Chapter Thirty-Seven #2
Just then, the door opens, and my mom walks in with a large bag that I’m sure has home cooked food in it, followed closely by my dad. My mom stops in her tracks, her eyes going straight to Juniper with a look of surprise that quickly softens into something more welcoming.
“Oh, Zade, I didn’t know you had company,” she says, her tone polite but curious.
Juniper looks mortified, like she wants to disappear, but I quickly step in, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to keep her grounded. “Mom, Dad, this is Juniper,” I say, keeping my voice steady and calm. “Juniper, these are my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patterson.”
My mom’s expression softens even more, and she steps forward with a warm smile. “It’s lovely to meet you, Juniper. Zade’s mentioned you a few times.”
Juniper offers a shy smile, her voice small as she replies, “Thank you, Mrs. Patterson. It’s nice to meet you too.”
My dad, though, hangs back a little. He just gives Juniper a quick nod, face blank, then turns back to me. "Zade, we need to talk," he tells me, sounding cold, detached even.
I feel Juniper tense beside me, and I know exactly what this is about. “Sure, Dad,” I reply evenly. “But first, why don’t we all have dinner together? We can talk after.”
Juniper glances up at me, clearly nervous, but she nods in agreement, a nd I can see she’s trying her best to hold it together.
We move to the dining room, the table already set with an array of dishes that my mom brought with her, prepared.
As we sit down, I can sense Juniper’s discomfort, the way she fidgets slightly, her eyes darting around as if looking for an escape route.
My dad remains quiet, his gaze occasionally flicking over to Juniper, assessing her, and I can tell he’s not entirely pleased with the situation.
As dinner progresses, the conversation naturally drifts to lighter topics. My mom, always the conversationalist, turns to Juniper with a warm smile. “So, Juniper, how did you and Zade meet?”
Juniper grins, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, it’s quite a story,” she begins, glancing at me with a playful smirk. “Zade was a real piece of work when we first crossed paths. All business, no fun, and absolutely convinced he was the smartest guy in the room.”
I raise an eyebrow, trying to keep the mood light. “Really? I don’t remember it that way.”
“Oh, trust me,” Juniper says, leaning in closer to my mom, like she’s sharing a juicy secret. “He chased me down after I moved back to Cody. I wanted nothing to do with him. But then I got a job at this hotel—The Opal, you know it—and wouldn’t you know it, Zade had just bought the place.”
My mom chuckles, clearly entertained. “Sounds like Zade—always one step ahead. ”
Juniper nods, her smile widening as she continues.
“Exactly! So, I start working there as a baker, and I’m trying to keep my head down.
But Zade? Oh no, he had other plans. He kept trying to impress me, trying to win me over.
I wasn’t having any of it. I mean, I was there to do my job, not deal with some hotshot businessman who thought he could buy everyone’s loyalty. ”
I can’t help but grin at the memory, even though it’s a little embarrassing hearing it from her perspective. “I was just trying to help.”
“Oh, sure,” Juniper teases, her eyes twinkling. “You tried everything—flowers, fancy dinners, the whole nine yards. But then, just when I thought I had finally gotten rid of him, he vanished. And when he came back? Well, he was determined to win me over all over again.”
My mom leans in, clearly invested in the story now. “And did he?”
Juniper glances at me, a soft smile on her lips. “Let’s just say, he didn’t give up easily. He kept showing up, kept trying to prove that he was serious. And somewhere along the way... I started to believe him. But it wasn’t easy. He had to work for it.”
I feel a warmth spread through me as she speaks, grateful for the way she’s chosen to tell this part of our story. She’s skipping over the messy bits, the heartbreak, and focusing on how we eventually found our way back to each other.
“He showed me that he wasn’t just some businessman,” Juniper continues, her tone softening. “He cared about more than just numbers and deals. He cared about the people, about me. And that... well, that’s wha t finally won me over.”
My mom smiles, clearly touched by the story. “It sounds like you two were meant to find each other, even if it wasn’t in the most conventional way.”
