Page 18 of Wrong Number, Right Silver Fox
As they angrily exchange words, I start to get a chill. What if my father never accepts Jack as the true love of my life? What am I going to do then? The words come to me finally, but I'm scared my father will pitch a fit.
"Daddy, I love him."
"You don't know what love is, Emily. You're still too young to understand something as deep and profound as true love."
"That's not true, Daddy."
"Will you choose him over me, Em?"
"That's not a thing! I'm not going to choose between the love of my life and my father. That's ridiculous."
"I think you are going to have to, Emily."
"Don't ask her to do that, Michael. Just give me a few minutes. Let's sit down and talk about this. Your daughter is an amazing woman. She's changed my life in the short time we've known one another."
I tense at Jack's words. My dad does not need to know that we've only known each other for three weeks, and Jack seems to gather as much when he feels how my shoulders have bunched up.
"Exactly how short a time has it been?" My father demands.
"That's not important, Daddy."
"It is when you're both spewing words of love."
"We're moving in together."
"The hell you are. Young lady, you will do no such thing. As a matter of fact, I want you to go pack your bags and move back home right now."
"Michael, you're being unreasonable. You're letting your heart speak for you."
"This is my daughter, Jack, and you used to be my friend. Can't you see she's too young to know her own mind?"
"Dad!"
"What? Your immature actions and decisions are telling me all I need to know. Go and get your stuff, Emily. I want you back here within the hour."
Tears are streaming down my face, and I can't believe he’s making me move back home. I'm not a child, but I do understand parts of it. It was a shock for him to find someone his own age dating his daughter, and it was completely normal for him to be against it.
I don't know what to do, so to make time for myself, I decide to pack a bag and maybe stay a few days with my parents. Maybe I can chip away at my father’s stance on our relationship while I'm here. I turn around and see Jack's concerned face.
"Take me home, Jack."
He puts his keys in my hand and closes my fingers around them.
"Do what you have to do. I have to talk to your father."
Chapter 10
Jack
Of all the people to be Emily's father, it had to be my childhood friend, Michael Wilson. I never even thought to ask Emily for her father's name. Would I have recognized it? What would it have changed, though? He's furious right now and with good reason.
After I give Emily the keys to my car, she hesitates. Her face is a mess, with tears running down her cheeks, but she's still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I nod to her, and she begins to take a few steps toward the house.
Michael is eyeing our interaction with a frown on his face. He's old now, and I guess so am I. If I had a daughter, would I be asincensed as he is with me right now? I look at him and suspect he wants to beat the shit out of me.
"Can we talk?"
"I don't want to talk, you fucking cradle robber."
