Chapter 1 - Marni
Marry Me ~Jason Derulo
You’re my unending sunshine, you’re my unending hope
You’re my first and last breath, my sweet Melody
Will you give meaning to my life by becoming my wife
I love you my sweet Melody
Damn. Of all the songs to appear on the radio, why this one?
I was engaged to be married now. I’d become someone’s wife soon. This should have been the most fantastic morning, but this song threw me into a funk.
Memories of the first time I heard this song altered my mood. After Ben and my sister told me they were getting married, this song hit the airwaves and went viral. Women loved it and couldn’t stop singing its tune. The story of Ben Howard proposing to his girlfriend with this song hit a chord with every woman in the world. Such a romantic gesture catapulted Ben’s creation to the top of the Billboard 100.
I was shopping for groceries when I heard the song the first time. Standing in the cereal aisle, I listened to every word. It was Ben’s proclamation of love for my sister. Like a fool, tears fell and I cried to his words of love. I couldn’t stand the pain. I hurt so much; I left everything in the aisle and walked to my car so I could cry. After a good long time of consoling myself, I promised this would be the last time I’d cry over my sister and Ben. Unfortunately, I could never keep that promise.
“Mama.” Ali brought me back to reality. Her big, toothy grin made my heart do somersaults from here to Los Angeles. This little girl was the reason for my existence these days.
“You want more fruit, Ali-Girl?”
She nodded her beautiful head. “Dada.”
“Your daddy is in a meeting with some Hollywood producer. Hopefully, he’ll get the job so he can pay for that little pink grand piano he purchased at FAO Schwartz yesterday.”
She nodded her red head again.
“Ali!” I heard Cece’s excitement. Ali’s head turned to the call and gave Cece exactly what she wanted—a squeal, a gigantic smile, and hands raised, ready for a hug. “Oh my sweet child. How can I be so in love already? You’re not even mine and I love you like my own.”
“Hello there, Fiancée.” Noah grinned.
“Hi.” I answered shyly. His greeting was a small shock to my heart. Fiancée. I was someone’s fiancée—to be married, to be loved. I cherished that thought. I feared that same thought.
“Good Morning my future daughter-in-law.” Carson hugged me. “Finally, another person in the family who is/was not a Bergstrom. I have felt outnumbered for years. I’m glad you’re joining the Hanover family.”
“Last I checked my son’s name is Bergstrom, not Hanover, which means Marni will take my last name.” Elijah Bergstrom, in all his glory, was in the house!
“Hello to the both of you,” I returned each man’s embrace. “I like this attention. Two debonair men fighting over me. I see why Cece keeps you both around,” I teased.
“Come sit with me, Marni. I think Cecilia has decided to kidnap Ali for her own this morning.”
“Damn you, Carson. You already have Cece. I want Marni with me,” The Admiral kidded, kind of.
“Uh, guys? She’s my fiancée, not yours. I think she should be with me,” Noah demanded.
I enjoyed this familial interaction and wished Mom were here.
Noah pulled me down next to him and everyone else took his and her seats.
“Marni, will you be having babies right away?”
I looked at Cece who showed no shame in wanting grandkids. “Well…I’m not sure. Noah?” I asked.
“I’m all for procreating!” he declared to the chuckle of the men.
“When and where’s the wedding? I need to make sure I’m available.” My future father-in-law asked.
“When will you be back, Admiral?”
“You may no longer call me Admiral. I’m commanding you to call me Dad.”
“Uh, if he gets Dad, I get Dad, too.” Carson chimed.
“If they get Dad, then I get Mom,” Cece spoke those words in between kissing Ali’s cheeks. “Does that make me your grandaunt? I can’t wait to be a grandmother!” She plopped a few more kisses.
Noah and I felt the overflowing Bergstrom/Hanover love; it was sweeter than I deserved.
“Well, Dad.” I addressed the Admiral first. “The wedding will be the first weekend you’re back in New York. And as to where we will have the wedding, I figure New York would be the best place since Mom and the other Dad are located here.” I addressed my other newfound parents.
“I can be back as soon as two weekends from now. Are you sure you can get everything ready by then?”
“I suppose I should ask Noah if he minds, but I’d be all right with a very small, family-only affair. Nothing fancy. If Mom doesn’t mind, we can get married at her apartment or some small restaurant. Maybe Dad Bergstrom can officiate, and Dad Hanover can walk me down the aisle. That would be ideal in my mind. Then everyone can be involved since the moms will most likely plan the wedding.”
