Page 13 of Bending The Rules

“It’s in the vicinity of shit that will make me put your ass out of my house.”

Imara smirked. “Oh, you don’t have to threaten me with a good time, Justin. I didn’t come here to be accused of… whatever slight you think I’ve committed by being incredibly fond of, and enjoying time with, your father. Your mother passed away almost five years ago. Your father has grieved, and when he and I met, he wastiredof grieving. And yes, I was glad to distract him from it. But our relationship isn’t based onthat. I love your father, and he loves me. Your father and I have both been married before, not to mention the fact that neither of us is getting younger. We are very clear on what we want, and what we want, is each other.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“I don’t want you to say anything, I want you to not interfere. You’ve been clear about where you stand, so I will too – I have every intention of spending the rest of my life with your father.”

Her glossy eyes and strained voice made me check myself. She really was upset about this, which I didn’t get. If she loved him, and was going to propose anyway – which, withmyfather? Hah. Good luck – why did it matter what I thought?

“You boys aresoimportant to him,” she continued, when I hadn’t responded. “And as such, you’re important to me. Jason and Joey have embraced me, and I just… I don’t understand why you and I haven’t been able to bridge that gap too. He feels guilty, you know? Not like he’s letting your mother down. He’s at peace about that, whether you believe me or not. But the three of you… You, Jason, Joey… but mostlyyou.He worries that you think he betrays her, by pursuing me. I make your father happy, Justin. And I know you see that too. I came here for your blessing, not becauseIneed it, for anything. Becausehedoes. Who are you to decide for him that he wasn’t ready, that it was too soon? To decide that he hadn’t been broken quite long enough? It seems to me that it’s not abouthimbeing ready at all. It’s aboutyounot being ready to see him with someone else. How selfish.”

I shook my head, letting out a dry laugh as I raised my hands. “You’re entitled to feel how you feel, Professor.”

She rolled her eyes, then turned to pick up her purse. “Do you mind if I say goodbye to Bri?”

“She would be disappointed if you didn’t.”

Imara nodded, then disappeared into my kitchen to talk to my little girl.

As soon as she was gone, I turned back to the window, running over the conversation in my mind. Her words had bothered me more than I let on, because… maybe there was some truth there. Had I gotten so used to my father being alone, and in mourning, that I was opposed to his new relationship out of resistance to change, instead of having a reason that was actually principled?

Nothing Imara said was off base. My brain couldn’t form any arguments against the relationship that weren’t founded on “I don’t think he’s ready” And as she’d said… who was I to decide?

I turned around at the sound of Imara’s heels on the floor as she headed to the front to leave. “Thank you for your time,” she called, not stopping as she moved to the door.

I sprang into action, heading to reach her. “Hold up, Professor,” I said, meeting her at the door. “Listen… I didn’t mean to upset you, okay? And honestly, I haven’t meant to make you feel as if you were disliked, either. You make my father happy, you’re good to my brothers, and you’re good to my baby girl. So… you’re good by me, alright?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Is this a peace treaty?”

“Were we at war?”

She smirked. “Only in my mind.”

I laughed. “Well… yes, I guess. This is a peace treaty. I don’t know that you’re going to like my father’s response to a proposal, but if you want to do it… fine. You have my blessing.”

Her eyes lit up. “Are you serious??”

“Yes.”

“Oh my goodness, you’ve just made my whole day!” she exclaimed, then grabbed my face, kissing me on both cheeks in a way that was distinctly…motherly. And I was very,veryshocked that I didn’t hate it.

Maybe her excitement was just contagious.

“Oh, I have so much to do to prepare,” she said, grinning up at me. “Now that it seems we’ve made a tiny step towards each other, could I maybe ask a favor?”

I chuckled, then blew out a sigh. “I… yeah, I guess. What’s up?”

She smiled a little bigger, eyes brimming with excitement.

“Do you think you could help me pick out a ring?”

Somehow, I ended up agreeing to that. Imara’s excitement was kind of infectious, and for the first time since I knew she existed, I pushed the worry about my father being “ready” aside. Hearing her talk about my father, expertly detailing his likes and dislikes to help make her decision, with this starry look in her eyes… I could see why he liked her.

We made plans to visit a store in the next few weeks, and I agreed to her promise not to say anything. Bri bounced up to me about five seconds after the door closed behind Imara, declaring that she was finished with her Lexia levels for the night. I set her up in the kitchen with the TV and a snack for her last thirty minutes before her bedtime routine started, then headed back to my office and sat down.

To stare at the screen.

There was no way I was getting anything done in thirty minutes. It would take me half of that to even clear my head and focus.

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