Catrina’s eyes are wide, and she reaches for her water glass, bringing it to her lips for a second, startled as well by the mention of nuptials.
Dante remains calm as he doesn’t so much as face Catrina and Jack. His stare is entirely on Harper. “My son and your daughter have decided to wed.” There’s no emotion in his voice, and for once, I can’t get a read on him.
This marriage was his idea.
Well, technically, it was mine, in order to save Harper after what she witnessed and had done, but he went along with it.
It never would have gone this far if he hadn’t ordered me to execute her.
“Harper?” Catrina puts her fork down. Her hands remain in her lap while the news dawns on her. “Do you care to explain yourself?”
Harper smiles, and while I know she’s entirely faking the ever-present happiness, I can’t help but fall for it too.
“We’re both incredibly happy dating, and we want to see where this next stage of life takes us, together,” Harper says.
Okay, not the best line to convince her parents of our engagement.
Jack turns to face Dante. “Did you know about this?”
“They announced their engagement last weekend,” Dante says. “It’s why we insisted that you join us for dinner this evening.”
“You’re engaged?” Catrina balks, clearly hurt. “We didn’t even know you were dating anyone! You talk to us every week, you talk on video chat with Zeke, you never thought once to tell us about Luca?”
“It all happened quite so suddenly this semester,” Harper says. “I care about Luca immensely.”
“And if he cares about you,” Catrina says, “then he’ll wait to marry you. There is no reason for the two of you to rush into such a life-long decision.”
Harper glances at me, her breathing slightly erratic. I can hear the first telltale signs of her panicking and want to embrace her, hold her tight against me, and let her know that we’ll figure this out together.
But Zeke is still situated on her lap, and somehow, I’m mindlessly feeding him bite after bite of chicken. He doesn’t seem to notice or at least understand what is happening at the table.
To him, it’s just more yummy food time.
“We could certainly wait,” I say and feel the wrath of my father’s stare. “But when you love someone and you know that they’re the only one you want to spend the rest of your life with, why wait?”
“Because there’s a child involved!” Catrina says. “Are you telling me that you’re honestly ready to be a father?”
I stare at Zeke, and while I know nothing about two-year-olds or what it means to raise a child, I know that one day I do want to become a father. I just vow never to become my father.
“I’m not asking him to be a father,” Harper says before I have time to answer.
“Well, you ought to be,” Catrina says. “Because if you’re marrying Luca, then Zeke is moving in with you. I don’t need to be taking care of your son if you think you’re ready for marriage.”
“Mom,” Harper whispers, realizing what that means about her pursuing her education.
“We’ve thought about that as well,” Mom says, glancing at Dante. “We’ve procured a place on campus that meets the requirements of Harper’s scholarship and isn’t part of the dorms. Harper and Luca will be able to have Zeke living with them beginning in January.”
Jack frowns, shaking his head. “So, you’re in agreement with the two of them getting hitched? My daughter is eighteen. She has her entire life ahead of her.”
“Your daughter is a mother,” Dante says curtly. “I’m giving her the opportunity to raise her son and go to college. It’ll build character.”
“Don’t tell me how to raise my daughter,” Catrina scoffs and stands. “It’s time to go,” she says to Jack.
“Gladly.” Jack scoots his chair back and gets to his feet.
“Mom,” Harper’s voice trails off, “can we please sit back down and talk?”
“Absolutely not.” Catrina strides to the other side of the table. I think she’s going to take Zeke from Harper, but I’m not sure exactly what will happen.