“What about your father, Marni?” Noah asked cautiously.
“My father and Jean are still grieving Melody’s loss. It would be nice if they attended the wedding in New York, but I don’t think they will. They’re having a hard time.” I forced myself to hold back any sadness. I didn’t need to dampen this wonderful mood. I was gaining two fathers rather than losing one. He was already lost to me.
“That sounds perfect to all of us.” Cece spoke for everyone at the table. “I’ll call Jackie and we’ll finish our conversation from last night.”
“Marni,” the Admiral said, “We don’t mind flying into Los Angeles. You don’t have to try and work your schedule into ours. Will your brother-in-law be able to bring Ali back to New York so soon?”
Deep down, I knew Ben wouldn’t come to the wedding. Though his response to my engagement was surprisingly tame, I couldn’t imagine him watching the wedding with a happy heart. As much as I wanted Ali to be a part of my joy, I accepted this reality.
“I’ll talk to Ben. You don’t need to concern yourself with him. Just make sure you can officiate our wedding. It would mean a lot to me, and of course to Noah.”
Noah watched but didn’t say anything to contradict me. “If we’re all done here, should we separate so Marni and I can discuss a few things?”
“May I keep Ali with me a little longer? I’ll take her back to the apartment and play with her while you two do your planning.”
An uneasy feeling arose, but I tamped it down. My niece appeared to have no issues playing with Cece. “Are you sure? She’s more work than that cute little face shows the world.”
“I’ll strap her car seat into Carson’s car and we’ll carefully drive our princess home.”
“Ali-Girl. You want to play at Cece’s house? Will you be all right if I leave you for an hour?” Seeing as how she didn’t even look my way, I understood her answer to be yes. “Please call me if there are any issues?”
“Of course.” Cece took off her pearl necklace and put it around Ali’s neck. The obsession with those pearls started yesterday and hadn’t worn off yet. “Leave us all her stuff and go.”
I kissed Ali good-bye and turned back several times to make sure she wasn’t crying with my absence. After the initial wave, she never looked at me again.
“Let’s walk a few blocks. I want to take you somewhere so we can talk.”
“Sure.” I followed his lead. “I’m sorry I made all the wedding decisions in there. I’d be completely fine changing them to your needs. It doesn’t matter to me what we do in terms of the wedding. As you know already, I’m not high maintenance.”
Noah brought me to a gelato shop that had just opened for the day. “For old time’s sake?” He gestured for me to enter after opening the door.
We ordered, we sat, and Noah appeared contemplative.
My heart sank. “Is something wrong? Did I say or do something you didn’t like?” Suddenly, I wondered if he regretted asking me to marry him. He had stayed quiet all morning—a little too quiet for comfort.
I felt so vulnerable and scared at this moment. Usually, I was a stronger person, but I felt unsettled of late. I couldn’t help the tears that formed.
“Marni. No. It’s nothing like that. Don’t cry. Shit.” Noah pulled me into his body. “Where did my Marni go? Where’s the strong woman who could give me and her own happiness up to rescue her helpless niece?”
“I don’t know, Noah. Since I made that decision, nothing has been easy—whether with you or with Ben. Ali and Mom have been my only comfort.”
“Can we be honest with one another today?”
“OK…” I wondered if there was something Noah or I had said or done that hadn’t been honest up until now.
“What happened to you yesterday that put you in such a funk? You’ve been nervous and on edge. It’s as if you’re looking over your shoulder.”
“You noticed that, huh?”
“I notice much about you, my future wife.”
My newfound title made me smile. “So you’re not regretting proposing to me?” The hitch in my voice was unmistakable. The insecurities wouldn’t leave until I heard an affirmation.
Noah brought me right back into his body. “Marni Montgomery. I love you. I want to marry you and create little Alices of our own. If you will still have me, I will be the best husband to you and the most incredible father to our children. As an added bonus, you’ll get Carson, Cece, and Elijah as parents and grandparents.”
I cried on his chest for a while. Noah and I had had some rough years, but the pain was worth it. We’d grown up together. Once married, I knew we’d be mature enough to handle any other problems that came our way.
“All right. I’m good now,” I answered with a relieved heart. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Siena and my first marriage.”
That topic was not anywhere on my radar. Did I want to hear about either?