“B, it’s okay,” he soothed.“It’s not going to be as bad as you think.”
She let out a very unladylike snort as she used her free hand to press the doorbell.It was definitely going to be as bad as she thought.Her parents were still pissed.Every time she’d called over the past two months, they’d blown her off, usually with the vague excuse of having to be somewhere that wasn’t on the phone with her.
Benny was here for moral support.She still wasn’t ready to label what they were doing, which is why when her mother swung the door open, she let go of his hand.
Her mom immediately frowned.Excellent.Off to a great start.Her mother smoothed an imaginary strand of straight dark hair and blanked her expression.
Typical.
“Bethany.”Was her greeting.“What are you doing here?”
She wasn’t a fan of the term “ambush,” nevertheless that was exactly what she was doing.This was getting silly.Her parents needed to grow up and deal with her runaway bride town status.
“We need to talk, Mom.Is Dad here?”
Her mother’s brow furrowed, her blue eyes darting between Bethany and Benny.
She cleared her throat.“Yes.Yes, he is.Come on in.”She turned to Benny then and greeted him with a stern nod.“Benjamin.”
“Mrs.Mayer.”He gave her his signature easy smile and as they both stepped over the threshold, Benny’s hand found Bethany’s again.“It’s good to see you.”
Her mother didn’t miss the hand holding, sending a disapproving glare at Bethany.Before giving them both a view of the back of her expensive looking fitted dress.
Just breathe.
Led through the bright white hallway, they stepped into the equally white kitchen located at the back of the house.As always, it was pristine, looking more like a magazine spread than a family home.
Her mother came to a stop at the marble island.“We weren’t expecting company, so we don’t have much in, but I can get you a coffee, soda, water?”
Bethany fought the urge to scoff.Their one and only child could hardly be considered ‘company’, but this was typical of her mother.Formal was the only way she knew how to be.With how she acted, you’d think they were members of high society, not living in a small town in Wyoming.
After both of them requested coffee, her mother went about making it, calling out to Bethany’s father as she did.Bethany just stood there, like an idiot.She was suddenly glad Benny had insisted on coming.This all felt awkward.The silence deafening.
Benny seemed to read her mind.Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.And with a gentle tug, he led them to the marble island, letting go of her to pull out a cream bar stool each.She sat woodenly on the chair chewing her lip while Benny made friendly small talk with her mother.She let herself zone out, no desire to discuss the balmy June weather.
Her nerves hadn’t subsided though, she was still biting down on her lip when her father joined them.Thankfully, he gave them a much warmer reception, planting a kiss on Bethany’s forehead and giving Benny a friendly pat on the back.
Once they were all seated, coffee in hand, Bethany was the one to kick things off, before she changed her mind.
“I know you’re mad about the wedding, but I need you to forgive me,” she rushed out.“I know it was expensive and yes, I should have called it off earlier, but I honestly thought I was just getting cold feet.Everyone is always talking about cold feet, so when I started feeling sick at the idea of marrying Doug, I kept thinking...okay, this is what everyone talks about...my feet are cold.But they were freezing, you know?”Benny’s hand went to her thigh where he let his thumb stroke back and forth in a soothing motion.She knew she was rambling, but she couldn’t stop.“Sooofreaking cold.Likefrostbitecold.Amputationcold.But everyone was just so excited.You.Doug.Lucy kept going on about all the girl’s nights we were gonna have...and I’d already transferred my residency...and the apartment—”
“Bethy,” her dad cut her off.“It’s okay.Take a breath.”His kind green eyes held her in place.“We’re not mad at you.”
“You’re not?”Then what was with the silent treatment.
One glance at her mom’s face told a different story.But her father kept going.
“We just wanted to give you some space,” her dad said softly.“After everything that happened...for you to make a decision like that and feel like you couldn’t come to us—well, we thought maybe you just needed some time to process it all, without any pressure.And we trusted you’d come see us when you were ready.”His eyes shifted to Benny, lingering for a beat.“And by the looks of it...you’re ready now.”
She could hug her dad.In fact, that’s exactly what she was going to do.Rising from her stool, she rounded the counter and launched herself at him.He let out a throaty chuckle as he wrapped her into a big bear hug.
“I love you, Dad,” she mumbled into his shoulder.
“I love you too, Bethy.”
She didn’t even care that her mom was still icy, she’d thaw eventually.Her dad telling her everything was okay, that was all she needed to hear.What she’d been waiting for.
Eventually she pulled back, giving her dad a beaming smile before returning to her seat.
