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"Oh," Mom's face twists with confusion.
"Is Dad here?" I ask.
"No," Mom shakes her head. "He's still at work."
"This can't really wait," I blow out a tired breath.
Mom motions to the living room. "Why don't you two wait in there while I call Dad."
My foot jiggles restlessly as Brady and I sit on the couch side-by-side. Brianna hands us each a doll and I plaster a smile on my face and play with her. I play until the front door creaks open and Dad wanders in with a grim look on his face.
"Mom told me to come home immediately," he exhales heavily. "What's happened?"
I sit up straighter as Brianna moves to the floor. Brady's hand rubs circles on my back as I stare at my concerned parents.
"We, uh..." I trail off as Mom and Dad lean in closer.
"We got married," Brady says.
My breath catches in my throat as I wait for the explosion of fireworks. The reminder that I just got divorced. The reminder that I have a daughter. The reminder that Brady and I didn't work the first time.
"When?" Mom speaks up.
"While we were in Denver," I answer.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Dad scrunches his eyebrows.
I shrug. "I thought you'd be mad."
"What was the plan, then, Iz?" Mom tilts her head to the side as she rests her hand on Dad's leg. "Get secretly married and tell us in a year?"
"No," I click my tongue. "We were going to tell you we were engaged. Then, have the wedding."
"Why the secrecy?" Dad asks.
"Because I was afraid of what you might think," I honestly answer.
"What we would think?" Dad repeats. "You've never cared before, Iz. Why now?"
"I'm living here," I remind him.
"And you pay rent even though we tell you not to," Mom adds.
"And you take care of Brianna," I sniffle.
"Because we want to," Dad interjects. "We want her around. We want to spend time with her. It's not a chore and it's not something we're hoping ends any time soon."
I glance at my daughter playing on the floor. She's lost in her own little world, oblivious to our conversation.
"I haven't made the best choices in the past," I admit. "But I'm trying to make the right ones for Brianna and for me."
"I wish you would have trusted us with this," Mom sighs. "I understand why you didn't. I hope you know, though, that we're also trying to make the right decisions, too. The right ones for you."
"I know, Mom," I give her a tight smile.
"Well, get over here," Mom holds her arms open wide. "And let me congratulate you on your marriage."
"Uh," I swallow hard. "There's another thing."
