s just coming up with a random conversation topic, but I know he’s tense beneath his chill mask. 

“He wouldn’t be having dinner with my family if he was just a fling,” I state curtly. I keep doing my chores in silence, but then I reconsider, I really hope Stefan remains a part of my life for a very long time and I don’t want to lose my cousin over it, it’s better for us to be straight forward.  “Why do you hate him so much?” 

Mike looks at me with an expression I’m not capable of deciphering. It’s a mix of sadness and apprehension. 

“I wish we could be honest with each other. You are my cousin and I love you. There’s so much I wish I could say to you... you’re a smart girl, I’m sure you’d understand, but unfortunately, I’m not in the liberty of discussing these matters with you.” 

“What are you talking about? Mike, if you have something to tell me, just say it,” I demand angrily. 

Mike glances at the door like he’s making sure no one is coming in and then grabs my arm and leans towards me. He looks like he’s about to tell me a big secret, my senses sharpen, ready to take in his words. 

“Your mother is a very unhappy woman, everyone knows that. Stop trying to follow in her footsteps.”  

“I am not!” I exclaim outraged. I’m about to ask him what he means, but Roxana walks in and Mike recoils to keep on making breakfast. 

“Why is the food not ready yet? I’m starving!” Roxana complains while walking towards the coffee maker.

“I’m sorry, dear, we were chatting and got distracted. I’ll hurry up,” Mike replies with his usual kindness. 

The doorbell rings and I sprint out of the kitchen towards the front door. It’s Stefan. I jump into his arms. His voice saying, I love you still echoes in my head. Stefan surrounds me with his strong arms.

“Good morning.” My dad says behind us.

I lean back and we break our embrace. 

“Good morning, Vittorio, is there something wrong?” Stefan asks when he notices my dad’s gloomy expression. 

“You’ll understand when you have a family of your own,” my dad mutters as he walks towards the dining room.

Stefan turns to look at me puzzled and I shrug. I’m almost certain my dad’s sad expression is due to the argument he had earlier with Mike, but I don’t want to mention it to Stefan and sow more discord between him and my cousin. We walk behind my dad, the rest of the family is already here. 

“Good morning, Stefan,” Roxana greets. 

My mom makes a face and Mike looks the other way. Stefan grins from ear to ear and I know he is doing it to annoy them further. We take our seats. I already feel on the edge, alert, and awaiting the first blow against Stefan. 

“You are about to be amazed. My hubby makes the best waffles.” Roxana says, unaware of the tension in the room. 

“This time I can’t take all the credit, Olivia helped me cook,” Mike says as he awkwardly smiles at me. 

“Good for you, Oli, this means you are ready for marriage,” I know Roxana meant it as a joke, but my face turns red, I had finally succeeded in stopping Stefan’s silly marriage joke and now she brings the topic up. 

“I’m so happy to hear that,” Stefan comments while he takes my hand between his. 

I snort. Ugh, not again with that. I give him a warning look. I told you, pal, you better have a ring or be quiet. Stefan winks at me, he lets go of my hand and reaches for the left pocket in his jacket. My heart sinks to my stomach. For a second I think he’s pulling out an engagement ring, but when his hand comes out he’s just holding his phone. The air comes back to my lungs. It’s not that I’m not crazy about him, I am and I’m sure I’m going to say yes if he asks, but it’s way too soon and of all the ways he can propose to me, eating waffles in front of my relatives it’s not my favorite choice. 

“It’s ridiculous! Olivia is way too young to be married,” my mom exclaims angrily.

“Weren’t you already married at her age? You even had your first baby already!” Roxana says. 

“That doesn’t mean Olivia has to do exactly the same as her mom did,” Mike talks looking straight at me, he’s reminding me of his previous warning. I look away, I have no idea what he means or why he thinks I’m following in my mom’s footsteps. 

“Olivia is going to do what’s best for her. You can keep your opinions to yourselves,” My dad warns the table.