Gerard banged his fist on the table, and everyone jumped. His eyes flicked a mile a minute between my face and my arm.
I had my answer. I’d definitely pissed him off. I rose immediately. “I’m so sorry,” I said, backing away and holding in tears. “I know that this—all of this—is awful. I’ll give you guys a minute.”
David called after me, but I ignored him as I walked out to the grass to regain my composure. He followed right behind me, and when I stopped, he hugged me to him. “What’d I tell you?” he asked. “Don’t do this alone. Don’t run away from me. Let me be your shield.”
“They think I’m not good enough for you,” I said. “I don’t blame them. I had anaffair.”
“Wehad an affair,” he said. “I was there, too.”
“No. I did this. I have to face the consequences. You can’t protect me from it.” I sniffled back tears and rested my head on his chest. My chin trembled. “I just wish it was anyone but your parents.”
“Baby, hang on,” he said, his brow furrowing. “They’re not upset withyou. My dad’s pissed that—”
“David,” a voice rumbled behind me. Gerard stepped up next to us. “Go back to the table. Let me talk to Olivia.”
I nodded when David hesitated. “It’s okay.”
After an encouraging look, David walked away.
Gerard’s tall frame loomed over me, and he rested a hand on my shoulder. One on one, I noticed how attractive he was up close. He was sturdy, like David, and his hand weighed heavy on me. “I’m sorry if I startled you,” he said. “David’s right. I’m not angry with you.”
I sniffed and wiped my face with the back of my hand. “Please don’t be upset with David. This isn’t his fault. He’s been nothing but amazing to me.”
Gerard surprised me by laughing. “I think I have you to thank for his good mood lately. My dear,” he continued softly, “I’m upset that anyone put his hands on you in anger. I don’t care about the ‘details’ of your relationship with my son, because I’ve never seen him this happy with anyone. And if your husband hurt you like this,” he said, motioning to my arm, “even once, then I’m even happier that David saved you than that you saved him.”
I gawked up at him. “Savedhim?”
He peered over at his family and then back at me. “David’s waited a long time for you to come along. I can’t say I’ve ever been happy with David’s choices when it comes to women, so we’re thrilled that you’re finally here.”
“But you barely know me,” I blurted.
“We know our son. And to see him with you, we know enough.”
My throat thickened. I’d been so worried about how upset they’d get, I hadn’t considered they might actually be okay with this. “You . . . I—I don’t know what to say, Mr. Dylan.”
“This has been hard, hasn’t it?” he asked.
I nodded. “I’ve hurt people, including David, very much.”
“Do you love him?”
I looked at David’s back as his elbows rested on the table, his forehead in his hands. His fingers swept through his hair. “Yes,” I answered. “But if we could keep that between us for now? I haven’t . . . it’s hard for me to express.”
“He knows, I can tell. Life is nothing without love,” Gerard said. “My wife taught me that. I could not breathe if not for Judy. If your gut tells you you’re doing the right thing, then you are. And you have our support.”
“Thank you,” I whispered with tears still lingering in my eyes. “You and David are so much alike.”
“Lucky for him,” he said with a playful smile, and I nodded. “Come on back to the table,” he coaxed with an arm around my shoulder. “Tell us everything. And call me Gerard. That ‘Mr. Dylan’ shit is making me feel ancient.”
I followed him back, avoiding everyone’s gaze as I sat. David took my chin in his hand, raised my face, and gave me a determined kiss. His mother gasped, and I tried to pull away, but he held me steady. “Are you okay?” he asked, glancing at my arm.
I looked into his eyes and nodded ardently. He released me, and we turned to face the table.
“My baby,” Judy said to David, her eyes glossy. “In love.”
“Yes, Mom,” he said grumpily, and I finally smiled.
When I heard a sniffle next to me, I turned to see that Jessa was crying.
