"She's my wife..."

Ryan paused trying to decide whether or not to tell his mother that he was suddenly "married" despite not having really dated after he was dumped by his ex-fiancée.

"Hello, dear, are you still there?" his mother asked.

Ryan looked at Marlissa and she could sense his dilemma. She gave him a heartwarming smile and nodded. With renewed confidence, Ryan took a deep breath and answered his mother, "Yeah, I'm here, mom. The 'we' is me and my wife, Samantha..."

"Wife...?"

Marlissa took his hand to angle the phone so she could speak into it as well. "Hello, Mrs. Carter. This is Samantha. I am glad to speak to you finally after all your son has told me about you."

"Oh, hello, Samantha," his mother responded. "You sound very sweet, my dear."

Ryan tapped the speakerphone button so they could both hear and talk on the call. "Mom, I was going to introduce Sam to you and dad later today..."

"When did you plan on that?"

"Um, lunch?"

"Yes, that would be fine. I'll tell your father," his mother replied. "I look forward to hearing how you two met and meeting my new daughter-in-law."

"We'll see you in a few hours, mom."

"Bye bye, Mrs. Carter," Marlissa chirped.

"Bye, dear."

Ryan hung up and put the phone back onto the nightstand. "Jesus!"

"What is it, my love?" Marlissa asked as she ran her feet along the back of his calves.

"That was not how I was planning to introduce you to my parents."

"How were you planning to tell them about me?" she wondered.

"Well, I didn't think out all of the details yet," he muttered. "I was more concerned about a cover story of how we met since they wouldn't believe me that I had summoned you with an ancient spell book."

"Why not?"

"Um, they're scientists..."

"They do not believe in magic?" She looked at him inquisitively.

"No..."

"Have you not shown them the tome of rituals?"

"They're not archaeologists. They're astrophysicists..." He paused when he saw the confusion look on her beautiful face before continuing, "They study stars and planets."

"I understand," she nodded. "How did we meet then?"

"Um, in Europe -- I was doing research and you are a glamorous fashion model..."

"Where in Europe? I can speak all human languages."

"Paris?"

"Oh, Paris est très belle! Je l'aime là-bas!" Marlissa spoke in fluent French as if she was a native Parisian.

"Ce n'est pas aussi beau que toi!" Ryan replied but with a hint of his American accent.

"Vous êtes plein de surprises, Monsieur Carter," she giggled, wrapping her legs around his waist before pulling him down to her to kiss him.

"Oui, je suis, Madame Carter..." Ryan figured they had more than enough time before lunch to make love a couple times.