“What’s all of this?”
Dr. Connor Windsor looked up to find Will Montgomery standing in the doorway of his kitchen, clutching a bottle of red wine in his hands. Connor fumbled with a slotted spoon as he said, “I… Look, I’ve been a jerk lately.”
Will raised a deft eyebrow. “Go on.”
“And… I wanted to do something nice for you. I remembered how much you liked the meal I made for you for our six-month anniversary, so…I wanted to make it for you again.”
“That’s very sweet, but you didn’t have to do this, Connor.”
“I feel like I do.” Connor sat on a stool as he looked woefully at Will. “I love you. I love you so much, Will. I think the stress of the wedding, the planning, my work at the hospital, our parents, your sister…it’s all starting to get to me.”
Will sat next to Connor, taking his hands in his. “It doesn’t have to, Connor. India won’t do anything because my parents are watching her. As for the wedding, we can let my staff handle it. The only thing we need to do it show up on the day. That is…if you want to marry me.” Will surveyed Connor’s face for any trace of emotion. “Do you?”
“Yes,” Connor said, meekly. “I always have. I do.”
“Me too.” Will kissed Connor with such delicacy, he thought he was dreaming. “But, if you aren’t comfortable with my family’s wealth and money, then our marriage will never work, Connor. I can’t do anything about it. It’s…it’s who I am.”
Connor stroked Will’s arm as he said, “I know. It’s not your fault. I just wish your parents weren’t so involved in your life and our relationship.”
“They’ve never been involved in my life, Connor. Not really.”
“The way they’ve been acting…”
“That’s far from how they are, Connor. My parents have been hands-off parents my entire life. They intercede when it suits them. My mother is the worst, but my dad isn’t too far behind. I think…with your history with India, they’re a little more invested than they were when Warren married Jill.”
“Then we shouldn’t let your mother buy us a house as a wedding present.”
Will let out an exasperated groan. “Just let her do it, Connor. Fighting with my mother over a house isn’t the cross on which you want to die. She’s buying it for us. It won’t make a world of difference at the end of the day.”
“I feel weird about it, Will. Why can’t you see that?”
“I don’t know, Connor. Maybe it’s something you need to deal with on your own.”
“I can’t believe you’d say that to me…”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” said Will, quickly. “I just think that we’d both be happier if we focused on each other…on our upcoming wedding…than fighting about my mom buying us a house. It’s not that big a deal!”
“To you it isn’t!”
Will let out an annoyed groan. “Why can’t you just accept it?!?”
“Because I don’t want to be beholden to your parents! God! It’s like you’re blind to how controlling they are, Will. I’m trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection from my parents,” spat Will, tersely. “I shouldn’t’ve come here…”
“What? The minute I have an opinion, you want to runoff? God, Will! You need to listen to me!”
“Why?!?! You’re only going to say that my parents are trying to control me and the rest of it. I’m sick of it. They do not control me. In their own weird way, they love me. I’m sorry if the way they show it isn’t good enough for you, Connor, but it’s who they are. I don’t try to change them, like I haven’t tried to change you. I accept people for who they are; not for who I want them to be!”
“So, it’s all my fault? Really, Will?”
Will turned to Connor with fire in his eyes. “You aren’t making it very easy to be around you right now. I’m going home.”
“Will…if you walk out of here, the wedding is off.”
“Why? Because I didn’t let you get your way? If that’s the price of being with you, then I’m out, Connor.”
“Will, I love you. Please. Try to see my side of things,” replied Connor with mounting desperation.
“You won’t see my side of anything unless it relates to yours. I’m sick of it, Connor. I will not marry a man who thinks he has to control me in order for me to be with him. Despite what you may think, I have thoughts, dreams, and opinions outside of you, my parents, and the rest of the world!”
“I never…”
“You didn’t have to,” interjected Will. “I know what people think about me. ‘Poor little rich boy. Poor Will Montgomery. Men must only be with him for his money.’ I’ve heard it all before and I won’t tolerate it anymore. Not from you…or anyone else!”
Connor chased Will out of the kitchen into the foyer, his heart racing a mile a minute. “What’re you saying, Will? Come on, don’t leave it like this…please…”
Will stared into Connor’s soulful eyes. In that instant, he remembered why he’d fallen in love with this man…the only man in a very long time he’d even imagined a future with beyond a second date. “I need time.”
“Time? How much time? We’re getting married in three weeks!”
“I’m perfectly aware of that, Connor.” Will grabbed his car keys from the side table before adding, “You can’t have it both ways. I will not marry a man who’s so insecure when it comes to my parents and our money.”
“Come on,” pleaded Connor. “Let’s have dinner and forget it.”
“I can’t forget it! You’ve made yourself abundantly clear and now I’m doing the same: Either get on board with who I am and what I bring to this relationship or we’re over, Connor. I will not have the same fight with you for the rest of my life.”
“You have to see where I’m coming from, Will. If we accept that house from your mother, we’re wedded to her as much as to each other.”
“If that’s what you think, then I see no point in continuing with our engagement. I’m sorry, Connor, but the wedding is off.”
In our next installment, Lisa runs into Sheila…
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