29 The smartest thing y*u ever did

Luck is on our side. My family has no idea I spent the night out. When I come back home, my parents are so busy saying farewell to our relatives that they barely notice my presence. I stand next to them on our front porch while we hug and kiss an endless line of relatives. Short afternoon the house is empty again. My parents, Stefan and I are the only ones left, and the time to tell them what’s going on arrives. 

I ask my parents to come to the dining room to talk, but instead of coming right away, they take their time. I wait for them as I nervously bite my nails, Stefan gently grabs my hand to stop me and smiles at me. He, of course, is not worried at all, as usual, he feels nothing but confidence. His calmness comforts me. 

“What if we tell your family first?” I suggest trying to avoid what’s coming. 

“Too late, they already know. I spoke to my father when I was buying the ring for you. The only ones that don’t know are Doris and Vittorio.” Stefan replies. 

“What? Why didn’t you say something to me before? What did your dad say?” His confession comes as a surprise, I know his family is less asphyxiating than mine, but I’m sure they must have an opinion about the fact that Stefan is marrying a girl they have never meet. 

“Not much, he thinks it’s funny we are getting married. He spent his whole life hating your father, wanting to destroy him, and now they are about to become in-laws. Such an irony,” Stefan shrugs as if his father’s opinion was irrelevant. “My aunt Agatha and my nonna, my grandma, are thrilled. I guess nonna is relieved that your family comes from Italy too, she was afraid I might marry a ‘foreign’ girl. They are already planning what they are going to wear for our wedding. My aunt has been texting me wedding suggestions nonstop since yesterday.” 

I smile. I wish my parents were as simple as that. But I’m certain telling them is going to get ugly, especially because of my mom and her aversion to Stefan. I suddenly recall someone else’s aversion to Stefan and I get goosebumps. 

“What’s the name of your father?” I ask afraid. 

“Romano. Why?” He replies.

I have to make a real effort not to gasp. Romano Corvino, the named my uncle Gus mentioned... but just because he knew his name doesn’t mean he is right about the other stuff. The idea that the florist competitor of my dad had my brother killed it’s ridiculous. I shake my head to let go of such an absurd notion. 

“Just to know,” I say with a thin smile. 

“Did someone say something to you?” Stefan asks on the defensive. 

“What? No, what do you mean? Say what?” I ask pretending to be clueless, but I don’t love the fact that he is always afraid someone might ‘tell me something’, tell me what? I thought there were no more secrets between us. 

“I don’t know... your family dislikes me... they might make something up to change your mind about me,” He replies. 

I shake my head with a kind smile, denying that’s the case, although that is exactly what is happening.

“No, I just wanted to know my future father-in-law’s name, that’s all.”

There is no point in telling Stefan that absurd tale my uncle Gustavo told me, it will just make him feel bad or angry. 

  I hear my parents walking down the staircase and shortly after they enter the dining room. It’s time. They sit in front of us looking worried.

“We are here, what do you have to say to us?” My dad asks with a frown. 

Having them in front of me makes the situation real. I’m out of words, my mind is blank and I feel crushed by the weight of reality. I’m having a baby! It’s surreal. Stefan probably guesses that I’m overwhelmed by emotion because after a few minutes of awkward silence he takes the floor. 

“We summoned you to congratulate you. Soon you will be grandparents. So, congratulations!” He declares with that formidable confidence of his. 

I gasp. He just blurted it out like it was nothing. I can guess, by the look on my parents' faces, that they are overwhelmed by the news. They are both pale and are probably struggling to process what Stefan just said. It takes my dad a few minutes to speak. 

“And what do you plan to do?” He asks with a severe expression on his face. 

Stefan takes my left hand and holds it up to show them the ring on my finger. My dad breaths in enough air for ten people, he appears to be relieved. My mom, on the other hand, is full of rage, she presses her lips together in a thin line, there’s resentment in her gaze. I look away, she just found out she’s going to be a grandma, doesn’t she know how hurtful it is for me that she is looking at me like that? If she can’t be happy for me, she could at least try to be neutral. 

“Are you happy now?” She bawls at my dad. “This is what you were hoping for, isn’t it, you selfish fool?” 

Before my dad or any of us can react, she jumps up her seat and exits the dining room practically running. Stefan snickers, it’s like he’s enjoying watching her get mad. If he wasn’t my only ally in this madhouse I would confront him about it, but I don’t want there to be any disagreements between us right now. My mom slams her door when she gets to her bedroom. We hear her clearly because we are still in complete silence. My dad clears his throat several times and then stands up.

“Well... I guess you have a lot to do now, planning a wedding is never easy. Good luck,” my dad walks away looking dejected. 

Stefan smirks, he’s satisfied with how things went down; I, on the contrary, feel as tiny as a flea. My parents just reacted to the news as if I had told them I was suffering from an incurable disease. Neither of them congratulated me on the wedding or the baby; no good wishes or anything, only somber expressions. Stefan tries to put his arm around my shoulders, but I get up and follow my dad to his office. 

“Planning a wedding is never easy? Is that all you have to say?” I ask angrily once I’m in. 

He shakes his head no; his eyes are tearful. His sad expression surprises me, but I’m still mad.

“No, that’s not all I have to say,” he whispers. 

“So? Are you angry? Disappointed? Say something!” I shout. My eyes are filled up with tears too, but mine is from anger, I’m furious for how they reacted. 

My dad walks towards me and gives me a big hug. His gesture takes me by surprise, he’s not the kind of man that often shows affection. 

“I’m relieved. This is the smartest thing you have ever done,” he states with pride.

I take a step back, what I thought was a loving gesture turns out to be a slap in the face. Getting knocked up and engaged is the smartest thing I have ever done? How little does he think of me? I look at him in disbelieve. 

“Everything will be alright, Olivia. Just keep him happy, do as he says and you will be ok. Now you are safer than ever,” my dad keeps talking without noticing how astonished I am. 

I feel disgusted by his words. I know my dad is an old-fashioned man, but this is too much, even for him. Keep him happy? Do as he says? Did we suddenly travel back in time to the 1800s?  I walk out of the office without saying a word. What’s the point? My dad is clearly not in his right mind. Stefan is waiting for me outside the office. 

“Is everything ok, doll?” He asks as he analyzes me with his eyes.

I nod. I don’t want to tell him what my dad just said. I don’t think I have the energy to repeat such nonsense out loud. 

“I think my dad is in shock, but I guess he’s happy for us,” I explain.

“Good! What about your mom?” Stefan points up to the ceiling. 

“I don’t think I’m up to dealing with her right now. Whatever she’s feeling about us is her problem.” I declare tired. This last couple of days have been an emotional rollercoaster, I just want to chill for a while, not think about my eccentric parents. 

“Sounds good to me. Now, how about I take my beautiful fiancée on a Romantic date in the city?” Stefan suggests with a playful smile. “It’s time we celebrate our engagement.” 

I smile gratefully to have him in my life. Maybe someday I’ll remember this day and my parents’ reaction and I will take it with humor and laugh about it, but that day is far far away.