Page 50 of Marry Me

Her mother looked her in the eye the way only a mother can. “You still haven’t told us what prompted all this.”

Here it goes. She gathered her little ball of courage and went for it. “I started to develop feelings for someone else. At first, I shrugged it off as a silly crush. The kind that passes with time.”

“But it was more than that?” her mother asked, kindness in her voice.

Allison nodded. “I tried to shove it aside and live my life as best I could. Didn’t work. I told Brent all about it, and he suggested we step back.”

Her father nodded, his gaze locked on the table. “It’s a shame if it doesn’t work out between the two of you. You’re a great couple of kids, but you know we have your back whatever you decide. You’re our little girl.”

Ally nodded, and relief flooded. “You have no idea what those words mean to me.” She touched her heart, her hands shaking. “But there’s one other thing. The person I developed feelings for is a woman. Megan Kinkaid, who was planning the wedding.”

“Oh,” her mother said, clearly surprised.

“It’s no more of a shock to you than it was to me. I promise. But I wanted you to know about that part of my journey.”

No one said anything, and behind them a teakettle began to whistle. “I’m sorry about that,” her mother said and rushed to take the offending kettle off the stove. “You know I take nightly tea.”

Allison nodded and turned to her father, searching his face. Sensing the attention, he searched for words. “The way I figure it, it’s what makes a person happy that matters the most. It’s how you treat people in this life, and how they treat you that’s important.”

She wasn’t sure what she expected, but those simple yet meaningful words resonated.

Her mother returned to the table with a cup of tea for herself and one for Ally. “It’s new for me, to think of you in a relationship with a woman, but if that’s what happens, then that’s what happens.” She looked at her husband. “He’s right, though. We always hoped that you’d grow to be kind and thoughtful, and you’re both of those things. That’s everything.” And then her mother did something amazing. She smiled.

Allison attempted to smile back, but the emotion that swelled and swarmed made it so very difficult. “Thank you,” she managed, her heart filling up full as she sat there. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel. If you’d be disappointed or—”

“We love you,” her mother said immediately. “That’s always going to be our first response to anything.”

“She’s right. She’s always right,” her father said with a sly shrug.

“I love you, too.” She took a sip of hot tea, noticing that her hands still shook. “But I also know you think the world of Brent.”

Her mother inclined her head from side to side. “I will admit to being very excited that he was going to be your husband. He’s always treated you nicely.”

“Brent’s a stand-up guy.” Her father left it there.

“And who knows? Maybe you two will still find a way.”

Allison nodded solemnly, even though with each passing day she felt less and less confident about that happening. She finished her tea as they moved on to lighter topics: foot traffic at the store, her father’s pesky car breaking down again two blocks from home, and her mother’s new favorite commercial with the talking cat. It wasn’t until she was washing out her cup and preparing to leave that she broached another angle of the breakup.

“Have you heard any more about the Dash Bar deal from BeLeaf?”

Her father was quick to shake his head. “Waiting to receive our first order. I’m sure it will be any day.”

“Me, too,” she said. “Regardless of my relationship with Brent, the Carmichaels were really impressed with the bar and want it on the shelves.”

“I hope so, but that’s not something you need to worry about,” her father said and placed a kiss on top of her head as he passed.

“Well, I do,” she admitted.

“We’re just fine,” her mother said, opening her laptop again, the very one that would likely tell her the opposite when she finished the books.

Ally hesitated, not sure there was much else she could say. “Well, I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Come by for dinner this week,” her mother said. “Spaghetti and meatballs.”

“I’ll try.” She smiled, realizing that the world still stood and her parents still loved her. This was a good night. She drove home listening to quiet music and taking in the evening’s sequence of very surprising events. She was shocked by her behavior with Megan in her kitchen but also a little proud, sad about her run-in with Betsy shortly after, and warmed by her visit to her parents’ house. How quickly the world moved these days. If nothing else, it encouraged her to just keep pressing forward. Learn, grow, and be kind. Those were the only things she could control in life. That and remembering the beauty around her. She smiled up at the stars that gleamed bright and clear in the night’ssky, saying hello and thank you for the blessings in her life. Each and every one of them.

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