"Are you sure my outfit is okay?"
"It's just as fine as it was five minutes ago when you last asked me that," Cornell replied.
"I don't wanna look like a hoochie when I meet your folks."
"Whatever that is, I'm sure you don't look like one."
"How would you know if you don't know what it is?"
Cornell shrugged. "It sounds negative and you're perfect."
"You have to say that." I huffed.
I was nervous. I had never done the meet the parents' thing, and I knew it would happen eventually because yeah, I'm marrying the guy, but mentally I wasn't ready. He claimed his family was cool, down to earth and that they would love me. However, I can use one hand to could the number of people I had met that fit that role. So yeah, I wasn't sure about that.
"I don't have to say anything," Cornell replied. "I could let you sit there and sweat until you turn to stew or I could try to ease your mind. We are almost there. It's not like you can turn around and change."
"How close is almost there?"
"We should arrive at the gate in about ten minutes."
"Oh, shit."
"Right, you are out of time, sweetheart. No turning back now."
"You know you're fantastic at this whole easing my mind thing."
"I try my best."
We were on a narrow road now, flanked by trees that met in the middle of the road and hid the light from the sun. It made the world appear dark, like nature felt like this area needed a tunnel, and made it happen. When we exited the other side, we were climbing a hill at the top sat a castle. White and blue, it gleamed in the sun.
"You grew up here?" I asked in awe.
"And my father and my father's father before him. I will be the first Pole to not raise children in this Castle in centuries."
"Wow. How does that make you feel?"
"Fucking fantastic. I get you out of the deal."
My body filled with warmth, and I felt my nerves were at ease. Who knew that all he had to do was flirt and give me compliments to put me at ease? He focused on the road, one hand on the steering wheel and the other on my thigh. My hands covered his, keeping it in place. I hadn't even noticed that until now. It was just natural.
We passed a gate and drove up a long driveway to an entrance to the castle. We filed in two cars in front and three in the back. On the porch stood five people, one I knew as Jeremiah. Two young girls and a man and a woman. The man was an older version of Cornell, the Lady a beauty whose resemblance I could see in them all. They all wore jeans and t-shirts and the causality of it all made me sigh in relief.
Turning off the car, Cornell turned to me with a playful look on his gorgeous face. "Just be yourself, Vic. You are naturally charming and everything they are hoping for in my wife." He kissed my lips with just a brush. "If your charm fails, just know they will love you because I do."
Then he hopped out of the car, leaving me stunned. Had he just told me he loved me or had he used it figuratively? My heart sped up as I thought of all the ways he could have meant that. Before I could even process that, he was opening my door, and in a whirlwind, I was in front of his family being introduced.
His sisters were first, Jasmine and Amena. Jasmine was a young beauty, sixteen, with flowing dark red hair and blue eyes. Amena was twelve, with raven hair and dark blue eyes. She was taller than Jasmine, but younger. Jeremiah wasted no time in bowing and smirking at his brother and coughing out a "Whipped". His father slapped the back of his head, before pulling me into a hug. His mother squeaked and did the same.
"Arent you just the cutest princess ever." His mother asked or stated. I want sure. I just smiled and returned the hugs.
"Thanks, you're very beautiful, and you," I said, turning to his dad, "I see where the boys where Cornell gest his good looks."
His father rumbled a laugh. "And I now understand why my son is so charmed by you." He took my hand and led me inside to a grand entryway. No other word to describe a large hall decked out in good with paintings on the ceiling as if angels painted them. Behind us, Cornell's mom followed, with Jasmine at her side, and Cornell had an arm wrapped around Amena's head. Jeremiah lagged, his hands behind his back.
We entered a large room that was surprisingly modern. Couches created a close sitting area in the middle of the room. A table sat in the middle of the couches. A fireplace sat cold on one side of the room, surrounded by family pictures and paintings. A full body armor stood in a corner next to some chairs and a violin. It was cozy, kind of like the sitting room in my apartment, but this was way more personal.
We piled in and people kind of scattered. Amena went straight to the violin and, Jasmine followed at a slower pace, back straight and with perfect poise she sat and listen as Amena started to play. His parents sat on the couch and kind of folded together. Jeremiah and Cornell are with them. I went to the wall and looked at pictures of Cornell and his family. These were pictures not online but personal. There were pictures of them skiing and having picnics, at water parks, and at a few parties. if I followed the room from the entrance, from wall to wall, you would see him from a baby to the man he is today.
"My mom used to be a photographer. It's still a passion, and she always gets us to take them."
"I think it's great."
"You say that now. I remember getting rid of a lot of my most photos. She seriously catches every embarrassing moment."
I laughed and continued my walk around the room, stopping at a picture of Cornell looking pissed. "What's the story with this one?"
"That was the day he found out he would have to go to the military camp." His mother said, coming to stand beside us. "He thought he could get out of it."
I looked at Cornell, and he sucked on one cheek, causing his dimples to deepen. "Military school?" I asked.
"It was only for six months and not that bad," Cornell grunted.
Clearly, he hated it.
"He tried everything to get out of it," Jasmine laughed along with her younger sister
"He even tried to hide in the woods by the lake." Queen Alicia said, holding her belly with the laughter that burst out.
"Papa found him stuck in the mud by the lake," Jeremiah said.
Cornell rolled his eyes and threw his arms up in the arm with a look of betrayal on his face. "You all really wasted no time getting to the embarrassing stories."
"It's our right," Jasmine said, smiling and looping an arm around her brother's shoulders. "were your family."
"What happened when he found him?" I asked, ignoring Cornell's attempt to get my attention. No way was I missing this entire story.
"I threw him in the shower, made him wash his ass, and then took him myself." His father finished the story. "He wore that look the entire ride there and back. If he wants to be king, he has to go. It's mandatory for all royals to have some training in defense. You would have had it too had you been here at seventeen."
"I don't think I missed anything." I joked, but took Cornell's hand to soothe him. I could feel the embarrassment rolling off him in waves.
Then boom like the touch was all it took. He looked at me and smiled, a real smile. I couldn't help but smile back. It was contagious. I don't know how long we shared that silent moment, but we didn't come out of it until his father cleared his throat loudly. Everyone beamed at us, and I felt myself blush once again. I don't think I ever knew what that felt like until Cornell. With him, it happened a lot.
"Well, son, as wonderful as it is to see you guys make googly eyes at each other, we have business to attend to. Miah, you will second. Ladies, we will see you all at dinner, if not before. You are staying the night, Princess Victoria?"
I sputtered... not sure about that at all. The whole trip had been last minute for me. I had brought no clothes, and I hadn't talked to Granny B. Even though got a thrill of excitement from thinking of staying, I didn't want to get in trouble.
"She will," Cornell answered for me. "I do nothing last-minute, sweetheart. Your bags are in the car and I got permission."
I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips. "You are so spoiled."
"Your grandmother just adores me." He said and walked out, behind his father, followed by his brother.