Misty didn’t expect that reaction. She didn’t think her situation was funny at all.
“Oh, honey. Men don’t know what they want. Sometimes they have to hold their child to know how much they love and want one—or seven,” she said and rolled her eyes.
“And sometimes they have to lose things to really value them,” Misty said glumly.
Gabriella stared at her, looking concerned. “You can’t be saying you’re going to walk away from him. There’s no way you’re going anywhere with my grandchild.”
“I…I don’t know what to do.”
Gabriella stroked Misty’s hair and tucked it behind her ear. “Oh, darling. My mother taught me, and now I’ll teach you, that when you don’t know what to do, the best thing to do is nothing. Soon enough, the answer will present itself.”
Misty nodded. “Well then, I guess I’ll go to my room and lie down. If you don’t mind my calling it my room. I still don’t have my own place yet, but I will.”
Gabriella sighed. “Please don’t rush off. We enjoy having you here.”
“Really?”
“Honest and truly.”
* * *
Gabe heard his father calling his name. “Oh, shit.”
“Gabe, hold up.”
There was no way he could pretend he didn’t hear him. A supernatural being has no excuse to ignore anyone for that reason. So he stopped, turned, and waited for his father.
The elder Fierro slowed his steps and walked up to his son calmly.
Maybe he wasn’t in for as bad a chewing out as he’d thought he was.
“I hear congratulations are in order,” his father said and slapped him on the back.
“Or condolences.”
His father narrowed his eyes and stared at him shrewdly. “You can’t change the situation, Son. You can only change your attitude. If you look at it one way, you’ll be miserable. If you look at it as a blessing in disguise, you might be surprised by how true that is and how happy you’ll be.”
Gabe let out a deep breath and hung his head. “I’m scared, Dad. What do I know about parenting? What do I know about marriage? I’ve spent years trying to keep relationships casual and breaking them off as soon as the woman got ‘that look.’”
Antonio smiled. “What do any of us know about anything before we’re knee-deep in it?”
Gabe crossed his arms. “I know they don’t let us fight fires until we’ve had quite a bit of education and training. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with so many parents. No training.”
“Well then, take a parenting course. Read a book. Do whatever makes you feel more comfortable, becauseyou’re doing this.”
“Just like that, huh? I have no say in it. Is that right?”
“You bet your ass that’s right. You did the deed. Who else should clean up your mess?”
He sighed. “It was just one night. And it was her birthday. She wanted it more than I did.”
Antonio set his hands on his hips. “It doesn’t matter if it was her idea or not. I’m guessing she didn’t rape you.”
Gabe dropped his gaze to the sidewalk. “Of course she didn’t. It was my fault for going along with it, but at the time, it seemed innocent enough. I used condoms. It’s just that I fell asleep and… Never mind. I guess it doesn’t matter how it happened.”
“Now you’re getting it. The point is, you need to come to peace with this, and soon. That beautiful girl is going to need your help. Of course, your mother and I want you to do the right thing and marry her.”
“I can’t, Dad. I just can’t.”
