Since telling my dad that I’m getting married, I’ve let myself get excited about the idea of his walking me down the aisle. Bracing myself for news I don’t want to hear, I swipe to answer. “Hey, Dad.”
“Boo! I’m at the airport. Just wanted to let you know I’m in town. I plan to stay at a hotel by the airport tonight, but I’ll drive to Stadtburg tomorrow morning.”
“I thought you weren’t getting here until Friday.”
“Originally, but I managed to get an earlier flight. I didn’t want to take a chance of some freak storm causing me to miss your wedding.”
I can feel my smile stretching my cheeks, and for a moment, I’m a little girl again. “Thanks, Dad. I’m really glad you...” Words get stuck in my throat, so the sentence hangs unfinished.
“Don’t make me cry. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He laughs. “Love you.”
“I love you too.” After ending the call, I wipe my eyes. “He flew in early. Didn’t want to miss it.”
I’m not sure how much Paisley has told Parker about the level of disfunction in my family, but he knows my parents split and that my mom could be not nice sometimes. Often.
“I should call my mom.”
Parker rubs my shoulder. “Whatever you want to do is fine with me.”
“She might not come.”
He reaches for my hand. “Lots of people who love you will be here.”
Fingers laced with his, I dial my mom’s number.
It rings several times before she answers. “Bluebonnet, hello.”
“Hi, Mom.”
In the background, people are talking and laughing. And there is splashing. I’m probably interrupting a party.
“I don’t want to bother you—”
“You never do. What do you need?”
I squeeze Parker’s hand. “I don’t need anything from you. Just wanted to let you know that I’m getting married on Saturday.”
“What? And I’m just now hearing about it? Oh my. I need a dress. What colors did you choose? I hope you don’t expect me to wear yellow. It looks horrible with my coloring. Maybe something in a red would work.”
“I don’t have any colors. Parker and I just decided on the date.”
“Parker? What happened to John?”
“Things didn’t work out.” I don’t tell her that I broke it off because I’m really not up for her lecture on how I gave up a good thing.
She scoffs. “Should’ve known. And Parker? Isn’t that the neighbor kid who followed you around like a puppy?”
“Paisley’s brother.” Lately, everything makes me cry. But not my mom. She makes me feel empty, worthless, helpless.
“My dear, I love you, so you need to listen to me. He isn’t good for you. Seriously. Tell that kid that you have better things to do with your life than to marry some small-town cowboy. Do you hear what I’m saying?”
“I hear you.” I learned long ago that arguing isn’t worth the breath, so I acknowledge her and let her think what she wants. If there is one thing I know, it’s that Parker is good for me. I don’t deserve to be treated the way he treats me, but I’m marrying him because of this baby. This peanut doesn’t deserve to be without a dad because of me.
“Good. Call me back after you’ve broken things off.” The call ends.
I’m not sure how much of the call Parker overheard, but I hope he didn’t hear any of what my mom said. “She’s not coming.”
He flashes a sad smile. “I did follow y’all around like a puppy.”
