Long Nights With Mr. Ryans

The In-Laws

{P.O.V. Jennifer Ross}

Kendricks pulls up to another gorgeous house. But this one was white with blue shutters. Nice lawn with flower beds and trees along with different fountains. Pulling up in the driveway. Kendrick parks the truck. On the way here, he told me where we were going. Now that we are here. I got to say I am very nervous. Because Kendrick Father never really did like me. Now, I'm here at his house. Kendricks going to introduce me as his future wife. I can only imagine what his father is going to say about it.

"Relax, don't let my dad bully you around, alright? But also know when you should speak and when you shouldn't." Nodding my head, we get out of the truck. An older woman with her dark brown hair walks up. Wearing a delicate dress, greeting us. She looks a little like Kendrick. Especially her eyes. They were identical to his.

"Kendrick, sweetheart, nice to see you again." The older woman says, hugging her son. Turning her attention to me. Letting go of her son, she comes and greets me. "Jennifer, sweetheart, it's so nice to see you as well. I am surprised to see you here, though."

"Jennifer is the woman I have chosen for my future wife." Kendrick pipes in.

"Really?" Mrs. Ryans asks excitedly.

"Yes, Mrs. Ryans." Answering her.

"Oh, please, if you are going to be my future daughter-in-law. Please call me by name, Liz, or you can even call me mom."

"Alright, Liz." She claps her hands with excitement.

"Mom, Where's, Dad?" Kendrick asks.

"He's in is his office finishing up a phone call."

"Will you be alright with my Mother for a few minutes?" He asks me.

"Of course, she will be fine. Get your father." Kendrick rolls his eyes childish. It was kind of funny to see him act that way.

"Kendrick Micheal Ryans, do not roll your eyes at me again."

"Apologizes, Mom." He says before he walks away from us.

"Now, shall we go to the garden and talk about the wedding?" She asks me.

"Wedding?.. I get a wedding? I thought I was eloping with Kendrick?"

"Heavens, no, every girl needs a wedding." Placing her arm around my shoulders, we walk to the garden that's behind the house.

It was a beautiful garden with all kinds of different trees, bushes, and flowers. We were sitting in a gazebo. Drinking some tea and eating tea cakes. Mrs. Ryans has already planned most of the wedding. Because of the short time I have to get married. I loved the way she planned it. Even though she planned it. I still got the choice on my dress. My maid of honor and bridesmaid's dresses. I even get a say on who I want to invite. After some time, Mrs. Ryans and I took a break. From the wedding talk and got to know one another.

"Liz, I have to ask. Why throw a wedding? If Senor Mr. Ryans is only making the woman marry his son for two years?" Asking her out of curiosity. She places her teacup back on the saucer and smiles at me.

"The wedding was my idea... I have hope, Jennifer, that my son will fall in love again. It might be a silly mother's hope. But I want him to feel not alone." Liz giving me a straight answer. 'Fall in love again?' asking myself.

"You think Kendrick feels lonely?" asking her.

"Why else would he surround himself with all those women?" It kind of makes sense.

"You said to fall in love again?" Her smile disappears quickly. Looking like a kid getting caught with her hand stuck in a cookie jar.

"Yes, I said that, but it is not my story to tell. All I can tell you is he was engaged once. Not by arranged marriage, even though that how it started. With in time he asked her himself. Simply because he loved her for her, and not because of the arrangement."

"What happened if you don't mind me asking?"

"Honestly, I don't know what happened. Nobody in our family does. All we know is that the engagement was off one day. Then he surrounded himself with his weekly women." I didn't even know what to say to all this.

It just made some questions for me instead. Like, who was this woman? Why did they break it off? Why is he so secretive about telling anyone? Is this why he is the way he is? The air got a little tense between us.

"Liz, what if he doesn't fall in love with me or me with him? And we end up getting a divorce? You would have spent all of this money on a false wedding." She lightly smiles at me.

