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“Mother tells me you want to stay here.” A woman that I presumed was Kara’s mother spat out.
Kara looked to her Grandma. “I’m sorry, dear,” she said. “She was spouting off about how terrible it was to grow up here and I couldn’t help it.”
“It’s ok, Grandma.” She went over and gave her shoulder a pat before coming to stand by me. “Yes, I want to stay in Mountain and work at the diner. Who knows, maybe one day they’ll let me take it over.”
Her mother let out a gasp and put her hand to her chest. “Kara, don’t be ridiculous. Who’s this?” She pointed at me. “Don’t tell me you want to stay here because of a boy?”
She grabbed my hand and held it so tight I winced. “His name is JT and he’s only part of the reason.”
She laughed and waved her hand. “Do you think you’re in love? You don’t know a thing about love. In no time he’ll break your heart and you’ll come crying back home.”
“I won’t ever hurt your daughter,” I said quickly.
She looked at me, her eyes a steely grey. “What do you do for a living, JT?” She asked, her voice dripping with disdain.
“I run an auto shop with my dad.”
“A grease monkey? Oh really, Kara. You can do so much better than that.”
Her words cut right to my core. I had never been ashamed of who I was until that moment. She was right; Kara could probably do better than me, but she had chosen me, and I wasn’t going to let her go.
“Mom!” She cried out, her eyes filling with tears. “What is wrong with you?” She looked to her dad. “Daddy?”
He shook his head. “I wish you would come back to Madison, but I support you if you want to stay here.”
Kara’s mother looked at him with her mouth open. “Oh really? And when she comes crying and asking to come home because he broke her heart, what will you say then?”
He looked at me and gave me a sad smile. “I’ll welcome her home because she’s our daughter and I love her.”
“Thank you Daddy.” He got up and gave her a hug.
Kara’s mom got up from the table. “Let’s go then. There’s no reason to stay here.” She stormed outside without saying goodbye.
“I’ll talk to her,” Kara’s dad said, reaching out to hug me. “She’ll calm down.”
“I doubt it,” she sniffled and let go of him.
“Take good care of my daughter,” he said, holding out his hand for a handshake.
“I will sir,” I said, taking his hand and shaking it firmly.
“I better go. I’ll call you later, Kara. I’m so sorry.” He turned and walked out the door. I could hear arguing outside and car doors slamming shut. We stood in silence, listening to the SUV leave.
Kara went to her grandma and embraced her in a hug. “I’m so sorry, Grandma.”
She patted her head. “It’s ok. She’ll get over it. She’s just sad to lose her little girl.”
“But she’s not losing me,” she protested.
“Oh sweetie, when your little girl falls in love, you do feel like you lose them a little bit.” She smiled over at me.
“Now you two go out and have some fun. Try to forget about this.”
Kara stood up. “Let me go change.” She disappeared to her bedroom and I sat down at the table with her grandparents.
“She loves you.” Her grandma said. “But she’s conflicted by her mother. Just be patient with her and love her.”
I looked down at my hands. “I don’t plan on doing anything else.”
