The ceremony was long and hot. My parents were the only family members that showed up. Dad’s mother was in a home in Kansas; Mom’s parents had passed.

After it was over, Tade found me before my parents did. When they came over, I braced myself for what Mom might say. I’d done my best to warn Tade, but he was sure he would win them over.

“Mom, Dad, my boyfriend, Tade,” I said, pointing between them. “Tade, these are my parents, Anna and Jim Winters.”

“Hi, I’m Tade Astor.” He held out his right hand to shake Mom’s first. “You are as stunning as your daughter. I know where she gets her beauty from.”

When Mom narrowed her eyes at him, Dad held out his hand.

“Nice to meet you. Reagan has told us all about you,” Dad said, wearing a genuine smile.

My finger rubbed against the absence of the ring Tade had given me. Funny how something I’d only been wearing a week or so could make my finger feel so naked without it. Being as covert as I could, I felt for it in my pocket, needing the reassurance.

“You look familiar,” Mom said with narrowed eyes.

“Should we find your parents?” I asked, hoping to stop Mom from making a scene. When he nodded, I clung to his hand and he gave it a little squeeze.

A queasy feeling came over me. I wasn’t sure if it was the pregnancy or meeting his parents or telling them all the truth about their future grandchild. Added to it, I prayed his parents would like me.

We walked down an aisle crowded with families and friends giving congratulations to those of us who’d made it this long journey.

I heard my mother agitatedly muttering to my father. Tade whispered to me, “There they are.”

His dad’s back was to us and I couldn’t be sure who he was talking to. Needing strength, I felt in my pocket for my ring and slipped it on. I didn’t plan on spilling the news right there, but maybe telling them we were engaged first would soften the blow.

Tade must have felt my nervousness through our connected hands because he turned and smiled at me. He mouthed, I love you. And I mouthed it back. I gestured to my hand not wanting to blindside him. He nodded in approval, giving me his sexy grin.

My parents were somewhere behind us by the time we reached his.

He tapped his dad’s shoulder and his parents turned as one. My father wore shades and his hand came up to slide them down.

A gasp sounded behind me at the same time as so many things changed.

* * *

“Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Reagan, my girlfriend.”

At the same time, a flash went off and a microphone was shoved between us. We had been discovered. I wasn’t sure if my parents had been blindsided or if this was a planned photo opp.

“Your son is engaged. Congratulations,” the reporter said. I barely saw the woman, keeping my eyes on my father.

Dad wore a mask of happiness, but I saw the darkness around the corners of his eyes. He was furious with me. Biscuit’s hand went limp in mine and I felt her being drawn away. I knew I should have prepared her for the limelight. Hadn’t Mom warned me? Would this be the breaking point to our relationship?

“Give us a minute,” Dad growled at the reporter. Security stepped in and shuffled them away. By now we had an audience. I glanced back at Reagan, who wore a pained expression. It looked like she was choking back tears. “Do you have a place to talk?”

I sought out my mother’s eyes for an ally, but she looked as horrified as everyone else. Now the press had the news.

“We can go back to our hotel.”

My father nodded and I glanced back at Biscuit and her parents. They nodded too. Her mom was whispering to her and pulled her away when I went to take her hand. I turned back to find that my parents had already gotten away from me. I rushed ahead, spying Gavin on the way. I nodded at him, knowing he’d get that I’d talk to him later. He wore a look of despondency or anger. I couldn’t puzzle it out. I was too busy trying to figure out how to fix my own mess.

The driver gestured me to the front after my parents had been seated in the back. When the privacy glass was raised, I guessed they’d wanted to hash things out before finding some singular front from which to attack any justification I might have. Really, it was my life.

The elevator ride was awkward at best. Mom had pity shining in her eyes. I looked away from both of them in favor of reading the elevator safety sign. I had my own warnings. At that moment, I didn’t care about my father’s political aspirations. There was nothing he could do or say to convince me I’d made the wrong choice.

When we stepped into the room, already filled with Reagan and her mother locked in a tearful embrace, the vibration of my own anger dimmed. Her father stood just off to the side, arms folded, wearing worry like a shield.

I stopped in front of my girl and turned to my father. “I know what you all think.” I took in the room before I continued with words that hadn’t been on the menu for tonight. “I know this is sudden. But you have to realize we love each other.” I turned back to Biscuit and glanced at her mom. “I love her with all of me.”

“Tade.” My father’s command had me spinning around to face him. I was dizzy with anger and spoiling for a fight.

“Dad, don’t.” The level of sound from my voice may not have matched my father’s, but it was strong and steady.

“Tade. You have to understand—”

There was nothing my father could say to undo this. “No, you have to understand. You think somehow I’ve embarrassed you. You think that maybe I won’t follow through with your plan for me to attend Harvard. But I’m going, and Reagan’s going to be my wife.”

When I turned back to reach for her hand, her mother intervened, stepping between us. She bellowed, “I saw you with that girl before she went missing.”

When I faced Reagan again, her eyes spilled with tears and her hands were clasped over her mouth. The sparkle from her ring said she was still mine but something in her eyes said differently.

A riptide of emotions clamped shut my throat, rendering me unable to speak. I reached for her hand, but I let mine fall away. Stunned, I’d been unable to do anything but stare at the mouths that had continued to speak. However, the ringing in my ears prevented me from hearing a coherent word.

A single ember burned a chasm down my cheek. The blazing hot tear was as unfamiliar as it was appropriate given the situation. My world had burned to ash with the things said and left unsaid in that room.

I felt like a foreigner while the walls moved in on me like a house of cards ready to fall. Claustrophobia set in and finally I turned to the woman behind me.

“Don’t,” I said, watching her in horror. She stared at me like I was a monster. The stranger reflected in her eyes wasn’t me. “Please.” It was almost pathetic how I pleaded. How the mighty had fallen. I felt their pity and scorned them for it.

Only one woman had ever made me weak. I hated it and didn’t care, all at the same time. She was it for me. If somehow they succeeded in poisoning her with their blasphemy, I would live my life a broken man. There was no way I could survive without her.

My father’s voice morphed as his face softened. He stepped over to me, placing a firm hand on my shoulder and I felt comfort in waves off him. Further confusion came when his voice cracked as he spoke his next words and Reagan ran for the door.