“Your sister just had a baby. She has no one around to help. Two of your brothers are married. One with kids and one on the way. Are you telling me you want to walk away from all that?”
“I’m telling you I want a shot at that, too!” I shouted.
Silence filled the room as Dad continued to glare at me. Mom’s eyes were filled with tears, and I knew I was breaking her heart, but I had to find out for myself if this was going to work.
“Mom,” I whispered, “I can’t keep living everyone else’s life. This is what I want, and I need you behind me.”
She patted my hand, smiling up at me. “I know.”
“You can’t be serious,” Dad scoffed. “You’re supporting this?”
“It’s her choice, Ben. She’s a grown woman. She’s amarriedwoman. This has to be her decision, or she’ll resent us for the rest of our lives.”
I hugged my mom, grateful she was on my side, but when I looked at my dad, he glared at me.
“Sir, I swear, I will take care of your daughter,” Rob said, holding out his hand to my dad.
I held my breath, hoping Dad would get past his anger and take the olive branch. But the longer he stared at Rob’s outstretched hand, the more I realized Dad would never support me in anything I did. It just wasn’t in him.
Huffing, he turned and stormed out of the house, letting the door slam behind him.
I winced, wondering if I should go after him, but Mom just patted my hand.
“He’ll come around. Just give him time.”
I hugged my Mom and prayed she was right. Because if I moved to Pennsylvania and ended up falling in love with the place, I might never see my father again. He would never forgive me for abandoning him.
“How much stuffdoes one woman need?” Rob grumbled, grabbing yet another suitcase from the growing stack.
“You shouldn’t be doing that. You’re not healed yet!”
Rushing over, I tried to yank it from him, but he held on tight.
“If you tell me one more time I’m not allowed to do something, I’ll leave you right here while I drive back to Pennsylvania by myself.”
“You wouldn’t!” I accused.
He lifted his shirt, showing the healing skin. “It’s been a week. I’ve rested. I’ve let you wait on me hand and foot. And I’ve eaten every meal your mother cooked for me. I’m fine.”
I chewed my lip, still unsure if it was okay for us to take the long trip back across the country. Sitting in a vehicle for that long couldn’t be good for him. I’d tried to find a way to prevent him from renting a vehicle, but with his excellent references, I hadn’t been successful.
“Would you relax?” he sighed, tugging me into his arms. “I promise you, I’m fine.”
“But what if you pass out on the road? Or if you pop a stitch? You know, I have no idea how to sew, and I really don’t like blood.”
“That’s what hospitals are for, but I’m telling you, I’ll be fine. Besides, it could be worse. We could be driving back with Derek and Claire.”
I grimaced at the thought. As much as I liked Claire, they were weird. I didn’t need to know anything more about her fetishes in the bedroom.
“Fine, but if you get tired, I’m taking over.”
“I will let you know the moment I feel a yawn coming on. Now, can we finish loading the truck?”
I let him take the suitcase and got back to packing. I wasn’t sure what I needed or how long I’d be gone. Part of me wanted to pack everything, that way I didn’t have an easy exit. But the rational part of me said that this was a trial, and it was smart to pace myself.
“Can I come in?” Lizzy asked from the doorway, grinning as she carried my niece.
“Hey. I’m sorry I haven’t been to visit.”