I look at him, knowing he is both capable of unique tenderness and phenomenal detachment. Knowing he doesn’t really opt to act inauthentically at all, it all really depends onwhat side of him might come out naturally in front of my parents, and then how they’ll respond to the fact he never thought to meet with them in order to discuss this ahead of marrying me, and…mm. Yeah. “I don’t actually know.”
“Does whether or not they like me have any bearing on whether or not you like me?”
I wish I could sayyes. I wish I could firmly say that absolutely I love and trust my parents and their opinions matter a whole lot and all that.
But.
I’m afraid I’m just not a very good daughter at all.
And they, like Maelin, never so much as knew about all the mistakes I was getting up to in high school. Even though there were rules and warnings and cautions. I didn’t listen, and I filled one void with another all on my own.
I say, “No. Whether or not they like you won’t change anything. It’ll just make the next four days suck.”
Kyran hums as the GPS tells him to take the next exit. “Nah, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
I wish I could possess his same level of confidence, but alas. Part of having a good marriage, I think, is balancing strengths and weaknesses.
Once we’ve parked in my parents’ driveway in front of their small, snow-covered house, I fill my lungs with air, push all thought of Talira aside, andfocuson the present issue, the present choices, the present ways I can embrace what I have. I open my mouth and turn to Kyran, just in time to see his long coat fluttering as he steps out of the vehicle.
I blink at a closing door, then jump when my door opens.
Princely, he offers me his hand.
“Careful,” he says as I take it, “there’s ice.”
Watching my step, I enter the frozen world, huddling in my coat and against his chest. “I’m scared, Kyran.”
“Of?”
I lift my shoulders.
He gathers my hands up and blows heat into them. “There’s nothing to be scared of. I’m right here.”
“It feels like I’ve done something wrong. Because I have. And…it’s not just with you. I’m not as open with my parents as I should be. I feel terrible. Icanbe open with them. I know it. Even about the worst things I’ve ever done. They’re good, kind parents. They’d still love me. I just… I don’t rely on others naturally, and that separates me from them. I hate that about myself.”
He kisses my fingers. “It’s never too late to start relying more on the people you love.”
I guess not. I guess it’s never too late to do better.
I’m trying to do better, for his sake. I can do better here, too.
“Ready?” he asks.
I nod, and he helps me up the drive, watching for patches of ice until we make it to the front door.
Mom, Dad, this is my husband.
That’s my line.
Let’s get it over with.
Fortifying myself, I reach for the doorbell, and ring it.
Immediately, the front door flies open, and a noise maker hits my face as my father blows it. “Congratulations!” he cheers, and I jerk as an eruption of streamers explodes out of a party popper.
“Hank,” Kyran offers coolly, then he sets a hand to his chest and lowers his head in a bow to my clapping but far less enthusiastic mother, “Taylor.”
Her lips tip up in a smile, and she says, “I made cake.”
