The Marriage Clause (6 page)

“Well you better figure it out buddy, because I’m not moving and leaving Gran and Brownie alone or packing up my life for some macho need to
‘provide’
for us.” She got out of the bed and walked toward the shower. “You can shower after me.”

“You’re not going to try to drive home, are you?” Mikael asked. “I won’t let you leave mad at me or drive home angry.”

India shook her head. “Is that what you’re accustomed to, women walking out when they can’t get their way? That’s not me, we’re having a disagreement on a place to live and it’s not enough to make me walk out of here pissed off. We’ll find a middle ground and work from there.”

With that she walked into the bathroom and took her shower and ten minutes later got back into the bed with him. He was already asleep when she got in behind him and pressed herself against his warm back. She listened to him breathe and he turned over and pulled her into his arms until they were nose to nose.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too,” she answered and closed her eyes.

She fell asleep that way, listening to his deep breaths and cocooned in his arms. They loved each other and everything else would work itself out.

Chapter Five

It was definitely summer in New York and Mikael loved that fact as he drove over the Verrazano Bridge heading toward Brooklyn.  The months were flying by quickly and he knew that before they could really enjoy the hot days the fall would be there. But each day brought them closer to the birth of the baby. He was meeting Brownie for lunch and she wanted to do some shopping in the city after.

He had no problem taking his grandmother anywhere. Brownie was a hoot to shop with because she always had a story about a building or a place.  Brownie had always been a Brooklyn girl, his grandfather had died when he was still a toddler. She took care of him while dealing with the grief of her long time love. Mikael asked her once if she’d ever remarry and she adamantly said no. She’d already had an amazing life with her husband and another man could never take his place.  It was Fourth of July weekend and that meant he had an extended leave.  So after lunch he’d drive into the city and pick up India from work. She was working on a nursery in Manhattan and he’d made reservations at a great restaurant at the Seaport overlooking the water.

His thoughts turned to India and their unborn child. They were still at a stalemate as to where they should live and India wasn’t pressuring him.  He knew that moving her into an apartment when she had a perfectly great one there was not the way to go. But it was getting tiresome dividing their time between her place and his small base apartment.  He didn’t want her driving out there all the time, especially at night as she was getting further along in the pregnancy. But when he broached taking over the rent payment to Gran and the bills she refused angrily.  Her argument was that she should not have to give up her independence to stroke his male ego and a need to take care of her. She was stubborn and so was he, so what could he do?

In the next week or two they’d be heading to the doctor’s office for her check-up and they could see the sex of the baby.  The test would only confirm what he knew, it was a girl and India would owe him twenty dollars. He’d still get her the massages because when she came home from work her back ached. He heard pre-natal massages were a good thing to receive and there was nothing too good for India. Brownie was waiting outside when he pulled up in his Navigator.

“You don’t need to wait outside, Brownie, I could’ve come in for you.” He got out and walked around the SUV to open the door for her.

“It’s a nice day and I’m enjoying the sun,” she answered casually as he bent down to kiss her cheek.

“I like your sunglasses,” Brownie said as he got settled in the driver’s seat.

Mikael grinned. “Thanks for the compliment, you look very chic in those large things on your face.”

“They are the rage in Paris,” Brownie told him. “I should get a pair for India too. Etta has a set already.”

“Please don’t put India in those, she’s pregnant. I can’t have her tripping all over the place in those things,” he said.

“I can see perfectly,” Brownie said. “Like over there, that cute little boy holding that brown puppy in his arms.”

Mikael looked to where Brownie was pointing and burst out in laughter. “That’s a little girl and her bunny.”

Brownie tilted the glasses down and looked as they passed by. “That’s not my fault, little girls should look like little girls. Why did they cut her hair like that?”

“Gran, it’s progressive times. Little girls don’t need a bunch of hair, they can be soccer players and all kinds of stuff now,” Mikael teased.

“If India has a girl are you cutting her hair?” she asked.

“That will be a no, and it’s a girl,” Mikael said.

Brownie smiled. “You’re that sure, huh?”

