Page 59 of The Story We Wrote

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, spitting with rage.

When my dad was really angry, he didn’t yell. He sat back with a calm composure while everything under the surface boiled. I didn’t see this side of him often. When I did, the old me used to cower away. Aspen today wasn’t going to back down.

Taking a deep breath and placing both my hands on the table, I said, “I played into whatever version of me you both wanted. When Parker wasn’t your puppet, I was. I never wanted to go to school. I want to be an author. I want a quaint life with a husband and children running around. In Faircloud, I have that chance.”

“What has gotten into you?” my mother spoke softly, almost appalled at my behavior.

Scoffing, I rolled my eyes. “For my entire life, I’ve let people choose for me. Now, I’m finally choosing for myself. I’m choosing Boone and a life here. I want you both to accept me and that choice. Please.”

My dad shook his head and stood up, done with the conversation. My mom was quick to follow.

“I won’t accept that. I want better for you. Not this damn town or these damn people.” My dad walked away, my mom gave me a sympathetic look before going after him. I sat in my chair, my shoulders slumping for the first time. The defeat was an understatement. I stuck up to my parents, knowing the outcome was going to suck, but expecting to feel good.

Instead, I felt like shit and had no idea what to say. Crying, I left my parents’ backyard through the gate in the fence. When I climbed into my car, the tears turned into a stream of sadness and frustration all at once.

I was pissed at my parents for not listening to me. I was livid at myself for letting my actions last this long. If I had just been honest about what I wanted, this blow-up would’ve been avoided, and my parents’ disappointment wouldn’t be so intense.

There was one place I knew I could visit: someone who understands my family and knows me.

My car tires whined as I drove down the street in silence. My mind was chaotic, even music wasn’t going to quiet these thoughts. I ran through every word in my head, finding new ways I was angry.

“The audacity!” I yelled at myself, groaning. Weren’t parents supposed to want their children to be happy? Instead, mine had an agenda they didn’t accomplish, and they were pushing it on me.

My car came to a screeching halt in front of the hardware store. I needed Parker, he understood our family and their fucked up mentality better than anyone.

Storming into the shop, I let the door slam behind me. “Park!” I yelled, stomping my way to the front counter. Parker stood behind the register, his eyes wide open staring at me. Today, his blonde hair was styled in a low bun, his muscles bulging from his t-shirt. “Our parents have lost it,” I groaned, flopping down on the counter.

“You’re just realizing this?” He muttered, tinkering with some kind of tool.

“Well, no. I just hit my breaking point.”

Parker continued working, not bringing his gaze up to meet mine, and said, “Tell me what happened.”

I let the floodgates open and spilled every detail, acting out what was said using different voices for each of us. I told him how I was dating Boone and I wanted them to find out from me before Marjorie could do it. Sharing every detail about theconversation, Parker took it all in, listening and analyzing. In that way, he was a lot like our dad.

“Then, I left and didn’t even go inside. I’m in shock at how they reacted. You’d think I joined the Army or killed the neighbor’s dog!” I yelled, throwing my hands in the air. To my parents, those things were on the same level.

“In their mind, you might as well have,” Parker sighed, looking up from his tinkering. “Look, I had fifteen years with them before you came along. I saw what staying in this town did to them. Neither one expected to stay in Faircloud, but when you have a baby at seventeen, plans change,” Parker confessed.

I honestly hadn’t thought about it that way. I didn’t know my parents young like that, to see them struggle and lose their dreams. That put things into perspective for me. However, it didn’t justify their reactions.

Huffing, I said, “I get that. I guess I’m also to blame because I should’ve put an end to this years ago.”

“You didn’t do that, so here we are. You’re facing the consequences,” Parker said, going back to his task.

“Gee, thanks.” I rolled my eyes. Laying my head down on the counter in defeat, I took a minute to breathe for the first time since leaving my parents’ house. Parker silently until I brought my head back up and looked at him.

“Please help me,” I muttered. I didn’t know what to do to fix this. I was afraid and could feel the avoidance building inside. Old Aspen would’ve just ignored everything and waited until they came to me, but I understood how toxic that could be. I needed to fix this, not please them. I needed to express myself in a more controlled way to convince them how serious I was.

“You really like Boone?” he asked, briefly looking towards me.

Laughing, I said, “Yeah, I do. I think I have for a while, but I’m facing it now. He makes me happy, like really happy. He brings out a side of me that I’ve never seen and it’s so good.”

Smiling to myself, I thought about Boone. How amazing he had been over the last couple of months. My heart thudded in my chest. I couldn’t picture my life without him, friends, or more. My parents were wrong about him; he was good for me, and I was good for him.

“If you’re happy, sis, I’m happy for you. Don’t let mom and dad change that. You’re old enough to make your own choices, and if you crash and burn, so be it.” Parker twisted his tool, a pop coming from whatever he was working on. “Yes!” He yelled, victorious. I couldn’t help but laugh.

Parker was right. My parents will get over it or calm down enough that we can sit down and talk about everything. I may have said some borderline cruel things and acted a bit out of character, but I stood up for myself in the end. Talking with my brother changed my perspective on why my parents acted the way they did. They missed out on a life they dreamed for themselves and wanted at least one of their children to live it. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have a baby so young and have to navigate parenthood before you can even legally vote.

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