“Sure,” Slash said.
The two Blue Angels got up and headed toward the exit.
When they were gone, I looked at Linden and asked, “Okay, so what’s up?”
“Up?”
“Yeah, up. You guys seem mad at each other.”
“We are mad at each other.” She reached for her beer and took a sip. “We got into a fight before we left the house.”
“About what?”
“Marriage.”
“I don’t get it. You’re engaged, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So naturally that means marriage is the next step. He’s upset about that?”
“No. I am.”
The server came by to ask for my drink order.
“Water’s fine, thanks,” I said. “And may I have another?” I pointed to the empty seat next to me. “For him when he gets back.”
When we were alone again, I looked at Linden and waited patiently for her to explain.
“I want to marry Boxer. I do. I wouldn’t have said yes to the engagement if I hadn’t wanted that.”
“Then what is it?”
“He’s ready to set a date. I’m not.”
“Why not?” I asked. “What’s stopping you?”
“A lot of things. I don’t get along with my parents, so do I invite them out of obligation or snub them entirely and that’s the end of our chilly relationship? Then there’s the fact that once you get married, there will be all this pressure…”
“Pressure to do what?”
“Start a family.”
“Ah.” I nodded.
“Yeah. And frankly, I’m not ready for that. I like my life the way it is. I like that I can work at the clinic as much as I want. I’m not ready to slow down. I’m not ready for something else to be a priority.”
I blew out a breath of air. “Yeah. That’s a tough one.”
“What would you do? If you were me?”
“Well, I kind of am you,” I said with a laugh. “I mean, not the marriage thing. But the baby thing. My business is just starting to do well. Like, I can see a light at the end of the tunnel of not being completely stuck in the financial hole of starting your own business. I have momentum and something amazing is happening right now when I happen to be pregnant, and if I can keep it going… Have you heard of Imogene Oglethorpe?”
“Name sounds familiar. Why?”
“Her wedding is in three weeks,” I said, and then I explained the entire situation, including the emails and the notifications on social. “I know I’m supposed to slow down, but like, how can I? I’llhaveto slow down at some point, but right now, it’s like full steam ahead. What I’m trying to say is I know exactly what it’s like to want to focus on your career. For me, I’m just past the point of choosing how it unfolds now.”
“I want little Boxer babies eventually,” she said quietly. “I really do. I’m not saying no to him. I just want to stay in this place a little while longer.”