“Yep, I am.”

“Your grandfather was sure about your father too, and you when your mother was pregnant,” she said.

“It’s a pity he couldn’t see them running off and ditching me,” Mikael said.

She covered his hand with hers. “None of us saw that, but we’ve had a good life, haven’t we?”

He smiled at his grandmother, the only woman who gave a damn to love him and care for him. Between India’s Gran and Brownie, he’d known more love than he had growing up as a child. Etta had no trouble going upside his head with a slap when he decided he was man enough to talk back, and Brownie, well she had her own kind of punishment and sometimes he’d prefer the slap. Like when she showed up at his high school dressed in overalls, a large floppy hat with a daffodil around it, and wearing the most outrageous shoes and make-up. He never talked back to her again, knowing full well she could do way worse if she put her mind to it. Even so, being disrespectful cost him three months of being teased at school, and she didn’t bat an eye in pity.

Mikael found a parking spot close to the restaurant where they’d be having lunch. He helped Brownie from the car and she linked her hand through the crook of his arm as they walked to the front door. The hostess seated them in minutes, they had a good table by the windows so they could see outside while they ate.

“Can I have a Perrier water with lemon please,” Brownie said with a smile to the waitress.

“I’ll have a Sam Adams summer ale,” Mikael said.

“I’ll be right back with your drinks,” the waitress replied.

“At least she’s smiling, most of the people in the hospitality department seem angry lately,” Brownie commented.

“It’s the city, the cost of living has skyrocketed here and they have to hustle to make rent and pay bills. A two bedroom apartment is almost two thousand dollars now,” Mikael sighed. “I think India may be right, and I’m being a dumbass about moving in with her.”

“You are being a dumbass, but we raised you to be independent,” Brownie replied. “I can still remember your grandfather taking you with him to the newspaper stand when I had to work. I know you don’t remember it, but those were very good times.”

“I remember the pictures in the albums, I wish I could remember Granddad though,” Mikael said.

“He’s who got you calling me Brownie because you wanted them with breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” she said.

Mikael laughed. “I still do.”

“In any case, I’ve solved the dilemma of your housing argument and I already brought Gran in on it,” Brownie said.

The waitress brought their drinks back and they ordered lunch before Mikael spoke again.

“You solved it, how so?” He took a sip of ice-cold beer. The honey wheat ale taste was wonderful on the hot summer day.

“You and India will be taking my house and I’m moving in her apartment with Etta.” Brownie opened her purse and handed him an envelope. “The deed has already been made out to you both, and my lawyer has handled the transition paperwork. All you and India have to do is sign and it’s yours.”

Mikael looked at her in astonishment. “Brownie no, you love that place, it’s what you and Grandad worked for…”

“No,” she cut his words off. “We worked to provide for our grandson who was more like a son in every possible way. That place is too big and I’m alone in it. It will be nice living with Etta again.  Whatever mementos I need I will take with me.  The memories will never fade. Darling boy, it’s time for a new generation to make new memories in there.”

“I don’t know what to say, Brownie.” Mikael’s voice held husky emotion.

She patted his hand. “Tell me you’ll take it, that you and India will make wonderful memories and more children there. Tell me you’ll fill it with love.”

“We will Grandma, I promise you,” Mikael said.

He saw tears mist her eyes and her smile trembled a little bit. “You very rarely call me grandma, so when it happens it’s very special.”

“That’s because you are special and the most awesome chick in the world,” he explained.

“I like that, awesome chick.” She patted her hair. “I like that a lot.”

He laughed and soon after their food came. He spent the afternoon with his grandmother going into the stores and stopping her from buying every piece of baby furniture she saw. But every minute was a pure enjoyment for him. He looked down at Brownie more than once and wondered what his life would have been like without her.  He never wanted to know and prayed to the almighty that both she and Etta would be around for a long time. They didn’t make women like them anymore, and both he and India were blessed with them as parents. They were bat-shit crazy on occasion, but he’d have them no other way.

