“Um, Dad, I know you don’t want to hear it, but I want to go to USC with Riley. It’s a really good school too.”
“Ariela, I told you before, you’re not going to California. You need to get that ridiculous notion out of your head.”
A few months ago, I told my dad that I wanted to go to USC instead. He told me he wouldn’t pay for anywhere but Princeton. When I got back to school and told Riley about it, he was pissed to learn that I had accepted to both USC and Princeton. He yelled at me and sped off in his car. But later, he showed up at my dorm and apologized. He shocked me when he got down on one knee and said Ariela, will you marry me, go to California with me, and love me forever? I said yes and in a few weeks, I’ll be on the beach saying I do.
My dad takes the photo out of my hand and sits down next to me. “Are you really serious about not going to Princeton?” he asks.
“Yes, Dad. I’m sorry.”
“Ariela, I know you think you love this boy now, but he’s not worth ruining your future for. You have your whole life ahead of you. Princeton wasn’t just my dream, it’s been your goal. How many hours have you studied to maintain your grades just so you could get into Princeton?”
“A lot. I study a lot. But I love Riley.”
“Riley is a boy. He can’t take care of you. And if he promises you otherwise, he’s lying to you.”
“He has money. He said if you wouldn’t pay for my college, he would.”
“And what happens when you break up?”
“We’re not going to break up.”
My dad stares at me for a few seconds. Then he gets up and pulls a book off his shelf. “This is my high school yearbook.” He opens it and starts pointing. “This is my high school girlfriend. We dated for three years. That’s an eternity in high school relationships. We were voted most likely to get married. Best couple. We were prom king and queen. We broke up three months after graduation. Once high school was over, we had nothing in common anymore. No games or dances to go to. Our friends were off at different colleges. And our relationship died. And these two are Kelly and David, high school sweethearts who got married two weeks after graduation. They divorced a year later. And Patty and Bob. Couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Broke up a week after graduation. My point is, high school relationships are like high school. They teach you about life and love. You’re moving on to bigger and better things at Princeton. You’ll meet the man of your dreams there. You’ll go back there for Homecoming, not to Eastbrooke. Eastbrooke is just the stepping stone to the rest of your life. And so is Riley.”
“No, he’s not, Dad! He loves me and we’re going to get married next week! I’m going to California. I’m eighteen. I’m an adult. And you can’t stop me!”
“Getting married?” my dad says, sitting back in his chair, looking defeated. I’m sure my growing up is hard for him. I’ve always been such a Daddy’s girl.
My dad rubs his hands down his face then looks at me and speaks in a very deep and serious tone. “You’re right, Ariela. You are an adult. And you can choose whatever you want to do. But know your choices come with consequences. If you go to California, I know exactly what will happen. I know what boys like Riley are like. They’ve had life handed to them on a silver platter. They’ve never had to work a day in their life for anything. And when he gets to California, it’s going to be full of beautiful women. Temptation. A boy like Riley is used to getting what he wants. And he’ll take anything offered to him. And then, when he gets sick of you or moves on to the next thing, you’ll be alone. You’ll be broke and alone. And if that happens, don’t come to me. It pains me more than anything to say this, because I’ve loved you your whole life. Your whole life, I’ve had nothing but your best interests in my heart. But if you make that choice, I’ll disown you. Because I know in my heart that California is wrong for you. That you shouldn’t give up your dream for a boy. And I’m so sure of my conviction, I’m willing to risk my relationship with my daughter, who I love more than life itself, on it. So, adult Ariela, it’s up to you. Riley or your family.”
He takes another picture down and sets it in my lap. Tears fill his eyes. I’ve never seen my dad cry before, and I realize how deeply I’m hurting him.
I look at the photo. I’m about four, wearing a princess costume, and I’m snuggled into my dad’s arms asleep. You can see the love written all over my dad’s face.
I sat here and pondered my life. My relationship with Riley. My future. I knew in my heart my dad only wanted the best for me. I knew in my soul that Riley loved me.
How do you choose between the man you’ve loved forever, your hero, your daddy, and the boy you’re madly in love with?
I couldn’t decide.
And it tore me apart.
I would come down here by myself just to cry.