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Asking her to marry me was out of the question. We were both too young and still needed to spend more time together. We knew a lot about each other but there was so much more to learn. Boot camp was going to be tough and then all the additional training afterwards. I couldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to wait for me, but I truly hoped she would.
She yawned and I said, “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you to bed. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and I don’t want you to sleep through all the festivities.”
Yawning again, she replied, “My parents gave me the day off. I was hoping that we could spend it together.”
I scooped her into my arms and said, “Nothing would make me happier. But tonight, you sleep.”
She rested her head on my shoulder, and I carried her back to the lodge. Somewhere along the way, she fell asleep.
When we got inside, her father was standing there, stoking the fire. In a low voice, he asked, “Is everything okay?”
“She fell asleep,” I said.
“Her room is the first door on the right after the kitchen.”
I was surprised he was willing to let me take her to her room. Then again, I knew he’d be counting the seconds on how long I was in there.
Once I laid her on her bed, I pulled the quilt over her, shut off the light, and left the room, closing the door behind me. When I returned to the lobby, her father was still standing by the fire.
He said one word. “Sit.” did as he instructed and waited. He stoked the fire again, then sat directly across from me. “I’d like to speak to you, man to man, and not as a guest if you don’t mind.”
“I’d prefer that,” I replied.
“Good. I know you have been helping my daughter tremendously. It isn’t the norm here, but I allowed it because I believe you have feelings for her.”
“I do,” I replied.
“I’m going to guess that you’re being here wasn’t a coincidence. That you knew Adilyn before. Am I correct?”
He was good. I had no idea how he was guessing this, but then again, I had no idea how anyone else hadn’t.
“Yes. We met in college. We had a class together and got to know each other over a couple of months before she left to return home,” I said.
“Did she explain why she left suddenly?” he asked. I nodded. “Wow. Adilyn does not share such information lightly. I guess your feelings are reciprocated.”
“I’d like to think so, Mr. Winterberry.” Up until now, he had been called by his first name, but this wasn’t a casual conversation. At that moment, he was her father, and I needed to respect him as such. He didn’t correct me either.
“Are you returning to school after winter break?”
“No. I have finished my studies early and have earned my bachelor's in science,” I said.
“And now what?” he asked.
Do I dance around the truth? I hadn’t shared it with my family yet and I couldn’t tell him first. “I am working on the details of that now.”
“And where does Adilyn fit in your plans?” he questioned.
“I would like to continue dating her. That is if you don’t have an issue with that,” I said. I knew her parents meant the world to her, and if they outright refused, she might not date me.
“There is no issue from me or my wife. You seem to be a levelheaded young man who wants what is best for my daughter. But I must confide in you.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“She doesn’t know what is best for her,” he said. “I want her to return to school. Staying is good for me and my wife, but not her. She is putting her dreams aside for ours. We don’t want that. I am hoping that you can convince her since we can’t.”
I think he is asking the impossible. How could I talk her into going back to school when I just told her I wasn’t continuing mine?
“I am not sure she’ll listen to me, but I will try my best,” I replied honestly. I saw his point and agreed with him. She was doing exactly what I had done. But I wasn’t sure how my parents were going to react when they learned what I was about to do.
