The clang of knives and forks hitting the plates sounds through the room.
Valerie gasps.
I begin to perspire. Fuck me dead.
Harvey’s cold eyes hold mine, and he chews the food in his mouth as he processes the information.
“It will be a . . . new adventure,” Hayden says as she looks between them nervously.
“Where do you live in London?” Harvey directs the conversation at me.
“I have an apartment in the city.”
“An apartment?” He frowns. “You really expect Hayden to live in a box with no fresh air in the middle of the city?”
“Dad,” Hayden whispers.
He holds his hand up to her in a stop sign. “Now, baby girl, you need to think about this long and good. There are no cows in the middle of London, Hayden.”
Hayden stays silent.
“I don’t like this. I don’t like it one bit,” Harvey says.
“It’s a trial.”
“A trial?” Harvey explodes.
“For Hayden,” I correct myself. “If she doesn’t like city living . . . then . . .” I shrug.
“Then what?” he snaps.
“I don’t know, but please know, Mr. Whitmore, I love Hayden,” I announce. “I would never trade her happiness for mine.”
Hayden takes my hand as it sits on my lap.
“And I am going to marry her one day. With or without your permission.”
He narrows his eyes as he glares at me.
“If Hayden doesn’t like living in London, I would never keep her there against her will.”
“And if she wants to live here?”
“Then I will.” I shrug.
“What’s the fucking shrug mean?” he barks. “A shrug isn’t enough to bank my daughter’s entire future on.”
“It means . . . I will understand,” I snap.
“As long as I’m with you, I’ll be happy.” Hayden smiles over at me.
I lean over and kiss her. “Me too, baby.”
“Give me a break,” Harvey snaps. He throws his napkin on the table in disgust and storms from the room.
“You not going to eat this?” Valerie asks him.
“I just lost my appetite,” he calls. We hear him march up the hall, and the bedroom door slams.
Hayden exhales, and her mother sits still, seemingly in shock.
“I love him, Mom,” she whispers.
“I know.” Valerie smiles sadly.
“I just have to—”
Valerie cuts her off. “I know.”
The cat walks in and lies on the floor, all cute-like, as if purposely trying to distract us, and I roll my eyes.
Where were you ten minutes ago, stupid cat?
You’re fucking late, Bryan.
Two hours later we lie in bed watching television. Hayden is quiet and has hardly said two words since her dad stormed off.
My hand is on her hip as she lies on her side facing away from me.
“He’ll come around,” I say. “Once he gets to know me, I’m sure—”
She cuts me off. “I know.”