Celebrate might be a strong word for how this actually feels, but I’ll take her enthusiasm. Although, I’m not entirely convinced it’s going to stay throughout the entire meal.
Taking our seats, my dad hovers behind Mom’s chair that he pulled out. “So, Mia, do you want to talk about your plans moving forward, or is this ashut up and accept itmeal?”
My heart sinks. I can handle my mom being upset, but it’s clearly written on my dad’s face that he’s the one not taking this well. Dammit, of course he’s upset. He just handed over a whole business to me. I should have prepped for this more. I can handle my mom’s disapproval, but my dad’s…not so much.
“Dad, I know you’re disappointed…”
“What? No, he’s not—” Mom whips her head to him. “He shouldn’t be.”
But he is.
Sighing, he finally takes his seat across from Adam. “I’m sorry, Mia, I just—I have to admit, this is the last thing I expected you to say. You’re always so…”
The gut punch I feel when he trails off is enough to have me tightening my grip on Adam’s hand. Does he really think I was just careless about this? Even if I was, what does it matter? He should know I’m capable of handling it.
“With all due respect, sir,” Adam starts, and my heart rate spikes. “This genuinely was something neither of us anticipated. I have so much respect for your daughter. I won’t make assumptions for your trailing off on that sentence, but I’ll finish it for you. Mia is capable of handling every situation she’s put in. I understand the shock—believe me, I do. Yes, we were safe. Mia and I have asked every how, when, where, and why question already, but we’re here now. I will take care of her, but not because she needs me to—because I want to be with her.”
I can’t bring myself to look away from the man next to me. With every word, my breathing evens, and my heart rate drops back down to normal.
My dad leans back in his chair, shaking his head. “No, now, that’s not fair. You don’t get to have me liking you after telling me you accidentally got my daughter pregnant.” He scoffs, “Have me feeling like I’m the asshole here.”
Folding my lips together, I contain my smile. Mom, however, gives Dad a look, then shrugs. “I mean, you said it, not us.”
Dad wraps his arm around her chair, and I can’t help but see a bit of how Adam looks at me in the way my dad looks at my mom. When his attention comes back to me, I fight to not hold my breath.
God knows fainting here would be catastrophic. I’d never get my mother to give me space after that.
“Look, I’m so proud of you, Mia, and always will be. It’s not the idea of you having a baby that upsets me either—I know how capable you are, but even with all our resources, our family help, and as hands-on as I was—I know the sacrifices your mommade. You’re my daughter, and I will always want the very best for you?—”
“I personally think this will be a blessing in disguise,” my mom cuts in.
My stomach turns in knots. I know part of her excitement had to have come from the idea that I’d pull back on my business, but that’s not what I want. Yes, sacrifices will be made, but my business won’t suffer, it just may operate a little differently.
Dad lets out a sigh. “What I’m trying to say is that while I understand this was a genuine accident, I’m more upset for my daughter knowing this wasn’t her plan.” He gestures to Adam with a slight smile. “But it seems you at least are navigating it with someone who, I’m assuming, feels the same way—and that I can appreciate. I love the idea of grandchildren with all my heart, but you’re my daughter first.”
“I do appreciate your concern. I really do. It may not be how I originally saw my life going, but I want this baby. We know it’s going to be hard, but all we can really do is our best for each other and the baby, and I do think we’re doing that. I’m confident in how I run Winedown. There will be some changes, but I have nine months to plan. I can move into Grandpa’s house now, which will be much easier with?—”
“Wait, are you two getting married?” Mom cuts me off with this puzzled look on her face.
Hell, I knew this was going to be a topic…Honestly, I’m surprised it’s just now coming up.
I take a deep breath in, then exhale. “No, we’re going to continue our relationship as is—we were thinking one big adjustment at a time.”
My parents exchange a look, then my dad clears his throat. “We understand that, and I, for one, am on board with that plan, but you won’t be able to move into the house.”
“Mia, your grandfather left it as your wedding present, not for kids. Your aunt Theresa even tried to move in for a few months while her house was getting some remodeling, but with how he wrote the will, none of us can move in.”
No, no, no, my bright side of the situation isn’t possible.
“Surely, there’s a clause or phrasing in there for me having a family, right? Or maybe we can talk to the lawyers…” My words die off at the look of pure sadness on my mother’s face.
“Mia, I wish we could. It’s a nightmare for us to even get the house maintenance done.”
“She’s right. Even if our lawyers could contest it, it would take months, and there’s a possibility that your aunt might try to take advantage of that. She wasn’t exactly thrilled at the idea of her not getting it when he passed.”
There were so many things I thought could go wrong today. Hell, that still possibly could go horribly wrong with having this baby, but this was one I did not anticipate.
Here I was, thinking of the bright side—and it gets dimmed just like that. Not only that, if I want this house, I have to get married, and that takes another thing away. My eyes turn hot, and I know tears are not far off.
