Seeing My Parents Ignored, I Knew This Don Wasn’t the One Chapter 01

Seeing My Parents Ignored, I Knew This Don Wasn’t the One Chapter 01

My Hamptons wedding to my fiancé, Don Dominic Marchesi, was supposed to include both sets of parents.

On the day we were supposed to fly out, I waited at the airport for a long time.

But Dominic showed up with Eleanor Vance—his childhood friend—along with her parents and her whole pack of socialite girlfriends. Every single one of them had a boarding pass.

My parents weren’t there.

I asked Dominic, “Where are my parents?”

He was busy shielding Eleanor’s mother from the foot traffic. He didn’t even look at me.

“There weren’t enough seats on the plane.”

“I got them Greyhound tickets.”

Over thirty hours on a Greyhound bus. With a transfer in Philly, then a ferry ride after that.

My dad had just had lumbar surgery. My mom got carsick after two hours in a car. She’d throw up every time.

My voice shook. “Then why do Eleanor’s friends all have tickets?”

Dominic frowned.

“Eleanor’s parents are older. They can’t handle that kind of travel.”

“Besides, those girls decided to come last-minute. I couldn’t just let them show up for nothing. I can’t have people thinking the Marchesi family doesn’t know how to treat guests.”

My phone rang right then.

My mom’s voice was careful, like she was afraid of causing me trouble.

“Lottie, we’ve never been on a plane before. We didn’t want to embarrass you.”

“The bus is fine. We’ll get there eventually.”

My nose stung. Before I could say anything, I heard my dad stifling a cough in the background. He dropped his voice, like he was scared I’d hear.

“Don’t tell her. It’s her wedding. Don’t let her worry.”

In that moment, I looked at the crowd buzzing around Dominic.

And I suddenly felt like this wedding didn’t need to happen anymore.

…

Eleanor walked over, eyes red-rimmed.

“Charlotte, don’t blame Dom.”

“Maybe I should ask Elise to give up her ticket.”

She paused—Elise was her bestie—then added softly.

“It’s just that Elise’s family doesn’t have much. This is her first time going to the Hamptons. She’s been looking forward to it for so long.”

Dominic immediately patted her hand.

“This has nothing to do with you. I made the seating arrangements.”

He turned to me, irritation creeping into his voice.

“Eleanor’s friends are already here at the airport.”

“I can’t just send them home.”

One of the blonde socialites covered her mouth with a delicate laugh.

“Small-town folks are probably more comfortable on a bus anyway.”

“There are so many rules on airplanes. Wouldn’t want them to embarrass themselves.”

Dominic heard her. He heard every word.

All he said was, “They didn’t mean anything by it.”

“It’s our big day. Don’t be so sensitive.”

I stared at him.

“My dad just had back surgery. My mom gets violently carsick.”

“And you’re putting them on a Greyhound bus to get to my wedding?”

Dominic’s brow furrowed.

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

“Your parents are used to keeping things simple. They won’t mind the bus.”

“Besides, I already sent them the route. They transfer, take the ferry. It’s easy.”

He said it so casually.

But all I could picture was my dad’s back, too stiff to bend, and my mom’s face going pale in the passenger seat. Something clenched hard in my chest.

My phone rang again.

It was my mom.

The background noise was chaotic, the muffled echo of a station announcement bleeding through. Her voice was still so damn careful.

“Lottie, we got on the bus.”

“It’s actually pretty nice. Don’t worry about us.”

My throat closed up.

“Mom, get off the bus. You and Dad get off right now.”

“I’m buying you new plane tickets.”

My mom rushed to shut me down.

“No, no, don’t waste your money.”

“Dominic took care of everything.”

“I’ve never been on a plane. I didn’t want to embarrass you.”

Then I heard my dad’s muffled cough. He lowered his voice in a hurry.

“Don’t tell her.”

“It’s her wedding. Don’t let her worry.”

My eyes burned.

“Dad, does your back hurt?”

My dad forced out a laugh. “No, it doesn’t hurt at all. I promise.”

But a second later, someone on the other end snapped impatiently.

“Hey, old man in the back! Don’t block the aisle!”

My mom scrambled to apologize.

“I’m so sorry. His back is bad. He just needs a second.”

My grip on the phone tightened.

I could practically see them right then. My dad bracing himself against a seat, unable to straighten his spine. My mom shielding their luggage while apologizing to a stranger.

They’d never been on a plane in their lives.

But before this trip, they’d been giddy like little kids.

Two weeks ago, I went home to pick up some paperwork.

My dad was standing in front of the mirror, trying on his suit.

He’d saved up for a month to buy it. Said he couldn’t embarrass me at the wedding.

The sleeves were too long. The shoulders didn’t fit.

But he still grinned and asked me, “Lottie, if I show up in the Hamptons like this, am I gonna embarrass you?”

My mom packed jars of homemade pickled cucumbers, butter crackers, and raspberry jam into her suitcase.

“We’re meeting Dominic’s family for the first time. We can’t show up empty-handed.”

“Dominic treats you well. We need to show proper respect.”

Back then, I laughed at how seriously they were taking it.

I said, “Dominic’s got it all handled. You just stick with me.”

My mom’s eyes lit up when she heard that.

The next day, she told everyone she met.

“My daughter’s getting married in the Hamptons.”

“My future son-in-law is flying us there.”

But now. They weren’t on a plane. They didn’t even have boarding passes with their own names on them.

On the other end of the line, my mom was still carefully trying to soothe me.

“Lottie, don’t be mad.”

“Dominic is so busy with work. Arranging things for so many people isn’t easy.”

“Your dad and I don’t mind the bus. We’ll save some money, too.”

I closed my eyes.

“Mom, get off the bus.”

“The wedding’s off. I’m done.”