“Thanks, Daddy.” I hug him tightly, then turn to Brandon. “This is Brandon Grimaldi. Brandon, my father, Robert Rhodes.”
“Mr. Rhodes, it's an honor to meet you,” Brandon says, extending his hand.
“The honor's mine,” my father replies, giving Brandon the kind of firm handshake that's meant to take the measure of a man. “I've heard wonderful things about you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Stella tells me you coordinate stunt scenes for films?”
“I do. Actually, I just got confirmation today that I'll be working on a new racing series for the next six weeks. It's a big change for me career-wise.”
“Congratulations. That sounds like exciting work.” My father's approval is evident in his voice.
“Your daughter convinced me it was time to use my brain instead of just my body,” Brandon says with a smile.
“Smart woman, my Stella. Always has been.”
The conversation flows easily from there, and I can see my father genuinely warming to Brandon. They talk about work, about Los Angeles, about Brandon's family in New York.
“There you are,” my mother says as she approaches. “You look stunning, Stella. And Brandon, you look very handsome tonight.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Rhodes. You look beautiful.”
“Such a charmer.” She beams at him, then turns to me. “Darling, I was just talking to Patricia Wrigley about her daughter's wedding. Such a lovely affair. Of course, she had the advantage of planning for two years.”
“Mama,” I warn.
“I was just wondering if you've given marriage any more thought.”
“We haven't been together that long.” I grip Brandon's hand tightly. I'm not embarrassed about her asking me about marrying Brandon. Honestly, I think he would probably marry me today if I wanted him to. It's that my mother needs to know that I don'thaveto marry him.
“I know, sweetheart, but when you know, you know. And Brandon seems like such a stable, reliable man. The kind who could really take care of you.”
“Actually, Mrs. Rhodes,” Brandon says gently, “I think it's more that we take care of each other. Stella's incredibly capable on her own.”
“Of course she is, but surely, there's room for other priorities as well. Family, stability, and she can step back from work when the time comes.”
Something inside me snaps. Heat floods my chest and spreads up my neck like a wildfire. My hands are trembling slightly, but not from nerves; no, instead, it's from years of swallowed words finally demanding to be spoken. This is it, the moment I've been avoiding my entire life, and my heart is hammering so hard I can hear it in my ears.
“Mama, stop.” The words come out sharper than I intended, but I don't take them back. My voice sounds stronger and more certain than I've ever heard it. “My career isn't a temporary thing until something better comes along. This is my life. This is what I've chosen, and I'm not going to apologize for it.”
Brandon steps closer to me and wraps his arm around my waist in a show of support. The warmth of his hand on my hip steadies me, gives me the courage to keep going even as my mother's eyes widen in shock.
“Sweetheart, I just think?—”
“No.” I shake my head. Adrenaline makes my skin feel electric, and every nerve in my body is singing with the rush of finally speaking my truth. “I love you, but I'm not going tomake myself smaller to fit into someone else's idea of what my life should look like. I'm successful, I'm happy, and Brandon supports that completely.”
The words taste like freedom on my tongue, even as my stomach churns with the fear of having disappointed her. But underneath that fear is relief so profound it makes my knees weak.
My mother's face cycles through several emotions: surprise, hurt, and finally something that might be understanding.
“You're absolutely right,” my father says quietly, stepping closer to us. “Your mother and I are proud of you, Stella. Everything you've accomplished.”
“We are proud,” my mother says after a moment, her voice softer now. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy, Mama. Really, truly happy.”
She looks between Brandon and me, and I can see her processing what just happened. “You really meant what you said, didn't you? About supporting her career?”