* * * *

It was much later when he was sitting across from India and the breeze of the river was warm. They’d chosen to eat outside of the little restaurant they were in while watching the Fourth of July festivities. Live bands and concerts at the seaport were a usual thing to see in the summer. But tonight was special, because he was with the woman he loved, and his grandmother’s engagement ring was burning a hole in his pocket. Tonight he was going to ask India to marry him and then kiss the hell out of her in front of everybody when she said yes.

“I can’t believe Brownie gave us her house.” India shook her head in amazement. She twirled her chicken Alfredo around the fork as she talked.

Mikael took the last bite of his steak. “Yep, she and Etta planned this out and again went to lawyers and did stuff, telling us after the fact. Even though so far they are batting a perfect score in their plans.”

India laughed. “Should we be worried about them living together? I can see them bringing back an illegal gin joint and starting a gambling ring in the basement.”

“If that happens we definitely are putting them in a time out.” Mikael grinned.  He sat back and took a sip of his beer.

She put her fork down and wiped her mouth. “I doubt they’d stay put for a time out, Honey.”

“You called me Honey,” he pointed out.

“You call me that too,” India answered. “Do you have a problem with that? Should it be my Big Soldier man, my Boo-boo bear?”

“How about no to both of those, Honey is fine,” Mikael answered. “Are you all full?”

“The little bun is getting big in there, I can’t eat a lot or I feel over stuffed. Don’t worry, I’ll be hungry in two hours.”

“I have a surprise for you,” Mikael said.

“What is it, cheesecake? Say it’s cheesecake, I’d love a piece later,” India said hopefully.

He laughed. “Only you could get excited over food.”

“I’m pregnant,” was her simple reply.

“The surprise is, we’re staying at the Omni hotel in Times Square for the holiday weekend and you can have as much cheesecake as you want there,” Mikael said. “Gran packed you a bag and we’re going right from here.”

She sighed. “That sounds heavenly, I hope they have a Jacuzzi tub.”

“They probably do.”

“Not that I’m complaining, but why the hotel stay?” India asked.

“It’s to celebrate,” he said.

“What are we celebrating?”

Mikael stood, and as he moved close to her he took the ring box from his pocket.

“It’s to celebrate this,” he said huskily.  “You are already the mother of my baby and I’d like you to be my wife. I love you India, I’ve always loved you. If our grandparents hadn’t meddled with our lives or the baby never happened I’d of found my way to you because it’s always been you. Marry me.”

Her smile only enhanced her beauty and when she nodded and whispered, “Yes.”  Mikael was on top of the world. True to his word, he grabbed her and kissed her like his life depended on it, while people passing cheered at his proposal. They were officially engaged when he slipped the ring on her finger and he pressed a kiss to her lips once more.

“Let’s pay the check and head to our suite at the hotel,” Mikael murmured.

She used her fingertip to wipe the tears away. “Okay, I’m sorry I’m crying, the hormones don’t let me stop.”

He put the money for their dinner in the leather case the waiter placed on the table making sure to leave a large tip.  Mikael helped her up from the table and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

He kissed her temple as they walked. “Baby, you cry as much as you want. I’m just happy you said yes.”

India leaned against him. “I’m happy you asked me.”

Even though they were in the city, it took almost forty-five minutes to get from the Seaport to Times Square. Outside the hotel he opted for valet parking, not wanting to deal with more traffic trying to find where the parking deck was.

As he checked them in the receptionist smiled at India. “How far along are you?”

“About five months,” India answered.

“Boy or girl?” she asked as she worked on the keys.

“We don’t know yet but we find out soon,” Mikael said.

The receptionist patted her own flat tummy. “Eight weeks, is it really hard to be carrying a baby? It’s my first.”

India leaned forward on the desk. “It’s my first too, and after the morning sickness finally left it’s been nothing but great.”

The receptionist beamed in happiness. “Thank goodness you said that, my sisters are always talking about the pain and how sick they were. I’m glad to know everyone doesn’t feel that way.” She handed Mikael two key cards. “Happy Fourth of July and enjoy your stay.”