Love Thy Neighbor (35 page)

Approximately ten seconds pass and when no
one answers Ash whispers, “Oh well. We tried. C’mon, let’s go.” He
takes my hand and tries to pull me back out the door.

Laughing at his ridiculousness, I mutter, “I
can’t believe you’re nervous. They’re just my parents.”

Ash’s brows lift. He shakes his head. “No.
They’re not
just
your parents, babe. They’re your
protectors. They aren’t gonna want you with someone like me. I know
it.”

He’s not wrong.

It’s not that they’ll have anything against
Asher. It’s just that they’ll wonder why we eloped. Doing something
like that, in our family, means something’s wrong.

Terribly wrong.

I scoff, “You don’t know that. C’mon, I
think they’re in the yard.”

We walk through my house when he spots a
picture of me and my sisters when I was about eleven. I’m wearing a
hat. He chuckles. “Let me guess. Nina and the Mohawk?”

Laughing, I tell him, “Oh yeah. That wasn’t
the first time either. You should see our family photos, especially
the ones where dad has no sideburns.”

His body shakes behind me in silent
laughter, and when I reach the back sliding door, my stomach dips.
I won’t let Ash see how nervous I am though. Pasting on a huge
smile, I open the door and step out onto the back porch where my
mom, dad, Nina and Helena sit at the outdoor setting.

Helena spots us first and stands so fast,
her chair tumbles backwards. She squeals and runs over to us,
jumping up on me. I throw my arms around her and laugh, “Whoa,
whoa, whoa. You’d think I haven’t seen you for years!”

Helena lets go of me and to my surprise, she
jumps up on Ash. And he lets her, hugging her and smiling too.

Maybe this isn’t going to be as bad as I
thought.

Nina stands and comes over to me. She bear
hugs me and says, “It’s so good to see you, honey.”

She cups Ash’s cheek and kisses the other. I
watch my sisters flank my husband. Helena wraps an arm around his
waist from one side and Nina wraps an arm around his waist from the
other side. I smile.

They’re forming a protective barrier around
him. They know something’s up.

Ash stands there looking dumbfounded for a
sec before he wraps both his arms around my sisters’ shoulders.

My nose tingles and my eyes blur.

Nawww. Stupid feels!

Clearing my throat, I turn to my parents who
are both standing now. Mom wears a small smile. Dad…well, he
doesn’t look so happy.

Mom comes forwards and wraps me up tight. I
whisper, “Hi, Mama.”

She rocks me from side to side and whispers
into my ear, “He’s very good looking, beba.”

I chuckle and she lets go of me. My dad
comes forwards and gruff as ever, hugs me so hard that he almost
cuts of my air flow. I gasp. “Tata, not so tight!”

He lets go of me and moves to stand in front
of Asher. He says, “The man from Tina’s wedding, no?”

Ash nods and says, “Yes, sir. I am. Nik’s
friend, Asher.” Then Ash holds out his hand for dad to take and my
stomach knots.

Please, Tata. Oh please, just take it.

Dad looks at Ash for a good ten seconds
before he takes his hand and pumps it twice before letting go. He
turns his back and says to Asher, “You come.” Then he walks
inside.

Ash looks at me as if I should confirm
whether he’s walking into his imminent death. Choking down my
laughter, I tell him, “Go with him. He probably just wants to show
you something manly.”

Ash swallows hard, straightens to full
height, nods into the distance and walks inside, following my
father. Shaking my head, I chuckle.

Fare thee well, brave soldier.

***

Oh shit. The man has a basement.

What do people need basements for these
days?

For dismembering bodies of their daughters’
husbands, that’s why.

I am
so
fucked.

Walking down the steps, I think of my
beautiful wife’s face and remember that whatever this is right now,
she’s worth it.

When I make it to the last step, I look
around and my mouth gapes.

This is the coolest fucking room I’ve ever
been in.

There’s a pool table, a dart board, a poker
table, a huge flat screen TV, a very comfortable looking sofa, a
library along the back wall and a bar in the far corner. Walking
with wide eyes, something hits the side of my head and I reach up
to steady the…hanging pork leg?

What the fuck?

