"And I am. But integrity doesn't mean bowing to other people's expectations for whom I should be with or how I should live my life."
I stepped closer to him and sighed hard. "I'm forty-eight years old. I don't need your permission or your approval."
"You need my support if you want to keep your position at the hospital. The board listens to me, Nathan. One word from me and your career?—"
"Then say the word." I cut him off. "Go ahead. Tell the board whatever you want. Sabotage my career if it makes you feel powerful. But I'm done letting you control my choices."
My father's face went red. "You're making a mistake."
"The only mistake I've made is caring what you think for far too long." I walked to the front door and opened it. "Get out of my house."
"Nathan—"
"I said get out." My voice was loud enough that it echoed through the room.
I'd never raised my voice to my father before or challenged him so directly.
The shock on his face was almost worth the anger still burning in my chest, and though the regret and shame came instantly, I held my position and stood firmly.
He would not treat the woman I cared about like that.
He stared at me for a long moment, then straightened his shoulders and walked to the door.
He walked out, and I slammed the door behind him hard enough that the windows rattled.
The house fell into sudden, heavy silence.
I stood with my forehead pressed flat on the wood and my pulse hammering in my ears, trying to get my breathing under control.
"Nate." Ember's voice was so tiny, I almost didn't hear her past the roar of my heartbeat.
I turned to find her standing in the middle of the living room, her arms wrapped around herself again.
The way she shrank herself for protection broke my heart.
"I'm sorry," I said, crossing to her. "I'm so sorry you had to hear that."
"Your dad…" Her head shook. "I can't…"
"Don't." I pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly. "Don't let his words define you. He's bitter and controlling and he's been that way my entire life. None of what he said reflects the truth."
She pressed her face against my chest but didn't relax into the embrace. "Maybe I should go."
The defeat in her tone felt like a knife in my chest.
"Please don't." I pulled back just enough to look at her face, then I cupped both cheeks. "Don’t leave. We'll have dinner and talk. We don't have to do anything else tonight. Just stay."
She hesitated, clearly torn between wanting to flee and wanting to stay.
Finally, she nodded. "Okay, I'll stay for dinner, but that's all. I'm not in the mood for anything else after that display."
"That's fine." I kissed her forehead gently. "Whatever you need."
We had dinner, takeout of Thai food Ember said she was craving, though our conversation really centered around how to handle the chaos at work.
Both of us resolved to pretend that nothing was happening and act normally for the time being, but we also both agreed that neither wanted this to end. We'd just have to be more careful.
It was after nine when she left, and I kissed her goodbye inside so the neighbors wouldn't see us.