Juniper nods, her eyes meeting mine with a mix of gratitude and something deeper. “Yeah, we’ve had our ups and downs, but I guess that’s what makes it all worth it in the end.”
My mom nods, completely oblivious to the more complicated layers of our relationship. “Absolutely. It’s those challenges that make the good times even better.”
Juniper gives her a warm smile, then looks back at me, and I can see the unspoken words in her eyes—acknowledgment of everything we’ve been through. She didn’t have to share such a positive version of our story, but she did. And for that, I’m more thankful than I can express.
Just as the conversation seems to settle, my mom leans forward, a curious glint in her eyes. “So, Juniper, what do you like to do when you’re not keeping Zade on his toes? Any hobbies?”
Juniper hesitates, glancing at me briefly, and I know exactly why. She’s not the kind of person who talks about herself easily, especially when it comes to something as personal as her love for books.
“Well,” she starts, clearly trying to find the right words. “I like to read. A lot, actually.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” my mom exclaims, genuinely interested. “What kind of books do you enjoy? ”
I can see the slight panic in Juniper’s eyes as she tries to figure out how to answer that. I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing, knowing exactly what’s going through her mind. She’s probably trying to come up with a way to avoid admitting her favorite genre.
“Uh, mostly fiction,” she says quickly, but I can see the wheels turning in her head as she searches for something more specific that won’t raise any eyebrows.
“Fiction is great,” my mom replies, still smiling. “Any particular genre? Mystery? Historical fiction?”
I glance at Juniper, waiting for her to make the call, and just as I expect, she hesitates for a split second too long.
“Romance,” she finally admits, her voice soft but steady.
My mom’s eyes light up, clearly pleased. “Romance novels! I love a good love story. There’s nothing better than getting lost in a beautiful romance.”
I can see Juniper visibly relax at my mom’s reaction, and she nods with a small smile. “Yeah, I like the way they make you feel... hopeful, I guess. Like no matter what happens, there’s always a chance for things to work out.”
I’m trying to hold it together, but I can’t resist adding a little fuel to the fire. “And by romance, she means the steamy stuff.”
Juniper’s eyes widen, and she shoots me a look that could kill. “Zade! ”
My mom chuckles, clearly amused by the exchange. “Nothing wrong with a little heat in a love story. Keeps things interesting, right?”
Juniper blushes, looking down at her plate as she mumbles, “Yeah, something like that.”
I reach over and gently squeeze her hand under the table, giving her a reassuring smile. “Hey, you’ve got me hooked on those books too. I can’t put them down either.”
She gives me a shy smile, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Well, they do have a way of pulling you in,” she murmurs, the hint of a laugh in her voice.
My mom catches the exchange, her smile warm and approving. “Zade, it's nice to see you so happy. It's clear Juniper brings out the best in you.”
I smile back, realizing how true her words are.”Yeah, I guess she does. She’s one of a kind.”
Finally, my dad, who's been quiet this whole time, clears his throat, getting us to look his way. He's careful with his words, taking his time. “So, Zade, I hear you’re considering pulling out of the project in Cody. That’s quite a significant decision.”
Juniper’s hand tightens around her fork, her knuckles turning white. She glances at me, her eyes filled with concern, and I know she’s worried about what this means for me, for us.
I meet my dad’s gaze, my expression calm but resolute. “Yes, I am,” I reply. “I’ve thought about it a lot, and I believe it’s the right choice. For a lot of reasons.”
My dad ’s eyes narrow a bit, sounding colder now. “And what reasons are those? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you're tossing away everything you've worked for.”
My stomach flips, but screw it, I need to say this now or I'll lose my nerve. “I’ve realized that this project... it’s not worth the cost. It’s not worth losing the people I care about.
And to be honest, Dad, I don’t care about Cody.
I don’t care about that park, or the profits we’d make from it. What I care about is Juniper.”