Nat’s dad sees me holding the leg with what
is probably my
what the fuck
face and he says a heavily
accented, “Is prosciutto. Very nice. Salty ham. We do every year.
Is traditions.”

He motions to the bar, and satisfied that
he’s not going to kill me…yet, I move over to him. My eyes widen
once more when he pulls out two shot glasses and an old bottle of
something clear. He pours them both and says, “My Natalie. She
smart. If she bring a boy home, I know she love him.”

I pipe down the urge to puff up my chest and
bang on it like Tarzan while doing a jungle call. He goes on, “So,
I must ask. Nina tell me about the other boy, the one who hits her.
She say a good man help Nat. Is this man you?”

My gut knots. I had no idea her sisters
would tell her parents.

Nodding, I tell him, “Yes, sir. I helped
her.”

Nodding with me, he allows a moment’s
silence before he asks slowly, “You make him pay?”

Looking him direct in the eyes, I say with
sincerity, “In a way he’ll never forget, sir. Ever.”

He nods once more and I know he gets me.
Playing with his glass, he asks quietly, “Are you worthy?”

Puffing out a big breath, I tell him, “I-
uh- I really don’t know. I hope so because I love her. So much that
I’d do anything for her. I’ll protect her til the day I die, if
she’ll have me. She makes me a better person.”

Seeming satisfied with my answer, he raises
his glass and motions mine. I fumble for it so quick that I almost
knock it over. Lifting it high with his, he says, “živeli!” and it
sort of sounds like zhiv-yell-ee.

Not knowing what it means and seriously not
giving a fuck, I clink my glass to his and say “živeli!”

He smiles for the first time and downs his
shot like it’s water. I sniff it. It’s strong as horse piss. Not
wasting another moment thinking on it, I shoot it. And it burns my
mouth and throat simultaneously.

Horse piss? More like paint remover!

Being the man I am and wanting to impress
him, I coax down the cough that threatens til my face turns blue.
He belly laughs when he sees my face, “Cough or you die!”

Taking his advice, I nod once then cough.
And cough. And cough so hard I almost gag. And cough a little
more.

Once I get myself under control, I look up
at him and wheeze, “That was strong shit.”

He smiles so hard he looks almost proud and
says, “Homemade. Remedy for any-
ting
. Cough, burn,
cuts…any-
ting
.”

Putting his arm around my shoulder, he walks
me over to the steps and says, “You call me Boris.”

I think I just won over Nat’s dad.

***

When Ash and dad emerge from the basement, I
exhale the breath I hadn’t known I was holding. Dad wraps his arm
around Ash, smiling and says to us girls, “I give him a small
drink.”

The rakija.

It always comes down to the rakija.

Rakija is a homemade alcohol that most Croat
families make. It’s pronounced rah-key-yah but you have to roll the
R
. For any Croatian family, sharing rakija at your table is
a sign of friendship which makes me glad. My dad sharing his best
reserve with Ash means he’s accepted the fact that I’ve brought a
guy home.

Now you just have to tell them you got
married.

Thanks for reminding me, brain.

Now that everyone is in the room, I stand,
clear my throat and move to stand next to Ash. I tell them all,
“Sorry, guys. I wish we could stay but we’re heading back home
tonight.”

Dad’s brow furrows and he says, “Why? You
stay tonight and go tomorrow.”

Mom nods, “Yes. Stay tonight. We have plenty
of room here.”

Shaking my head, I say, “We weren’t even
meant to be gone this long. We both have to get back to work, but
we’re here because we’ve got something to tell you.” I look up at
Ash and take his hand. He smiles down at me and I suddenly feel
lighter. Looking back at my family, I announce, “Asher and I got
married yesterday.”

A huge smile crosses my face and I watch as
everyone falls into a stunned silence.

A minute passes and no one moves or says a
thing. I squeeze Ash’s hand in a way, mentally yelling
Help
when finally my mother comes forward to stand in front of Ash. She
says quietly with a small smile, “I’m Ana. Welcome to the family,
Asher.” Then she steps forward and pulls him down into a gentle
hug.

My throat clogs.

When Mama steps back from him, Ash says
quietly, “Thank you, Ana.”

Nina and Helena both stare at me for a good
minute before Nina squeaks and Helena shrieks, and they both jump
on me and Asher, laughing and whooping.

