“I suppose that is always the risk we take with those we love. But I think you might be surprised.”
“All right.” Her voice is quiet and meek. “I’ll call him and see what he says.”
“That’s all I ask.” I pet her hair, sniffing it and reveling in her scent before I fall asleep.
peony
I put off calling Dad for a little while. Rupert and I get settled in at the cabin, making grand meals together in the huge, open floor plan kitchen and having mind-blowing sex on the couch in front of the massive windows that look out onto the falling snow. Then we go on adventures in our heavy coats, investigating the forest and testing the thickness of the ice on the lake. There’s a massive stack of firewood by the shed, but we have to dig our way to it through the snow.
Our days are simple, and we spend a lot of time playing checkers and watching Rupert’s favorite shows on the “telly.” It’s a good, easy life, but I know that soon, I’ll want more again. I can’t be holed up forever, as much as I enjoy the time alone with Rupert. We’ll eventually have to return to civilization.
One day, a few weeks after arriving, an unseasonable warm spell melts some of the snow. The sun shines down, bright and warm despite the crisp air, and that’s the day I finally work up the nerve to call Dad and tell him the big news.
Rupert’s mom took everything incredibly well. She wasjust grateful to know her son was all right after so many years of silence. She knew when she saw him on the television, she said. “That’s my son.”
She’s eager to come to the States and meet me. I hope I can say the same about my dad.
The phone rings and rings. Rupert stands nearby making dough, keeping one eye on me as I wait for Dad to answer. Just as I think the call’s about to go to voicemail, and I take the phone away from my ear to hang up, I hear my father’s voice.
“Hello?”
I bring the phone back to my mouth. “Dad?”
“Oh, Peony!” He gasps like he’s overwhelmed with emotion. “I’m so happy to hear from you!”
“You… you are?”
“Of course I am! Where are you?! I saw all over the news?—”
“I’m okay, Dad. I’m up in the mountains right now.” Just hearing his voice again brings tears to my eyes. It’s been so long, I didn’t realize how much I missed it.
“The mountains?” Dad asks quizzically. “Are you with the… the monster?”
“His name is Rupert. And yes.”
I can hear his disapproval as he says, “He took you off to some remote place alone?”
I know what he’s thinking, how Andy did the same thing.
“We had to get away from the press,” I explain gently. “We’re just lying low for a while.” Now I know I need to rip off the bandage. “And he… he just asked me to marry him, Dad.”
The line goes completely silent.
“Dad?” I say after a few seconds.
“I’m here,” he says quietly. “I’m just processing. I haven’theard from you for years, and then I saw that video, Peony!” His voice cracks, revealing his fear. “I’ve been so worried about you, and now I find out you’re marrying this, erm, ‘Rupert’?”
I can hear him shaking his head, disbelieving.
“I’m sorry for waiting so long to call you.” I clutch the phone tight in my hand as I sink onto the couch. “I just… after what happened with Andy, I didn’t think you would want to hear from me.”
“Of course I want to hear from my daughter!” Dad sighs heavily. “I thought the same thing about you. After I called your boyfriend a ‘dirty, puckered asshole,’ I assumed you’d never want to speak to me again.”
This breaks my heart. I wish I could just hug him through the phone.
“You could always come by if you want to meet him,” I venture. “The road is plowed. It’s beautiful out here.”
There’s a thoughtful pause on the other end, and then my dad says, “All right. I’d like that.”
