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Violet
“We’re more than your friends, Vi.” Ben gripped the back of my neck and squeezed gently.
I looked up at him and then over at Mason and Justin. They stared back at me expectantly; making it more than clear they weren’t willing to pretend to be anything other than what they were. Swallowing the nerves fluttering in my throat, I forced my mouth to form words. “They’re my… I’m with them.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Dad looked back and forth between the four of us and scowled. “It better not mean what I think it means.”
“Dad. I’m twenty-seven. I think we’re past the stage where you threaten my boyfriends.” I sighed. “We’re together, I think. It’s new.”
Justin took my hand and nodded at me. “We’re together.”
“Oh, my god. This was all a mistake. Letting you bring Forrest here was a terrible idea. Where is he? I need to see him and make sure he’s okay.” Mom shook her head at all of us and gripped my dad’s arm. “I can’t believe you’re just…kissing multiple men in the street like it’s normal, Violet. I didn’t raise you to act like that.”
Mason put his hands on his hips and grunted. “Forrest isn’t your kid, ma’am. If you can’t see that Vi is a great mom, that’s a sign of a bigger issue in you. Violet is amazing with Forrest and he’s a great little boy because of her. She’s got support and family here now. If you can’t treat her with respect, there won’t be much use for you here. You’ll find the entire town feels that way. Your daughter is a loved member of this community already. You and your husband are the only people taking issue with her, so again I say, the issue is with you.”
I looked up at him with warmth blooming through my chest. I wasn’t used to anyone standing up for me, especially to my parents. Back home in Kansas, there was a hierarchy around town and people didn’t just go against it. My parents were respected in the community. At least they had been before I’d come home, uneducated and pregnant. Still, no one would’ve gone against them for me.
“Mason’s right. Your daughter is home here. Forrest is home here. They’re both safe and very well cared for. Everything we have, she has. If you came here to just criticize her, you should know she has three pitbulls in her corner now who won’t let you. Respect your daughter or leave her alone.” Ben ran his hand into my hair and tugged lightly. “Forrest is happy here. Violet made sure of that. And now the four of us will make sure of it together. You should be happy he’s going to have an army behind him.”
Mom gaped at me. “What the hell is going on, Violet? You’ve been here for barely any time at all and it sounds like you’re already playing house with these men.”
I might’ve been in shock, but I felt like I was floating on cloud nine. Hearing them stick up for me and confirming they had every intention of taking care of me and Forrest was like sinking into a warm bath. My smile was probably silly considering the circumstances, but I was happy beyond belief. Looking back at my mother, I felt years of tension and stress slipping away. “They’re Forrest’s dads.”
Both my parents looked confused. Mom narrowed her eyes at me. “What are you talking about?”
I straightened my shoulders and nodded. “I came here almost seven years ago. I met Mason, Justin, and Ben. They rescued me after my friends abandoned me at a bar. I got pregnant that night. We lost contact before I found out I was pregnant but when I moved here, we reconnected. Forrest doesn’t know they’re his fathers yet, but he already loves them. They’re great men. He’s lucky to have them.”
Justin smiled down at me. “We’re lucky to have him.”
“You slept with all three of them?” Mom gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. “You don’t mean…”
I groaned. “Mom! I do mean I slept with all three of them at the same time. I’m still doing it. I’m going to keep doing it, as long as it makes us happy.”
“Which is forever.” Mason crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you going to be nicer to your daughter?”
“This is… This is outrageous. Listen to yourself, Violet!” Mom turned towards Dad and tugged at his sleeve. “Make your daughter see reason, Steve!”
Dad raised his hands as he nodded at me. “What do you want me to do? I’ve never been able to talk to her.”
I took a deep breath and took a step closer to them. “Why’d you really come here?”
Mom’s eyes filled with tears but she quickly looked away to hide them. “We’re used to seeing Forrest more than this. We miss him.”
“Then I’m glad you’re here. If you just want to see Forrest and spend some time with him, that’s great. He’d love it.” I lowered my voice. “You’re not allowed to make those little harsh criticisms you sometimes like to make of me, though. No more. I’m his mother and he doesn’t need you polluting his head with your negative opinions of me. I’m sure he’ll have plenty of his own when he hits his teenage years.
“I hope he doesn’t make you feel the way you’ve made me feel. It’s painful to have your own child turn against you.” Mom withered in on herself and I would’ve felt terrible if I hadn’t seen her act a hundred times before.
“I love you, Mom. I just can’t live my life for you. You’ve disapproved of every choice I’ve ever made as an adult and you’ve made it clear to anyone and everyone who will listen. I’m tired of accepting that as what I deserve. I’m happy in Lilyfield. So is Forrest. He’s making friends and setting down roots. Roots that I want, desperately.” I gestured to the guys behind me. “They’re his father. We’re his parents. There is no letting me take him from you. I’ve raised him from the day he was born. The only thing I ever asked of you and Dad was a place to stay. You got to be grandparents back home because I did all the work. For you to come here and act like I’ve never been responsible enough to take care of Forrest is absolutely wrong. It’s insulting as hell, too.”
Dad looked down at his wife and wrapped his arm around her. When it looked like she was going to speak, he seemed to squeeze her tight. “You’re right, Violet. This is none of our business. We should get to our motel and make sure we’re checked in. We’d like to stay and spend some time with Forrest, if you’ll allow us.”
I exhaled heavily through my nose. “I would love for it to be your business. I’d love for you to stay and see Forrest, and me. It’s your choice, though. I love you both. I work at the diner. You’re more than welcome to stop by. Forrest will be excited to see you both, but I’ll let you surprise him.”
When neither of my parents said anything back to me, Ben growled and stepped forward. “For fuck’s sake. Your daughter is practically begging you to be her parents and you can’t think of a thing to say back to her. Shame on both of you. Get it together.”
He wrapped his arm around me and tugged me down the street, away from my parents. I looked back and saw Dad was pulling Mom away, but she was glancing back at me, too. Our eyes met and I held my breath, waiting for her to say something, but she just turned back around and left.
I sagged against Ben’s side. “Well, that could’ve gone better.”
