Page 38 of Rockstar's Accidental Marriage

He raises an eyebrow but doesn’t press. Instead, he motions toward the house. “Come on in. Supper’s on the table.”

The inside of the farmhouse is the same as always—worn but cozy, with the faint scent of woodsmoke lingering in the air. The kitchen is small but tidy, the table set with mismatched plates and glasses, and a steaming pot of stew sits in the center.

My dad quietly gets down another place setting for Emily. He then motions for all of us to sit down. The three of us settle into an easy silence as we eat. Emily tries to make conversation,asking about the farm and the animals, but my dad’s answers are short and to the point.

“It’s a lot of work,” he simply says when she asks how he manages it all on his own.

“That’s why I’ve been telling you to hire some help,” I chime in, my voice tinged with frustration.

Dad shakes his head, his expression resolute. “Don’t need help. Been doing this long enough to know how to get it done.”

“Yeah, but it’s too much for one person,” I argue. “You’re not as young as you used to be, Dad.”

His eyes narrow slightly, but there’s a faint glimmer of amusement in them. “Thanks for the reminder, son.”

Emily hides a smile behind her glass of water, and I shake my head, letting the subject drop.

After dinner, we sit on the porch, the cool evening air wrapping around us as the crickets sing in the distance. My dad leans back in his rocking chair, a mug of coffee in his hand, while Emily and I share the swing at the far end of the porch.

“So,” he says after a long stretch of silence, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “You said there was a lot to catch me up on.”

I glance at Emily, then take a deep breath and nod. “Yeah. There is.”

He turns his head slightly, one brow raised in silent question.

“Emily’s not just a girlfriend,” I say, my voice steady despite the importance of the moment. “She’s my wife.”

The words hang in the air, heavy with meaning, as my dad processes what I’ve just said.

“Your wife,” he repeats slowly, his tone neutral.

“Yeah,” I say, nodding. “We got married last year.”

His gaze shifts to Emily, his expression unreadable. “That true?”

“Yes,” she says softly, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. “It’s true.”

He studies her for a moment longer, then looks back at me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s... complicated,” I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. “But there’s more.”

His eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn’t interrupt.

“We’re having a baby,” I say, the words coming out in a rush. “You’re going to be a grandfather.”

This time, his reaction is immediate. His brows shoot up, his eyes widening in surprise.

“A baby?” he echoes, his voice gruffer now.

“Yes, sir,” I say, my lips curving into a small, proud smile.

He looks at Emily again, and for the first time, his stern expression softens. “Congratulations,” he says gruffly, his voice laced with something that almost sounds like pride.

“Thank you,” Emily says, her smile shy but genuine.

He nods, then leans back in his chair, his gaze shifting to the stars above. “Well,” he says after a long pause. “Guess I’ll have to fix that back gate before the kid starts running around.”

I laugh, the sound breaking through the tension like a release valve. “Guess so.”

---