“What situation?” I ask. “Dad and Jed haven’t even spoken to each other in years.”
“No, they haven’t, but you both know better than to do something like this. What about college? What are the two of you going to do about that? You’ve already been accepted into the University of Michigan. You leave in a month.”
My heart starts to pound and then I become furious with my mother, which I have never done before.
“Mom, it’s only an hour away. We have it all worked out.”
“Look, I believe in young love; that’s why I supported you two. But this is unacceptable, Calla. You can’t just run off and get married without telling anyone. Why would you keep something as big as this from me?”
“I’m sorry,” I say sincerely.
“Sorry isn’t good enough. This is a mistake, one the two of you should have thought through before you ran off and did something as rash as this.”
“You knew, didn’t you? That’s why the two of you came barreling out of the house like you did. You knew we went and got married and you told Dad, didn’t you?” I seethe.
“I did. I found all of this material on marriage housing in your room and I put two and two together when you didn’t come home last night from Lexi’s house.” She grabs my arms.
“I don’t think you realize the severity of what the two of you have done. And you!”
She points her finger at Cain.
“How could you do this? You of all people know how important her education is. You’ll be a distraction to her and she will never become a lawyer like she has always wanted to be,” she accuses, scowling at the both of us.
“Mrs. Greer, that’s not true. I already have a job, and we’ve been accepted into marriage housing. I have always supported her and I will continue to do so. We came here hoping for your blessing. You know I would never do anything to stand in the way of what she wants. Unlike our fathers.”
He hesitates for a moment, which gives my mom the perfect opportunity to start right back in.
“I won’t give the two of you my blessing, not now, anyway. I’m more than disappointed in the both of you.”
Mom pinches the end of her nose and closes her eyes. When she opens them again, they are still wet from her tears and concern is etched across her face.
“You are my daughter, Calla, and I love you more than anything, so I will support you. As far as your dad goes, he’ll come around eventually. I know he didn’t mean what he said. Now, what do you two have planned for the next month before you leave for school?”
She looks at the two of us.
“Please tell me you have something planned.”
“We’re staying at the compound,” Cain finally says.
“Really? And your father is okay with this?” she questions, her hands going to her hips.
“He doesn’t know, either. We thought we would tell you first,” I say.
She shakes her head.
“Good Lord, you two. Cain, how about if you go tell your dad, and I help Calla pack some of her stuff? I can bring her over there later tonight, and for right now she can go inside with me and we can try to reason with her father.”
Cain squeezes me tightly.
“Fine, as long as you promise to bring her to me.”
“Of course, I will,” she promises as my husband turns to me.
“I’ll see you later tonight then, babe. Okay?”
He spins me around in his arms, kissing my forehead.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. If anything changes, I promise I’ll text you.”
He chuckles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. I know he’s just as scared to tell his dad as I have been to tell mine. More, even. Cain’s father has been grooming him to take over the club once he retires. When he finds out about me, there is no telling what he will do or say. I place my arms around his neck and lean up on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear.