Page 135 of A Dream for Daphne

“I’m used to it,” she said. “I’ve heard it my whole life. As I’ve said before, it’s not worth arguing over things. She’ll never see it any other way than she does.”

“Guess I didn’t believe it until I saw it. They didn’t come across that way the other night when we met.”

On Thursday she had her parents over for dinner at her house. Then last night was the rehearsal dinner.

“They were behaving more,” she said.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I was only trying to help and I know how much you hate that too.”

“I do,” she said. “But Aster pointed out to me that I do the same to him. It’s not a bad thing, but I can’t get mad at him or you if I’m doing it too.”

“Wow,” he said, grinning. “I owe your brother for this. I might come out of this with my skin still attached.”

“Stop,” she said, poking him in the side. “They work me up and then I normally feel like crap after. Guilty even for saying no. But this time I don’t feel that way.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I have to practice what I preach. They’ve made their bed, but there are plenty of sheets on it. I’ve let people talk down to me for so long that I expect it. I rarely fight back or stand up for myself.”

“You have been with me,” he pointed out.

“I have. Moving here let me break free of everything and I have to just continue. No more reverting back. It’s hard to just wipe your parents from your life. I’m not sure I could do it.”

“No one is saying to do that,” he said. “But you have to find that happy balance where they don’t upset you or work you up. That’s not healthy for you and without insulting them or making you angry, your mother didn’t appear all that put out you said no.”

“She didn’t, did she?” she asked.

“Why is that?” he asked.

“Because they know we always say no,” she said. Why had that just occurred to her? “It’s a game to them to keep asking like a child and hope they get something. I’ve often thought of them as twenty-somethings just going through life day by day with no plan.”

“You’re not going to change that,” he said.

“I’m not and I’m done trying. I’d rather focus on the two of us.”

He turned and smiled. “I like the sound of that. What are we focusing on?”

“Our love,” she said. “Our life together. Doing what makes us happy and not caring about other people, past mistakes, and embarrassments. I can do it. Can you?”

“I can do anything if you’re with me,” he said, putting his hand out.

She put hers in his and threaded their fingers together.

It reminded her how he’d grabbed her hand when they were going to the hotel room the first time.

As if he was afraid she’d vanish on him.

Which she had.

But she wouldn’t again.

“It all started with us holding hands,” she said.

“Something so simple,” he said, grinning. “But serious enough to have meaning. See, I can be serious. I’m the one who grabbed your hand.”

“And I’m not letting go!”

EPILOGUE

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