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It was bound to happen. Truer words were never stated. He should have known his parents would have gone to this extreme. Foolishly, he wanted to believe they’d keep their distance from this are of his life. If he wanted he could damn well find any woman from the list in his phone to marry him. Had he even the slightest bit interested in being married. Cael admired Jeremey’s laid back attitude. Of course his room mate felt he could laugh about it. He didn’t have to deal with Cael’s parents other than their occasional but sporadic visits to the apartment. Cael on the other hand would be stuck with them- for life. He found himself laughing at his friend’s question, “ they’re very serious. I’m sure my folks expect you and I to be married to these ladies by the end of the week.” Cael agreed this was a new level of weird, even for his parents.
He might have been able to move to some sort of amusement if the blonde hadn't spoken. What Cael hadn’t been prepared for was being questioned in his own home. He looked at the blonde; really looked at her. He didn’t know what he was trying to find; maybe that button that suddenly gave her the courage to speak. Seriously, did they really want to put the pressure on him and risk pissing him off? Especially, when his house was the only sure place they had to spend the night? Brave….or stupid. He didn’t know which one to call her. “Parents will do whatever the hell they want to do regardless of the fact of you needing or not needing something. My parents especially. You can see how taxing this might become; you’ve already met them.” The amusement that was normally attached with the curl of his lips were missing from his eyes. Cael was not amused. Nor did he appreciate the woman’s constant questions. Not to mention her sass. It’s America, sir. He could swear he’d heard that line in a film some where. How cliché. “ And, you believe everything in America to be wonderful and grand do you. You’d have been better off wherever the hell you came from. There’s nothing here for immigrants but cheap labor, sickness and poverty. If you’re lucky you won’t have to whore yourself out just to get a ticket back home.”
Okay, so he was being a bit harsh. Cael couldn’t help himself. He wasn’t going to allow these women to come into the country with stars in their eyes, thinking their happily ever after suddenly appeared and their world was going to be okay. They needed to know the truth. He’d give it to them. The raw unedited version. Hopefully, he’d knock the stars out of their eyes before things got any worse. The last thing America needed was another onslaught of people holding out for some dream that wouldn’t come true in their lifetime or their kids. Sure, his family managed to live well in some fantasy world. It helped that both his parents had been born into money. Their eccentric ways had been encouraged and funded. When his parents opened art galleries even more money pooled into their already bountiful bank accounts. Naturally, they made living in America look easy. To them it was. Cael found himself scoffing at the woman’s words, and her laughter. She was delusional “if you plan on staying around you’ll regret that choice soon enough.” The other woman at least had the common sense not to say anything. Though, he didn’t think she’d agree with him. They were both crazy; as bad as his parents. Jeremey slipped out to change leaving Cael to deal with the two women. He and the Asian looking woman seemed to be on the same page because she mentioned food the minute he had. And this conversation would definitely need to be had on a full stomach. He grabbed himself a plate was about to take himself up some food when the blonde asked a question that puzzled him.
“ Agreement? What agreement?”” What the hell! Did his parents pay for these women to come here and marry him and Jeremy? Holy hell this was getting crazy by the second. When Jeremy came back out the room he couldn’t help sharing this bit of information with his friend, “ I think my parents actually paid them to come here and be our wives. Can you imagine they think we need help in that department? I shouldn’t see any humor in this I really shouldn’t.” His words didn’t stop the smile that tugged his lips as he moved to the table and got some rice and honey garlic chicken. “ I got two types of beef and two types of chicken. I think there’s that rice you like in the..” Jeremy was already opening the rice box so Cael didn’t see the need to continue, “ you don’t owe nothing for the meal. It’s on me, don’t worry.” Taking a seat he waited for the women to get their food before he actually began to eat. Out of the two men, Jeremy would definitely be the one to extend a friendly hand. Cael found himself interested in knowing where the women were from. He’d be a fool to say they weren’t attractive. They seemed well cared for. But, who knew what his parents had doen with them to make them that way. Still, they were beautiful he would give them that.
Digging into the rice he nudged Jeremy, “ how the hell you know she’s from Russia. What are you an expert on accents?” Cael found himself nodded, “ man they both speak English good…I mean well.” Taking a few more forkfuls he looked across the table at the two women, “ how’d you come to meet my parents? Do you have names? Of course you have names. I meant what are your names. I’m Cael. Though I suppose my parents told you all about me. The gent at the other end…he’s Jeremy my room mate. I suppose you’ve heard all about him as well. I figure you should tell us a bit about yourselves since we’re a bit at a disadvantage. I figure a husband should at least know his wife’s name. He couldn’t’ resist teasing just a bit. Cael wasn’t notoriously known for his humor but when it did rare its head it could be a bit…off. Waving his fork between them his eyes were filled with animation when he asked, “ which of the two of you were suppose to marry Jeremy? Did you even decide yet….or were we to have the choice?”
Cael was being a bit heartless, not intentionally. He simply couldn’t understand the situation from the women’s perspective. He’d never been without and so the idea of what they did made no sense to him. He couldn’t even connect the dots between their life and his own. Privileges wiped his a** for as long as he could remember. He didn’t sponge off of his parents but his business was doing well because of his family’s name. The Murphy’s were well known from his father to his uncle, and aunts. Not to mention a few cousins that were doing quiet well for themselves. But, then when you had the best schooling what excuse did you have to fail? None. Failure-struggle remained an extraneous factor in Cael’s life. He’d never even thought about the possibility of being around people that were less fortunate. They simply didn’t exist in his world. Perhaps that was the reason his parents thought a wife from across the world would be good for their son. Not only from across the world but from another class status. They were always trying to teach him lessons in their own way. This, however, lesson would take some time to learn.
He didn’t know where it came from, but some where between his third and fourth forkful he felt guilty for how harsh he’d been with the women, “ listen….I don’t mean to make sport of your situation. It’s just….i’m trying to make you see how pointless this is for you. It’s best for you to return home to your families. I don’t think you’d get either of us to settle down and marry you and that’s the truth of the matter. What I will do for you though…I’ll offer you a place to sleep and then tomorrow I’ll take you over to my parent’s house…., Cael would have offered his parent’s place but he didn’t know these women nor trust them to be left alone in his parent’s home. “ I’ll offer you my room until you guys can contact your family and arrange to go back home…or until we can find my parents and have them sort out whatever arrangement they have with you. What is their arrangement with you by the way? You still haven’t mentioned it.”
He’d bulldoze these women if they weren’t careful. Cael was just that sort of guy and he made no apologies for it.
