Page 112 of Protect My Heart
Chapter 23
Mia
‘We should be going,’ my mom says, getting up from her chair.
We’ve been with my dad in his hospital room for the last half hour. He has a broken arm and some bruises and a cut on his lip, but other than that, he’s okay. He was lucky. The doctor said his injuries could’ve been a lot worse.
‘Mom, before we go,’ I say. ‘Jason and I want to talk to you both.’
‘Let’s do it later. You dad needs his rest.’
‘I don’t need rest,’ he says. ‘I’m wide awake.’ He looks at Jason and me. ‘What is it? You having twins?’
I smile. ‘No. It’s not about the baby. It’s about you and Mom.’
‘What about us?’
Jason takes my hand. I told him he could tell them, knowing my dad would like it if he did. It’s the whole man-taking-chargenonsense that’s sexist and outdated but how things were done when my dad grew up.
‘We want you to move to Haydon Falls,’ Jason says.
We wait for my parents to respond. We could list out all the reasons why they should move, but we decided to let them think about it before we try to sell them on the idea.
‘You two aren’t moving here?’ my mom asks.
‘We could,’ I say, ‘but we’d rather stay where we’re at. We both like Haydon Falls and you guys liked it when you were there. I know it’d be a big change but—’ I stop when I feel Jason squeeze my hand. We said we’d be quiet and let them decide.
‘We’ll be right back,’ Jason says, pulling on me to leave with him.
We go out to the hall.
‘They were really quiet,’ I say.
‘Is that a bad sign?’
‘It might be. I’m worried they’re going to say no.’
‘Then we’ll go over all the reasons why this is a good idea. Mia, the more I think about this, the more I’m convinced this is the right thing to do. We’re having a baby soon. Taking care of a baby and your parents is a lot. We’ll need help, which we’ll have in Haydon Falls.’
‘Mia?’ My mom comes out to the hall.
‘We’re here, Mom.’ I walk up to her.
‘Your father wants to talk to you.’
Jason and I follow her back into the room.
I walk up to my dad. ‘Mom said you wanted to talk to me?’
‘I want to talk to him first.’ He points at Jason.
Jason comes up beside me.
My dad moves so he’s sitting up more. ‘Those tractors your father’s got.’
‘What about them?’ Jason says.
‘You think he’d let me drive them?’