Nina wails playfully, “I’m an old maid!”

Helena wails teasingly, “She’s an old maid!”
And Nina smacks her on the back of the head.

We all laugh together and when they release
us, my stomach churns.

Tata. Oh shit.

Meeting my dad stare for stare, I tell him
confidently, “I love him.”

A small smile graces my father’s face and he
utters, “I know. He love you too.” He looks at my hand in Asher’s
and asks, “You want this?”

My eyes begin to sting.

Nodding, I choke out through quivering lips,
“He’s all I’ll ever need.” Ash puts his arms around me and kisses
my head.

Dad nods and concedes, “Okay. Is good. I am
happy man if my daughter is happy.”

Barking out a choked laugh, I raise both my
arms, fisting my hands and yell out, “Best weekend ever!”

***

Unlocking the door to my apartment, I gasp
when I step inside.

You forgot about the flowers, huh?

Oh, I totally did.

Ash wraps his arms around my waist and
chuckles, “Oh shit. I forgot about those. Don’t worry. I’ll call
someone to clean it all up. Let’s go back to my place.” He lowers
his face to my neck, kissing me. “All we need is a bed
anyways.”

Reaching into my purse, I take out my phone
and start to take photos of my house. He asks in confusion, “What
are you doing, girl?”

Not stopping my photo taking, I mutter, “No
one’s gonna believe this unless I take photos.”

Ash walks over to the counter and picks up
the parcel I’d forgotten about. “She didn’t even open it,” he
mutters to himself.

Walking up behind him, I explain, “I didn’t
have time to open it, what with the flowers and me getting ready
for work, and you proposing and swooping me off to Vegas,
babe.”

Turning, he smiles, “Open it.”

Stepping back from him, I ask suspiciously,
“What is it?”

Smiling, he says, “One of the reasons I
thought you said yes to marrying me…” He eyes the package. “…but
here this is. Unopened.” He cups my cheek and runs his thumb over
it gently. He says softly, “You really love me, don’t you, pretty
girl?”

Holding a hand over his on my cheek, I
whisper, “More than life.”

He smiles a moment before handing me the
parcel. With narrowed eyes, I unwrap it and take out the thin black
folder. I open it up and read.

Dear Natalie Kovac,
Thank you so much for your anonymous donation to Stop! (Women
Against Domestic Violence) in the amount of $250,000.
We are thrilled by your generosity, and I must admit I even shed a
few tears when I saw the amount.
I’m not sure whether you yourself have been a victim of domestic
violence, but I must tell you, it can be crippling.
I have seen women come through our doors, women who are only a
shell of who they used to be. Your money will be invested in many
areas. Most of it will go to new housing, self-defense classes, the
hiring of therapists and toward the running of our twenty-four-hour
safe house.
You will never know just how much your donation means to us here at
Stop!
I know the donation was anonymous and perhaps I’ve overstepped
boundaries by writing. If I have, please forgive me.
You are an exceptional person and we are in your debt.
Kindest regards,
Barbara Helsen
Founder of Stop! and domestic abuse survivor

My vision blurs and I dip my head to stop
him from seeing how much this is affecting me.

Ash wraps his arms around me and moves me
toward the front door. “C’mon, girl. Let’s get some sleep. It’s
been a long week,” he says quietly.

My husband, as always, is right.

I nod and sniffle. Breathing deeply, I
straighten and march on.

God, it’s good to be home.

Chapter Twenty-Eight
Just married

For the first time in the history of
mankind, Ash and I travel to work together this morning.

And it is weird.

He makes us take his car because it’s ‘his
baby’ and I don’t even mind. He narrows his eyes at me like he’s
expecting an argument, but I figure we’ll have plenty of years
ahead for me to get my way. If he wants this one little unimportant
thing, I’m cool with that.

Last night, we spoke about just how we’re
going to break it to everyone, and Ash said the best way to do that
was to call a family meeting at Nik and Tina’s which I agreed on
too.

Oh my God, what’s happening to you?

I have no idea. He takes the fight right out
of me. Now that we’re married, I’m looking at us as a united front.
Unless we stand together and agree to disagree, we’re going to have
problems.

My dad always told me to pick my battles and
that’s what I’m doing.