“You obviously realized that was a bad idea,” my mom said, scoffing. “I could tell by the way she stopped popping up in conversation.”
I really tried to keep my mouth shut. I clenched my teeth and fisted my palms on my thighs in an effort to let her observation go. In the end, though, I just couldn’t stop myself.
“Actually,” I said, taking a deep breath. “If anyone decided that, it was her. If it was up to me, she’d have my ring on her finger.”
The table went completely silent for about two seconds, and then all hell broke loose. Bram started laughing, Ani dropped her head into her hands like she couldn’t believe what I’d said, my mother and aunt were talking over each other wondering what the hell I was thinking, and Uncle Dan was trying to shush my aunt. But when I glanced over at my dad, he wasn’t fazed at all. His lips were pulled up just slightly on one side as he looked at me, and his eyes showed not an ounce of surprise.
I knew the words would be explosive. I also knew that they were very premature. I’d have to get the woman to actually talk to me if I was ever going to propose marriage. However, I didn’t know of any other way to make the seriousness of my position any clearer. If it was up to me, Morgan and I would be together. We’d be a family.
“That woman,” my mom began.
“Careful now,” Dad warned, his chin jerking up.
“Mike,” my mom said in surprise.
I watched anxiously as my dad swallowed and set his fork down on the table.
“The boy’s made his intentions more than clear,” Dad said quietly, his gaze never leaving my mom. “And I didn’t raise him to let any woman be disrespected in his hearing, especially not the woman he cares about. I know you’re upset, Eleanor, but you be careful about what you say.”
My mom’s cheeks reddened and her mouth tightened in anger.
“Why on earth would you think that this is even remotely appropriate?” she asked my dad in disgust.
“Why would you think it wasn’t?” Dad countered. Everything went silent after his words of acceptance, and I felt like I could take a deep breath for the first time in months.
My parents rarely fought. Sometimes, when I was a kid, I’d hear them arguing quietly after all the kids were in bed, but by the next morning everything was usually cleared up. They didn’t hold grudges, and normally they didn’t disagree on anything that was important. I’d never seen them argue in front of others.
“Enough,” I said, barely raising my voice. As much as I loved my dad sticking up for me, I couldn’t watch it any longer.
My mom and dad both turned to me in surprise.
“I appreciate it,” I said to my dad with a nod. “But this isn’t up for discussion.”
My mom started to sputter, and I just shook my head.
“I care about your opinion,” I said, meeting the beautiful blue eyes that I’d loved since the moment I saw them. “But in this case, it’s not your call.”
“She was your brother’s girlfr—”
“She wasn’t his anything,” I interrupted through gritted teeth, unwilling to let her use that argument. Anger rose up in me like a tidal wave. “And he left her and their daughter high and dry.”
“You have no idea what happened between the two of them,” she replied stubbornly.
“I know more than you do,” I countered. “I know enough.”
“Enough to make you think it’s okay to—”
“Mom,” I said, cutting her off. “Henry fucking left her!” My hands were clammy and the back of my neck felt hot. My stomach was churning with nausea, but I couldn’t stop the words flowing from my mouth. “If I’m supposed to show some sort of loyalty to Hen by not loving the mother of his child, then I guess I’m a shitty brother. I’d like to say that if Hen was here, I’d tell him the same thing, but let’s all be honest. If Hen was here, we wouldn’t even know about Etta or Morgan.”
“How dare you talk about your brother that way,” my mom hissed, tears filling her eyes. “You get out of my house.” My head jerked back at the venom in her words.
“Eleanor,” my dad thundered.
“Okay,” I said, completely shattered and still practically vibrating with anger. I slowly pushed my chair back from the table and rose to my feet. “Let me know when I’m welcome again.”
My dad called my name as I walked toward the front door, but I didn’t pause. I couldn’t stop. The minute I got outside, I vomited everything I’d eaten that day into the hydrangea bushes lining the front porch. Shaking, I climbed onto my four-wheeler and started for my house. By the time I got there, I had two text messages on my phone.