Free The Name I Call Myself by Beth Moran Page A

treats you like a skivvy. What can I do to make it up to you and demonstrate how much I respect your choices?”
    I considered that. Ghost Web. Wedding service. Reception.
    â€œAnything?”
    â€œWell… within reason.”
    Right, then scrap the possibility of the Ghost Web and HCC being booted out of our wedding.
    â€œThere’s a church I want you to look at. It’s really important to me. My mum used to go there.”

    So, here we were, looking almost like a normal, happy couple choosing a church for their wedding.
    Dylan met us at the door, his jeans and long-sleeved T-shirt a striking contrast to Perry’s tailored suit. As we wandered through to the main hall where the service would be held, I couldn’t help seeing the building through Upperton eyes. Even with Marilyn’s decorations, it would appear too drab, too simple, too small.
    â€œI’ll give you a few minutes to look around. Come through to my office when you’re ready,” Dylan said, smiling as he left us to it.
    Perry was not smiling.
    â€œFaith, what…? I mean, I know your mum used to come here, but, well… It’s horrendous.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œWe can’t possibly get married here, darling. You must see that.” He went to take hold of my hand, but I pretended not to notice, pressing the hand to my flushed neck.
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œIt’s tiny, for one thing.” He shook his head in frustration.
    â€œSo we invite fewer people to our wedding. What are the other things?”
    â€œThe other things don’t matter because we can’t invite fewer people. I don’t want to invite fewer people. I’m not going to cull the list, or offend anybody, or make it look as though we have a reason not to have as many people as possible see you become my wife.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    He sighed. “Nothing. It means nothing. It means this church is too small.”
    â€œI’m not picking a wedding venue on the basis of you having a point to prove about not being ashamed of me,” I said.
    â€œFaith!” He glanced over at the door to the office before lowering his voice. “It is not about that. This is the twenty-first century. Nobody thinks like that any more. But this room can’t seat more than a hundred. I have thirty-eight relatives I want to celebrate my wedding with, and that doesn’t begin to cover friends, or guys from the office. How is that going to work if we only have room for fifty guests each?”
    â€œI don’t need room for fifty guests. You take ninety and I’ll have ten,” I said, wrapping my arms around me.
    â€œThat’s ridiculous. You can’t have ten guests. And I’m sorry, but this place just isn’t what we want,” he snapped, like a managing director instructing his underling.
    â€œWhat who wants? I want this place! And I’ll invite however many guests I like.”
    Perry looked around again at the bare walls, the scuffed floor, the sagging banner hanging next to the window. “No. I’m prepared to compromise on the wedding, but not this.”
    â€œ Compromise? How have you compromised? I don’t even get to pick my own wedding dress!”
    â€œWell buy your own dress then! Or perhaps you should just get married in your jeans and that ratty T-shirt? My mother has made an incredibly kind gesture. Don’t throw it back in her face. I’m giving you the kind of wedding every woman dreams of – no limits, or budget. Most brides would be thrilled. Or at least grateful. And all you can do is make impossible demands that mean half my family can’t even come. I’m not having it, Faith. The answer’s no.”
    I closed my eyes for a long moment. “I’m sorry. I am grateful. And I understand. But this is a really big deal to me. You can pick everything else – do it all how you want. Have the hugest, most ostentatious