My dad’s gaze shifts to Juniper, and I see the skepticism in his eyes. “And you think... Juniper is worth throwing everything away for?”
Juniper flinches, her face paling, and I feel a surge of protectiveness rise up in me, stronger than anything I’ve felt before.
I lean forward slightly. “Yes, I do,” I say, my tone leaving no room for doubt.
“Juniper is worth everything. She’s shown me what really matters, and that’s not something I’m willing to sacrifice for a project.
She’s the one thing I’m not willing to lose. ”
There’s a long pause, the air thick with unspoken tension. My mom watches quietly, her eyes flicking between me and my dad, sensing the gravity of the moment. Finally, my dad sighs, his expression softening just a fraction, the hardness in his eyes dimming slightly.
"Zade," he starts, softer now, like he's thinking it over. "Look, I've always wanted what's best for you. Yeah, I'm worried about how this might turn out. But if you really feel this is what you gotta do, then I'll respect it. It's your call."
I glance at Juniper, seeing the relief and gratitude in her eyes. She’s worth every sacrifice, every difficult conversation. I turn back to my dad. “I’m sure, Dad. I’m not going to let anything come between me and Juniper. Not this project, not Cody, not anything.”
His words take me by surprise, and for a moment, I’m not sure what to say. Juniper looks at me, her eyes wide with relief and gratitude, and I know she’s as surprised as I am by my dad’s reaction.
“Thank you, Dad,” I say sincerely, the words carrying more weight than I can express. “I appreciate that.”
He gives me a curt nod, then turns to Juniper, his expression softening further, his tone almost..
. regretful. “Juniper, I apologize if I was a bit... harsh. This project has been a long time in the making, and I admit, I was focused on the wrong things. But I can see that you’re important to my son, and that’s what matters. ”
Juniper’s eyes fill with tears, but she blinks them back, offering my dad a small, tremulous smile. “Thank you, Mr. Patterson. I appreciate your understanding.”
My mom, ever the peacemaker, chimes in with a warm, inviting smile. “Why don’t we finish dinner and then have some dessert? I think we could all use something sweet to round off the evening.”
The tension in the room dissipates, replaced by a more relaxed, almost familial atmosphere.
The rest of the evening passes more smoothly, the conversation lighter, easier.
Juniper gradually opens up, and I can see her starting to feel more comfortable, especially as my mom continues to engage her with genuin e interest. My dad, too, softens as the night goes on, his earlier skepticism giving way to a more accepting demeanor.
By the end of the night, Juniper is smiling and laughing, her initial nerves gone. My parents seem to have taken a genuine liking to her, and I can see the relief in her eyes as she realizes she’s being accepted, not just by me, but by the people who matter most to me.
As mom and dad leave, Juniper turns to me, her eyes shining with gratitude and something deeper—something that makes my heart skip a beat. “Thank you, Zade,” she says, her voice filled with emotion. “For everything. For today, for standing up for me... for believing in me.”
I smile, pulling her into a hug, holding her close. “You’re welcome, Juniper. You deserve it. You deserve all of it.”
As I hold her, I feel a sense of peace settle over me, a peace I haven’t felt in a long time.
Tonight was a turning point, not just for Juniper and me, but for my relationship with my parents, for the direction of my life.
We’ve crossed a threshold, and while the future is still uncertain, it feels brighter, more hopeful.
When we finally head to bed, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction.
Tonight, I took a step away from the life I thought I wanted and moved toward something more meaningful, more real.
And as I look at Juniper, lying beside me, her breath slow and even as she drifts off to sleep, I know that it was the right choice.
I brush a s trand of hair from her face, my fingers lingering on her skin. “You really didn’t have to do all this, you know,” she murmurs, her voice soft, drowsy.
“I know,” I reply softly as if speaking too loudly might break the fragile peace we’ve found. “But I wanted to. Because you’re worth it. Because you’re everything.”
She doesn’t respond, but I feel her smile against my chest, a small, contented smile that says more than words ever could.