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“Where is this coming from, baby? We approve of you. We always have and always will,” Mom said.
“Maybe you have, but he hasn’t.”
“Tell him that’s not true.”
My father’s eyes rolled toward the ceiling. When he remained silent, I chuckled with a shake of my head.
“I don’t know what it is with you and your ungrateful sister using my dinner hour for your therapy. I’m not doing this with you. If you want to talk about the million and one ways you think I ruined your life, we can talk later. Right now, I’m giving my attention to this steak.”
“You don’t have to worry about having this conversation with me later or ever, Pops. I’m done.”
I turned to leave, stopping only as he stood from his seat and said, “The fuck do you mean you’re done?”
“I mean exactly what I said. I’m done. I’m done trying to live for and please you. If you want to have a normal relationship with me one day, you’ll have to own up to all the fucked-up shit you’ve done in the past and we can consider moving forward. If not, I don’t want to have anything else to do with you. My sister was right about you, and I’m glad I finally see the real you for myself.”
“Jeremy, wait,” Mom said, following us down the hall.
“I used to always think you deserved better,” I told her, not bothering to turn around. “But you deserve exactly what he gives you because you refuse to leave. That man has wrecked lives, broken hearts, and destroyed his own daughter trying to make you happy… and for what? Love?” I chuckled as I opened the front door. “That’s not love. You’ve been using him and punishing him because of what he did to you. Instead of leaving him, you crippled him. Confined him to this house and that office. Kept him from his daughter and forced me to be him. You’re just as bad as him, and I don’t want anything to do with you either.”
Her smug grin quickly morphed into a scowl as she closed the space between us. “Wait until the love of your life cheats and embarrasses you with an outside baby,thenyou come to me about what love is.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Phoenix, your son willneverhave to worry about anything like that happening.”
Mom’s eyes shifted in Maritza’s direction as she gently tugged me out onto the porch, and I was glad. I’d never spoken to my mother like that before and hadn’t planned to start now. But I was tired of the innocent act and way she portrayed herself as a woman scorned who stood behind her man despite it all. If Pops was controlling me, she was the thumbs on his switches.
When we made it to the car, Maritza said, “I’m proud of you. I know that was hard.”
All I could do was nod. That was probably the hardest thing I’d ever have to do in my life, but peace began to fill me the further I got from their home, and that was my confirmation that it would be well worth it.
* * *
“Anything you want to say before everyone starts leaving, baby?” Maritza asked.
It was almost nine and we’d soon be emptying the private room of Sonny’s Steakhouse that she rented for this gathering. All those closest to us, including Violet, were in attendance. I appreciated the outpour of support for the new phase we were about to enter. There was a time, just months ago, when accomplishing something like this would have left me with no one to celebrate with.
My reputation had been tainted because I’d chosen to follow in my father’s footsteps, rationalizing being unnecessarily detached and cruel by saying not being emotional was the best way to navigate law and business. The more I stepped into myself, and love, the more I realized that was an excuse to be a version of myself that I no longer had a desire to exhibit.
“Yeah, I do, actually,” I replied before giving her a quick kiss and standing.
Clearing my throat, I lifted my glass of champagne into the air. My eyes landed on her father, who knew what I’d already had planned, and gave me a nod of approval.
“Thank you all for coming out to celebrate me and the associates of what will soon be Phoenix Law. This moment would not have been possible without this beautiful woman by my side. Stand up, bae.” I took Maritza by the hand and helped her stand. “It’s crazy how one kiss and a desperate plea led to all this.” She chuckled bashfully and gently squeezed my hand. “I ran things with an iron fist and independent spirit because I never had a true partner in my life… until you. You’ve shown me the relief that comes from having someone in your corner and by your side. I have a gift for you outside to show you how much I appreciate having you in my life.”
“Aww, babe, you didn’t have to get me anything… but what is it?”
We all laughed. “Come on. Let’s go see.”
They all followed behind as I led Maritza outside, where a silver 2023 Ferrari Roma was waiting for her… big red bow and all.
“Is that for me?”
“It is. Go have a look inside.”
“Ah! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She gave me a hug and kiss before rushing over to the car as quickly as her heels would allow. Maritza opened the driver’s side door as I casually made my way behind her and got on one knee. As those around us gathered and recorded, she pulled the black box from the driver’s seat. “Um… baby... What’s this?”
When she turned and saw me on one knee, she gasped and dropped the box to cover her mouth with her hands. I caught it, chuckling as I opened it and pulled out the pear-shaped engagement ring Sakura swore her sister would love.
“Jeremy,” she whispered.
