30. Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Rebecca
T elling Eli’s sisters went well. I’m not sure why he was so worried, as they’ve always been sweet and accepting, but I didn’t argue with him. I mean, they are his family, so he knows them better than I do.
Now, it’s my turn to tell my parents. He’s unsure about how it’s going to go, that he doesn’t expect my parents to take it quite so gracefully, since he’s not only an older man, but also my professor. I’ve told him to relax. All my parents want is for me to be happy.
Giddiness rolls through me as we pull up to the house. It’s not much. A colonial on the smaller side with three cramped bedrooms. But it’s the place I’ve always called home, and though some of my friends growing up had much more grandiose places to call home, I’ve always liked mine best.
I turn to Eli, who plants a tight smile on his face as his fingers pick at his lip. It’s fake, and I roll my eyes.
“Everything will be fine. Come on.” Hopping out of the car, I stand by the passenger side while bouncing on my toes, waiting for him to join me.
When I had called to set up this meeting, I only told Dad that I was bringing home a guy I was seeing. I left it incredibly minimal. I didn’t want him making any judgments before he got to know Eli.
As we walk up the driveway, I take Eli’s hand between both of mine, turning to face him. “Now remember, I’m not entirely sure Mom will come out to say hi. It’s not… It’s nothing to do with you, it’s just—”
He pulls my hand to lips and kisses my knuckles. “I know. I remember what you said. I won’t take it personally if she’s not around.”
I nod repeatedly while hoping beyond all hope that Mom’s having a good day.
When we get to the front door, I take a deep breath and blow it out of my mouth. The knob feels stiff in my hand and the wood feels heavy, but I know it’s in my head.
Taking our light jackets off, we put them on the coatrack, utterly alone.
“Mom? Dad? Where are you guys?” My voice pinging off the tiles and walls would be eerie if I wasn’t used to hearing just my voice in the house.
They both round the corner with wide smiles on their faces, even Mom. It makes a warmth run through my body and settle behind my eyes. I can’t remember the last time I saw her smile.
I quickly notice the look on Dad’s face falters as he takes in Eli, but he masks it. Not wanting to read into anything, I ignore it, making a beeline for Mom and wrapping my arms around her. The familiar scent of roses washes over me, and I melt a little bit.
When I let her go, I turn to Dad, who I notice hasn’t taken his eyes off of Eli. “Hey, Daddy.”
He gives me a quick squeeze, and I take the few steps back to Eli, taking his hand in mine and closing the gap. “Mom, Dad. This is my boyfriend, Eli.”
With a firm nod, Eli extends his hand. Mom pushes it away and wraps her arms around him. Apparently, this is a very good day for her.
Dad hesitates, tipping up his chin before gripping Eli’s hand and shaking. There’s something going on here. Something I can’t quite place.
“Come, let’s move to the living room. It’s much more comfortable in there. We made fresh coffee. Eli, would you like some?” Mom’s even putting on her hostess hat. I’m stunned silent by the change. Though I’ve been out of the house for a few months now, I don’t think I saw her out of bed for more than a few minutes all summer.
“That would be great, thank you.” I hear the nervousness in Eli’s voice. It wouldn’t be noticeable to anybody who doesn’t know him well, but I pick up on it.
I lead Eli to the sofa, sitting down in the middle while he sits against the arm. He’s left a decent gap between us, and I scoot a little closer, earning a scowl from him. I roll my eyes at his silliness.
Mom and Dad return, each carrying two coffees they put on the table in front of us, sitting on the love seat opposite the sofa.
Silence fills the room as Dad’s gaze stays locked on Eli. Clearly, it’s up to me to break the awkwardness.
It’s not so much that I’ve never brought a boy home before, but they were always from the neighborhood, from school. People my parents already at least knew of, if not already knew. I haven’t brought anyone home since starting college two years ago.
“How’s work going, Daddy?” Most nineteen-year-olds don’t still call their parents Mommy and Daddy. But I’m an only child, and life was hard with Mom’s struggles. It’s a little something I held on to to show them how much I love them.
“It’s fine, sweetheart. Now tell me. How did you two meet…exactly?” His head tips to the side as he continues to stare down Eli.
“Oh, we met on campus.” We decided it was best not to let my parents know about the one-night stand at Mazie’s wedding. It’s not exactly something parents need to know about their daughter.
Dad’s eyes narrow at Eli. “A little old to be a college student, aren’t you?” There’s accusation dripping from his question.
“Uh, I’m actually a professor. Sir.” Though we knew this fact was going to have to come out, he glances my way for confirmation that he did the right thing.
Fire glints in Dad’s eyes and worry overtakes me for the first time.
“A professor. Dating a student. Isn’t that…I don’t know…illegal?”
“Uh, it’s not encouraged, no. But the college has no legal ramifications regarding professor/student relations.”
“I see.” Dad nods, but his eyes grow angry. “And are you my daughter’s professor?”
Eli and I glance at each other quickly before turning back to Dad. “Yes. But we met outside of the classroom, before classes began. It wasn’t until then that I realized she was one of my students.” It’s the safest way for him to explain the truth without giving true details.