"Even if neither one of you doesn't fall for one another. At least it was a try.. as for the wedding. It will be his first official wedding. I want to him to remember it. The wedding is also a gift for you from me. It is difficult going into a relationship with blind faith. It is hard getting to know someone that you truly don't know. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn't, and if it works out. Then you will have a wedding to remember." Nodding my head in understanding. She gets out of her chair and straights out her dress. "Now, why don't we find the boys and have ourselves some lunch?"

Getting up from the table. We search for Kendrick and Mr. Ryans. Walking out of the garden to the backyard patio. A young couple with two kids sat at the picnic table. The guy has dark brown hair and brown eyes. The woman has blonde hair and brown eyes. As for the children, they both looked like their parents. Liz walks ahead and hugs the man and woman and greets them.

"Jennifer, this is my son Nathaniel and his wife Josephine. These kiddos here are Charlotte and Theodore, their children. This is Jennifer Kendrick's future bride." Liz introduces me to them.

"It's nice to see you again, Jennifer. I got to say I was expecting a stuck-up rich girl. I'm glad he choose you instead." Nathaniel says

"Nice to see you, too. The last time I saw you. You were at the office five months ago. Asking for a personal favor from Kendrick."

"Indeed, I was."

"Nate dear, will you see what taking your Father and your eldest Brother so long?" Liz asks him.

"Yea, of course, excuse me." Taking his leave to find his family. I sat down with everyone and talked with them.

Nathaniel Ryans is nothing like his elder brother Kendrick Ryans. His more calm, mellow, and straightforward going. He also has manners, and he reminds me of Liz. While Kendrick is rude, arrogant, intimidating, and very bossy, like his Father.

After some time, we all ate lunch without the three Ryans' men. We had some great sandwiches and homemade lemonade. Josephine and I got along great. Come to find out she is not from a rich family either. She tells me Mr. Ryans has no problem with her. So the question is, why does Kendrick's Father have such a problem with me?

Josephine, Liz, and my conversation was interrupted. When we could hear some yelling going on in the house. Liz getting up quickly she goes to the house. Josephine just gave me a small smile.

"What's that all about?" Asking Josephine.

"Kendrick and Ron are fighting again. I swear those two are so much alike. That it is hard for them not to butt heads together."

"Ron?... Who Ron?"

"That's Mr. Ryans's first name." She takes a drink of her lemonade. "Nate and Liz usually have to pull the two apart. There was a situation once that it got so terrible. That Nate and Liz couldn't break them apart. Kendrick and Ron almost brawled with each other. "

"Your kidding, right?" Who in the hell almost brawls with their father?

"No, I'm not... Don't worry, though. It was a onetime thing. Kendrick might have a temper. But he wouldn't hit his father, no matter how bad they butted heads." I'm begging to wondering what I have gotten myself into?

Liz and Nate both come out of the house. With no Kendrick and no Mr. Ryans. I wonder where Kendrick is? Liz sits down as nothing happened and starts an entire conversation. Which made the time fly by so fast I didn't realize how fast it went. Looking over to my left. I could see Kendrick walking towards the family and me.

"Are you ready to head home?" Kendrick asks, all grumpy but calm. It not the first time i have seen him upset like this. Back in the office when his father came to visit. This is how he usually got.

"Of course not. She had lots of fun with us since you ditch her." Nate comments back.

"I was asking Jennifer, not you." He snaps back.

"As much fun that I have been having. I need to get home." Replying. I really don't want to upset Kendrick even more.

"Of course you do, dear. We will all see you at the end of the week for the wedding. But I will also see you on Wednesday for our wedding dress shopping." Liz says. Kendrick holds his hand out to me. Taking his hand, he helps me out of my seat.

"I will see you all later. " Saying goodbye to everyone. We go back to Kendrick's truck. After getting in and leaving the driveway way. Kendricks speaks and what he says shocks me.