“What’s tomorrow?”
Elodie darts her eyes toward me and then back to her mom. “I’m, uh…performing at the Hart Winery for their last Concert in the Courtyard.”
“Really?” Her mom’s voice rises an entire octave.
“Yes.”
“Are they paying you?”
“Well, no…”
Her mom lets out a heavy sigh. “Elodie Anne,” she starts just as her father comes onto the screen now.
“Hey pumpkin,” he says then darts his eyes to me. “You must be the boss.”
“Yes, sir. Henley Clark. Nice to meet you.”
His response is a grunt as he turns his attention back to his daughter. “I think it’s time for you to come home, Elodie.”
“I’m twenty-five, Dad.”
“Exactly. You should have a career by now, or at least be married and working on a family.”
I can see the emotion on Elodie’s face that she’s trying to keep at bay. “Glad to know that’s all you think women are good for.”
“You know what I mean. Music is a hobby, pumpkin. That’s what your mom and I have been trying to tell you…”
“Have you even seen her perform?” I interject. I can’t stand here and listen to them speak to her like she’s a child who doesn’t know how to make her own decisions.
“Of course we have,” her father replies. “Do you know how many talent shows her mom sat through?”
“So you weren’t there then?” I counter. “Makes sense.” Grinding my teeth together, I widen my stance and cross my arms. “Look, I know that we don’t know each other, but I’m not one who ever sought out to impress a girl’s parents, so I’m going to be frank.” I lean closer to the phone and lower my voice. “Your daughter is talented, like jaw-droppingly amazing and hearing the way you dismiss her aspirations makes me think I prefer absent parents to the lack of support you show her.”
“Henley,” Elodie gasps beside me, but I continue.
“Maybe if you would stop trying to force your ideas on your daughter of what you think her life should be like, you might realize timing is everything. That’s certainly something she’s taught me.”
“Are you done?” her father clips.
“Not even. I’ll have you know that getting to know your daughter over the past three months has made me a better man, and if you think her chasing music is a waste of her time, then I invite you to her performance tomorrow where you can see for yourselves how incredible she is.”
“I have to work,” her father replies.
“Of course you do.” My eyes dart to her mom. “What about you?”
“Well, I, uh…”
Elodie reaches for my arm. “Henley, it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. It’s bullshit that they don’t support you.”
“I’m used to it.”
“We support you, sweetie,” her mother interjects.
“Then come to her performance tomorrow,” I reply.
“I’ll—I’ll think about it.” Her mother’s voice is low, but it’s loud enough that Elodie is surprised by her response.