“So were you looking for a girl much younger than yourself, or is dating students something you do often?”
Eli and I both stiffen at the same time. This is not going how I expected.
“I can assure you, sir, that I had no idea how old Bex was when we met. She carries herself as much older than her age. Full of wisdom. That, in large part, is of course credit to you, how you’ve raised her to be.” He’s trying to compliment my parents, to give them a reason not to hate him.
“Do you make it a habit of not asking the age of the girls you’re pursuing?”
Mom is unnervingly silent. A quick glance at her, and I can tell she’s struggling to stay present, to stay here.
“I can admit it was an error in judgment on my part. I should have found out.”
There’s an intense stare between the two men. I look back and forth, not sure what I can say or do to alleviate the tension.
Before I can do anything, Mom pops out of her seat, smoothing her pants. “I’m sorry. I can’t stay here with this.” She disappears down the hall, and my heart falls to my feet. Dad barely even glances her way, like he expected this to happen.
Though I’m not exactly surprised, it hurts all the same.
“I’m her father. So you see why I might have concern that she’s bringing home a man nearly twice her age.”
“I understand where you’re coming from. I have three younger sisters.”
“Sisters. You’re their brother, not their father.” I stiffen at his words because he doesn’t know the reality of the situation. What Eli has had to do for them and how he’s stepped up.
“No, technically, I’m not their father. But our parents died when we were young. My youngest sister was only thirteen at the time. So in many ways, I’ve stepped up and stepped in to be the father figure they no longer had.” He speaks so calmly, so assuredly, but I know inside it’s eating him up just thinking about it. Nobody else would know that’s what causes the slight tick in his jaw and the tremor in his hands.
“And how would you feel if your nineteen-year-old sister came home with a man in his thirties, claiming to be in love with him.”
“Actually, something not all that different happened. My youngest sister, who’s a few years older than Bex, did come home with a man in his thirties that she claimed to love. I saw how happy he made her, how many avenues he could open for her. And now they’re happily married with a two-year-old and another on the way.”
“That just proves how much you are not a father. To allow a man to be a predator to your sister.”
“Stop it! Eli is not a predator . What is wrong with you? What happened to my happiness being the most important thing to you?”
“That was when I thought you’d make a smart decision and act like an adult. Not a petulant child.”
“So just because I found someone who you don’t agree with, that means I’m being a child?” I tilt my chin up and square my shoulders. “This isn’t the 1900s. I don’t need your permission. And at this point, I’m not even sure I want your blessing.”
“Bex.” Eli’s voice is low in my ear as he pleads with me. He doesn’t want to cause a rift between me and my parents. But Dad’s doing that all on his own.
“Good. Because you’re not going to get it.”
Putting his hand on my lower back, Eli takes a step forward. “Sir, I mean no disrespect. But I love your daughter. And I will care for her and take care of her and protect her in every way I can.”
“You’ll be lucky to even have a job when I’m done with you.”
Fire rages through me, scorching everything in its path. I step right up to my father, toe to toe, and glare up at him. “Hear me now, Daddy. If you do anything to harm Eli or his career, I will never speak to you again. Whether he and I stay together or not, you and I will be finished.”
He takes a step back, his face paling. “You can’t possibly mean that. I’m your father.”
“I can’t call somebody family who would do such a terrible and harmful thing just for being in love. I’m almost twenty. I’ve been an adult for two years and honestly have been grown far longer. This was not something that came about lightly and it wasn’t on a whim. It was conscious decision, and I won’t let you ruin a man for something that was at least half my choice.”
His gaze narrows as he looks at me, trying to break me down, trying to read me. But what he doesn’t realize is that his little girl grew up to be a strong woman long ago. There are things I can handle, decrees I can accept being set down. This isn’t one of them.
“You wouldn’t.”
“Are you really willing to risk losing your only child over that? You don’t sound very certain.”
Not waiting for an answer, I take Eli’s hand and head for the door.
“Do what you want. But don’t expect a dime from us.”
I don’t even turn around to answer him as my heart shatters at his coldness. “Don’t worry. I won’t.”
We leave the house in a huff, and it’s not until we get to the car and Eli opens my door for me that my bravado fades and I fall apart, my hands covering my face as tears pour from my eyes.
He doesn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around me and pull me into his chest, resting his chin on top of my head.
One of his hands tangles into the hair at the back of my head and scratches against my scalp.
“I don’t want you to give up your family for me, Bex. I’m not worth it.”
My shoulders slump as I choke on a sob. The fact that Eli doesn’t see himself clearly, that he doesn’t realize he’s an amazing person and a catch that I’d be lucky to consider mine forever, it all makes this just a little worse.
But I don’t have it in me to list all the ways he’s incredible. To tell him just how worthy he is of so much more than just my love. So instead, I twist my fingers into his shirt and look up at him. “Yes. You are,” I say firmly, not allowing any room for negotiation or pushback.
His mouth presses into a hard line, but he nods before bringing his lips to my forehead.
Utterly exhausted, I collapse into the passenger seat, ready for the long drive back to Pineville City.