“We had breakfast, and you went upstairs to clean up before I drove you home.”
“I remember,” I answered as meekly as a mouse.
I remembered all right. I remembered everything. I remember all of the hurt that was about to hit me as we took a stroll down memory lane. I remembered all of the hurtful, hateful comments I overheard, words I could never unhear. But mostly, I remembered Jake.
“While we’d been out, Mom and Dad had found the receipt for the ring.”
“There was a ring?”
“Of course, there was a ring!” Jake sounded offended. “I couldn’t very well propose to the girl of my dreams without a ring, now could I?”
“Um…” I didn’t know what to say to that. I had questions. What did it look like? Was it white gold or yellow gold? Pear-shaped or princess cut? But most importantly, where was it now? But I didn’t ask any. Instead, I sat there and said nothing.
“While you were upstairs, Dad lectured me about ruining my life. Telling me that getting married was the stupidest idea I’d ever had. That I was too young. That I needed to sow my oats. That I didn’t even know you. The list went on and on.”
“Oh.”
“I didn’t care, though. I knew you, and I knew us. I trusted in us and knew nothing he was saying was true.”
“What about your mom?” I asked nervously, glancing up at the house, wondering if she was watching from the window.
“She said nothing. Wouldn’t even look at me.”
“Oh.”
I was beginning to sound repetitive, but I had nothing else.
“It was then that Dad told me if I planned on ruining not only my life but yours as well, then I’d better find somewhere else to live.”
“He kicked you out?” I asked, the shock helping me to finally find my words.
“Kinda. He told me if I proposed, I was cut off. He didn’t want me as part of his family anymore.”
“Because of me?” I dared to ask, almost choking on the words.
“Because of me, Kellie. This was all on me.”
“Jake. He was going to disown you if you married me.”
“That’s not why I took off,” Jake declared, changing tactics.
I was shell-shocked. How could it be something else? The night before had been one of the best nights of my life. We’d laid in the back of his truck and planned our future. We were going to build a house where we’d parked. I was going to become a teacher, and Jake would work the ranch. Then, in an instant, everything changed. All our plans were shat on, and I was left pregnant and alone.
“It’s not?”
“No.”
“Then what?” I couldn’t even bring myself to finish the sentence. As much as I needed to know, I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
“Dad didn’t get to dictate who I married or had in my life. That was my choice. And Kellie Louise Knight, I wanted you. With everything I had and everything I was, I wanted you. I knew you were it for me, and I didn’t want to wait.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“After Dad and I argued, I went upstairs to hurry you up. I needed to get out of that house, and I wasn’t about to leave you alone with them.”
“I don’t remember…”
“You didn’t see me.”
