#Chapter Twelve
"I'll have the salmon as always," Barry told the waitress. "And she'll have the risotto."
"But I want to eat the pizza," Kitty protested. The waitress gave her a look of dismissal before looking over at Barry for confirmation. When you had your last name attached to most of the businesses in town, it was a natural consequence for the people inside to sway to your wishes.
"She'll have the risotto," Barry repeated to the waitress, who nodded and left them. Kitty frowned at him and he smiled at her. "You look better when you smile."
"Well you put the frown on my face. I wanted the pizza."
"I have a good reason why I chose the risotto for you," he said. "I have some great and interesting news. Do you want to hear it?"
She was absolutely positive that nothing that came out of his mouth could be interesting. "What is it?"
"I've decided, Kitty," he said to her. "That we're going to get married very soon. And for you to have a long life with me, you have to make sure that your physical health is as perfect as it can be. And that means no pizza."
The dread struck her hard. "Married? I'm not even 18 yet." She always hated that she was underage, but now, she very much wanted to be underage, thank you very much.
"I am setting the date for when you turn 21. When you are fully an adult and ready to make your own decisions."
And there he was making decisions for her!
"I don't know, Barry," she said. She wanted to tell him that she would rather drown herself in boiling acid than marry him.
"Do you remember all that we've gone through together down the years?"
She did. And it was the only reason why she was still with him. While she was always making reckless decisions that upended her life, Barry was the one constant fixture in her life that made her calm, that kept her grounded to life. Her friends often dated bad boys that made them cry because they broke their hearts, but she knew that it would never be a problem when she had Barry. He was a good man, even though sometimes he did shitty things. Besides, who didn't do shitty things every now and then?
"I remember," she said. "Every single thing." She really kind of did.
"Well then, what's holding you back?"
"I don't know," she repeated. "Don't you want to live a little before tying yourself down with marriage?"
"Marriage is not a burden, Kitty," Barry said. "It's freedom."
Umm, what?
"Or have you always wanted to try dating other men?" Barry continued, asking.
"No," she said. "Of course not. I can't imagine myself with anyone else. You're everything to me."
"Likewise."
"I'm just not sure - "
"It's already settled, Kitty," he said. "I've already discussed this with my family. They're fine with your shortcomings."
"My shortcomings?"
"After we're married, we'll work on them. You'll have an active role in church, and you'll attend all the courses we want to put you through. We'll give you a safe career in ministry, and you'll be taken care of for the rest of your life. I will make sure you're comfortable."
"But I haven't even heard a proposal from you."
"Oh," he blinked. "I'm sorry. Kitty, will you marry me?"
It didn't sound like she had much choice.
She sighed. "You already know the answer," she told him.