Page 80 of Breaking Emily's Rules
I jumped off the fence post rail and landed on my knees, causing Molly to break out in giggles that rippled through the quiet of the night. A light was on in the kitchen of the main house, and I could picture Grammy doing the dishes by hand as she did nearly every night. Even if she had a state-of-the-art dishwasher.
I brushed off the damp grass from my knees and Dad’s voice boomed, calling to us from the wraparound porch. “Molly! Emily! Where in tarnationareyou girls?”
“Coming, Daddy,” Molly shouted back.
I carried my black pumps and walked over the cool grass to the bottom of the porch steps, Molly following.
Dad, wearing his Stetson hat, looked like he’d swallowed poison. “Are they all gone now?”
“Yes, they’re gone,” I said.
“No more weddings. I told your grandmother, and now I’m telling y’all. It’s one thing to put up with the parties and picnics. But I’ll draw the line at marriage ceremonies. My ancestors didn’t farm this land and raise cattle to have a bunch of no account people have fun all over my land!” He waved his arm across the expanse of what was left of his land.
“Calm down. Your blood pressure,” Molly said.
“I’m leaving tomorrow, by the way.” Dad took off his Stetson, scratched his temple and put it back on.
“Tomorrow?” Molly whined. “But you just got here.”
“Now, now, I’ve got a real cattle ranch to run in Texas. It ain’t my fault the doggone eminent domain put the freeway through our land and took most of it.”
We’d all heard that story a hundred times.
“Right.” Molly kicked a blade of grass, a sure sign she wasn’t a happy camper.
“And one more thing, Emily. I need you to stop them darn flying lessons and come back to your ever-lovin’ senses. What’s gotten in to you, girl?”
I turned to Molly, prepared to slug her. But one look in Molly’s wide eyes and I could see that, without a doubt, she hadn’t been the one to tell.
“How did you know?”
“Everyone in town knows. I talked to Charlie, Jedd’s grandfather. He told me Jedd can’t stop talking about it. Says you come in five times a week sometimes. For all the tea in China, give me one good reason why?”
I straightened. “I’m sorry you found out this way. But I’m not going to stop taking the lessons.”
“What did you say?” Dad thundered into the night.
Molly, standing next to me, elbowed me in the gut.
I rubbed the sore spot and ignored her. Some things just needed to be said, and finally I had the guts to say them. “I’m going to keep flying, and I’ll have my license soon. I’m good at it, and I won’t stop now.”
With that, I walked slowly up the steps and past a bewildered-looking Dad. Jaw slackened, he didn’t look so much angry as confused.
“Don’t worry, she’s just kidding. I’ll talk her out of it,” Molly said as she followed me up the steps.
I turned at the screen door. “I’m not changing my mind, and you all won’t change it for me.”
Both Molly and Dad followed me inside. Molly stood a few feet behind Dad and alternately took turns scowling, pointing at her heart and then pointing at Dad. I would have expected no less, but though I didn’t want to give our father a heart attack, it was time to speak my mind. Long past time.
“What in all creation has happened to you?” Dad pushed his hat back, like a cowboy at the O.K. Corral.
“I’m twenty-eight, and you can’t tell me what to do anymore. I’m good at flying, and I want to keep going until I have my license.” All the breath rushed out of me at once, and I nearly wanted to turn and see who’d spoken because I could hardly believe those words had come out of me.
“What are you going to do with it when you get it?” Dad asked.
I took an uneven breath. “I don’t know yet. Probably volunteer for Pilots and Paws. But you don’t need to worry about me anymore.”
“Well, I beg to differ, young lady. I’m your daddy and I’ll always worry about you and your fandangled ideas. This one being the latest in a mighty long line.” He waved a hand in the air.
