Page 7 of Brix

“Maybe. But you would have known when you met my parents, and I guess that was weighing heavily on my mind. It doesn’t matter now. I know that was my insecurity showing through. It had nothing to do with you.” She hugged him, laying her head against his chest. He felt so wonderful. So safe, so warm. She felt at home.

“What do we do about my parents, Brix? They’re going to be demanding grandchildren if we get married.”

“We’ll worry about that later. I can handle them. If they don’t allow us to live our lives, we might have some tough decisions to make. All I want to be certain of is your happiness. You and me, Daph. That’s all that matters.”

“I love you, Brix.”

“Love you more, Daph.”

When they reached the grove, the others were preparing for a nice lunch outside. They all applauded as Daphne walked up, looking better than ever. They knew where she’d come from, and they knew why she looked so good.

“Well?” smirked his father.

“We want to get married,” smiled Daphne. “I hope you’ll give your blessing.”

“Honey, Hazel and I couldn’t be happier. You are the woman that my son has chosen. End of story for us. You showed your courage and grit by helping Elena and the others. You’re going to fit right in here.”

Daphne reached up to hug Tiger, and he laughed, giving her a fatherly squeeze. She seemed so small compared to his Hazel.

“Thank you. Thank you for making me feel so welcome,” she sniffed.

“Sweetie, you are going to be my son’s wife. You will always be welcome. Him? Sometimes not,” he smirked.

She laughed, shaking her head at his sense of humor. They all did it. They all used humor to lighten a situation. Her mother saw humor as something that should only be used on stage. By someone else’s children.

“Feel better?” asked Brix with a big smile.

“Yes. But now I have to call my parents.”

“WE. We will call your parents, honey. You will never have to face them alone again.”

“Daphne, this is unacceptable! An American. An American ex-military man. It’s horrid. He’s probably killed innocent people and done despicable things. You know how they are. They all have PTSD. He probably wants your money,” said her mother, staring into the screen.

“Ma’am, you can insult me all you like, but you won’t insult my integrity, my time in service, or the decisions of my future wife. I don’t need your daughter’s money. She can keep it in an account all on her own, in her name. I won’t lay a finger on it. I might be a retired military officer, Special Forces if you give a damn, but my family owns multiple businesses. I don’t need your daughter’s money.”

“I see,” said her mother, chewing her bottom lip.

If Brix expected an apology, he wasn’t going to get one from the Lady Bishop. He could see the wheels turning in her tiny little head on how she was going to keep making her point.

“Daphne, will you really have enough to live on there?” asked her father. “I just want to be sure that you’re always secure and able to live on your own if needed.”

“What are you saying?” spat her mother.

“I’m saying that if she is in love, happy, and this man is as good as she says he is, doesn’t she deserve a chance to be happy? Doesn’t she deserve to make her own family?”

“Thank you, Father,” she smiled.

“We’ve pushed this on your shoulders for too long, Daphne. I’m sorry we did that. After what happened, well, we shouldn’t have done this. I’m sorry, and I’m ashamed of myself.”

“I appreciate you saying that, sir. I love your daughter very much, and I can promise you that I will do everything in my power to make her happy and keep her safe.”

“Will you come for the wedding?” she asked her parents.

“You won’t get married here?” frowned her mother.

“I’d rather not, Mother. Other than you and father, I don’t have anyone there that I would want to attend my wedding. Elena is here, my closest friend. Brix’s family has become like my own. I’d prefer to be here. I just don’t want to relive what happened to me over and over again any longer. I’m not sure that England is my home any longer. Will you come?”

“I need to think about it, Daphne. People will talk about how quickly you’re marrying this man.”

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