Wade stirs next to me and opens his eyes, as though he can sense my troubled thoughts. He pulls me even closer and looks deep into my eyes.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
I can barely believe he picked up on my anxiety so quickly. I nuzzle close to him, taking comfort in his presence.
“It’s nothing.”
“You can tell me anything,” he growls in my ear. I sigh. He has a right to know what I’m thinking about right now. It concerns us, after all. I look into his eyes.
“I’m just thinking about my parents. What if they don’t approve of me dating someone older than me. And with all our plans...I know they’re going to think we’re rushing into things. But there’s nothing I want more than to have a baby and be with you. It scares me that they might not be able to see that.”
“Hmm,” Wade says, closing his eyes. “I understand what you’re saying. And it’s tough.” His eyes reopen. “Would it help if we went to meet them? You don’t need to tell them anything about me until we get there. Just say you want them to meet someone important to you. Someone you love. If it was me in their position I’d want my daughter to be happy.”
He’s right. There’s only one way to face this, and it’s head on. I nod slowly.
“Okay. I guess we could fly out to see them...can you get the time off work?”
Wade kisses me hard. “For you, baby, I can do anything.”
Wade
I know that going to meet Ashley’s parents was my idea, but it’s seeming like a bad one the closer we get to their house. We flew out and got a car this morning. Ashley called them up and said that she was bringing her boyfriend to meet them, but she refused to tell them anything about me. That I’m older, a lot older. They’re going to be in for a shock when we walk through the door together.
“Are you okay?” Ashley asks me sweetly as we’re nearing the house. I nod, concentrating on the road.
“I am. I’m just wondering whether your parents will be.”
“I think it’ll be okay,” Ashley says, though uncertainty tinges her tone. “They’re my parents. They have to be supportive.”
I hope that’s true. I don’t want there to be some big fight. The thing is, now that she’s mine, I can’t let her go. She was their little girl first, but if they try to take her away from me, I won’t be able to stop the animal within me from fighting for what’s rightfully mine.
“Let’s hope so,” I say. Ashley places her hand on mine.
“It’ll be okay. I promise.”
I nod. I trust Ashley, and I want her parents to like me. After all, we’re going to be spending the rest of our lives together. We get out of the car and Ashley’s hand immediately slides back into mine, leading me up the driveway to her parent’s house.
She knocks on the door and I can hear her mother inside, saying something in muffled excitement. She’s clearly thrilled to be meeting her daughter’s first partner, but how will she react when she sees how much older I am?
I’m about to find out.
The door swings open and Ashley’s mom stands there, beaming. But her face falls ever so slightly when she sees me. Ashley clears her throat.
“Hey, Mom...I want you to meet my boyfriend, Wade.”
She stands and stares at me for a few seconds, and I’m sure she’s going to turn us away. But then she regains her composure and smiles at me, offering me a hand to shake. “Hello, Wade. It’s lovely to meet you.”
“And you too,” I say gruffly, offering her a smile. Then, I can’t help adding, “Your daughter is so important to me. It’s lovely to meet her mother at last.”
I can tell she’s pleased with how I’ve presented myself, at least. Her smile seems more genuine now. “Well, come on in. Meet Ashley’s father.”
Ashley looks at me nervously. We both know that her father is the one to please. He’ll be very protective of his little girl, I’m sure.
But to my surprise, he greets me with a handshake and a smile, kissing Ashley on the cheek as we walk through the door.
“A pleasure to meet you, Wade,” he says with a grin. “You’re a strapping lad. Do you play sports?”
“I’m a firefighter,” I say. “It comes with the job. But I do enjoy sports.”
“Well then, we’re going to get along very well, aren’t we?” he says with a smile. It’s like he’s oblivious to what the rest of the world can see. I know that Ashley told me there was nothing to worry about, and yet this all feels too good to be true. For her family to be accepting is all I ever wanted. Because now, I want to marry their daughter. I want to have babies with her and be a good husband to her. She’ll never want for anything while she’s with me. I smile at them and I hope they can see in my eyes that I mean it when I say that I’ll take care of their daughter. She’s my entire world now.