Page 9 of Goodbye To Tomorrow

A deafening silence reverberated around the vast room, sending chills down my spine. I looked up at the high ceiling in exasperation.

I stood, and Gracen struggled to get to her feet on wobbly and shaky legs. I knew that my father’s words had thrown her off balance and she was struggling for composure. I assisted her to her feet and took her palms in my hands; they were cold and sweaty. I cursed silently as we walked towards the dining room.

"Don’t pay my father any mind, Gracen. It's going to be alright; he is not usually like this. I will speak to him as soon as this meal is over," I spoke softly into her ear so only she could hear as I tried to reassure her.

She looked up, sadly, into my eyes as we walked. I could see her anger and disappointment lurking in their depths. I hoped to God that she could see the sincerity in my eyes and understood that I wouldn’t put up with my father treating her in the way that he did. I felt unspeakable sadness as I saw the deeply etched look on Gracen’s face.

We ate in utter silence. For most of the meal, mother tried to crack some jokes but none of us were in the mood. The expression on Gracen’s face said a thousand words.

Gracen and I left at exactly noon. The rest of our visit was fairly brightened up by my mom's efforts; she had tried her motherly best to cheer up my fiancée and she had managed to pull a few strings.

We shared a warm hug with my mother before Gracen and I bade the family goodbye.

I led her through the garage in silence. The consecutive slamming sounds of both doors as each of us got into my vehicle brought an immediate end to the hush.

"Your father doesn't like me!" Gracen finally said with soberness lacing every word.

I turned to look at Gracen; her expression said it all. She was distraught.

“Don’t say that, he likes you. That’s just his way of expressing himself," I attempted to console her.

"He doesn't like me and it's because I am a model."

"I am sure he didn’t mean it that way. Don't worry I will fix the situation, I promise."

It was evident that father did not like Gracen, simply because she was a model. He had not held back his distaste. Our journey back to Gracen's place was, for the most part, heavily cloaked in awkwardness. I could read Gracen's thoughts all through the trip by the expression on her face.

As I parked my SUV in front of her house and the engine noise died down, there was a long meditative pause. Gracen finally spoke.

"So, what are we going to do now that it’s obvious your old man doesn't like me?"

"Stop saying that," I repeated, trying to persuade her when, in actual fact, both of us knew the truth. "It’s all going to turn out well.

"Well, if you say so," Gracen sighed.

"For what it’s worth, my mother likes you a lot," I stated, trying to ease the tension in the air. "And I like you too. In fact, I love you. Which makes it two against one and I am pretty sure Rose the cook likes you and Lucy does, too," I added with a smile.

"Really, Jiraiya?" She asked

"What? I was just kidding,” I feigned ignorance. Hurt by my words, she moved to leave but I swiftly pulled her back, holding on to her waist. The gear system between us was the only things preventing me from swooping her into my arms.

"Listen to me, Darling. It's all going to be okay. I promise you. There isn’t anything in the universe which could tear us apart.”

Gracen slowly looked into my eyes; I hoped my eyes emitted genuineness. I really meant what I had just said.

"I hope so," she let out in a small voice.

I pulled her closer into my arms as the faint smell of her perfume wafted into my nostrils. I wanted to make love to her right then and there until my senses were numb. I convinced myself that I would stand up to my father and fight for our love.

I pulled away to stare deeply into her sky-blue eyes, breathing in slowly as I took in the freshness of her scent, before planting a soft kiss on her lips.

Gracen responded. She suddenly became unresisting as she trembled in my grasp. I could feel the quaking of her body; the fear of the uncertainty that suddenly lurked in our future.

I broke the kiss and drew slightly away from her lips as I whispered again, “I love you, my darling.” Her eyes were still tightly closed, and I soothed her with more placating words. "It's going to be okay, Babe. It's all going to be fine."

My lips latched onto hers again and resumed the warm, passionate kiss. I became oblivious to every other thought; the only thought on my mind was to make her my wife, soon.

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