Author's Note: Belinda, a white Southern sorority is heading off to Chicago, with some apprehension, to meet the parents of Sam, her biracial husband whom she met when he was working at her family's mansion for the summer. Although these pieces somewhat stand on their own, they are best read in a series.
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Carlie
CHAPTER 19
Although their packing and preparations for the trip to Chicago were slowed by their need for frequent lovemaking breaks, they managed to be ready for their trip on time. Rick, who Sam trusted implicitly to keep their situation confidential, had offered to drive them to the airport, and since the flight was so early, Belinda asked if he might want to come for dinner Thursday night and spend the night on their fold-out sofa. She was eager to impress the first of Sam's friends she had met, so she pulled out all the stops. Thursday morning she ran out to the market and loaded up on groceries. Rick's introduction to Belinda was over a plate of pasta with homemade sauce that had been made from scratch and simmered all day on the stovetop. Belinda finished off the meal with sautΓ©ed fresh green beans with homemade garlic bread. Belinda was glad she had ignored her mother when Susannah told her she was spending too much time in the kitchen with Mrs. Sims. Even if they could afford it, Belinda didn't want a home like her own, where every meal was cooked by hands that had been hired.
When Belinda left the room for a moment, Rick joked that it was a good thing Sam had put a ring on her finger, or he'd have to face some serious competition. After Sam got Rick settled in for the night, he went into the bedroom only to find Belinda crying on the floor of the walk-in closet, her suitcase empty on the floor. "Baby, what are you doing? What's wrong? You were all packed."
"I don't know what to wear. I've never been to Chicago. I've never been a wife." Belinda's tears flowed harder as she began hyperventilating. Sam kissed her over and over, assuring her that it didn't matter what she wore, that his parents weren't the kind of people to judge like that.
"Honey, Rick's out there plotting how to convince you to leave me for him. My parents are counting down the hours until we get there. You don't have anything to worry about. But if you want, I'll pack for you." He quickly put together four outfits, two too many for their two day trip, but enough to give Belinda choices. He slipped her nightgown and underthings back into the bag and stowed her makeup kit in as well, as she watched him, still dabbing some tears.
"Promise me something," he heard her say as he zipped up the carry-on.
"What, love?"
"Promise me you'll still love me even if they don't."
Sam laughed, but stopped when he realized Belinda was totally serious. He took her face in his hands and kissed her tear-stained cheeks. "Lindy, I promise. It's not going to happen, but I promise. I'm not going to stop loving you, any more than you are going to stop loving me when your mother finds about me and has the conniption to end all conniptions."
Gathering her up in his arms, he carried her to bed.
The drive to the airport was a little rough. Morning sickness was beginning to kick in more strongly and Rick had to stop twice to let Belinda throw up. On the airplane, Sam got a flight attendant to bring Belinda a few extra airsickness bags, but luckily, she didn't need them. Sam kept her laughing and distracted with funny stories about himself and his brother Sean from childhood. She realized a lot of them involved snow, which was a bit intimidating to a girl from Mississippi, but when the plane landed the pilot reported it was a beautiful late summer day with temperatures in the mid-80s.
Sam's parents were there to meet them at the baggage pickup, and Sam hardly had the chance to get the words, "I'd like you to meet my wife," before his mother Colleen, a petite Irish woman, embraced her. A hug from his father Michael--who looked much like Sam, but taller, darker skinned, and thinner--followed. "They seem to like you so far," Sam whispered in Belinda's ear as they made their way to the car.
Sam had warned Belinda that his brother might be a little stand-offish, that he had a chip on his shoulder about being biracial and only dated black girls, but Sean was on his best behavior. Belinda felt herself very much at home with the Greene's. They laughed and joked over dinner in the family's beautiful two-story penthouse overlooking the lake, until Colleen noticed Belinda yawning and sent them off to bed. For a moment, Belinda felt awkward being shown to Sam's bedroom, but as she glanced down at the sparkling diamond on her left hand, she realized she was going to have to get used to being a wife.