Page 92 of Bending Under Pressure

“Yes.”

“Hales, can your mom talk to my dad and let him know they’re okay with it?”

“Yeah, hold on.”

I wait with a baited breath as they talk and approve. “Thanks.” I take my phone back and run upstairs. “I’m almost ready, and then I’ll be there to pick you up.”

“Okay,” she says quietly.

“Nervous?”

“Yes, but we’ll have two hours to talk about it on the way there. Don’t be late, Keelan.”

“I won’t,” I promise. Once I hang up, I change into my black slacks, white dress shirt, and pink tie, which is supposed to match Haley’s dress. I grab my dress coat last. November has brought cold, windy weather and I’ll probably need it. Now I’m ready to get

my girl.

A short drive and three knocks later, Haley opens the door. Her light pink dress falls to the floor. The three-quarter sleeves are sheer lace and the lace covers her shoulders as well. Somehow, it’s simple, casual, and dressy all at once. Her blonde hair is set in curls, framing her face.

“You’re beautiful,” I finally say.

She smiles widely. “Thank you. You look handsome yourself. Let me say goodbye and I’ll be ready.” She rushes down the hall, but returns moments later. She grabs her phone and then my hand, tugging me to my car. Haley starts talking the moment we’re in the car as she sets up the GPS. “I don’t know if we should go. We could skip, go somewhere else, and make up for the past month.”

I laugh. “No way. I’m not doing anything so soon to make my parents mistrust me. Besides, you’re just nervous.” I reach over, squeeze her hand, and then move it back to the gearshift. “It’ll be fine, Hales.”

“I’m trying to be positive, but I have a bad feeling about it. He hasn’t even called me this week, Keelan. And what’s going to happen when I get there? Where do I sit? Up front with the family or in the rows afterward? Do I try to find him or wait until the reception? I don’t know what to do!”

“Put your hand over mine.”

“What?”

“Do it.” She does. “Calm down,” I gently order her. “It’s a simple wedding. Forget it’s your father’s. Instead, we’re going to a wedding, and I’m your date. We have two hours there and two hours back all to ourselves. Maybe even more than that because who knows what’ll happen at the reception or how long it’ll last. We are going to have fun at the very least, I promise.”

Haley is quiet for a bit before she nods. “Okay.”

Her relative silence the rest of the drive proves she doesn’t quite believe me. That’s okay. I’m skeptical as well, but I can’t tell her that. It’ll probably freak her out even more.

The wedding is being held in a large church. There are tons of vehicles in the parking lot, but we’re able to find a space. Haley’s eyes are glued to the large wooden doors where people are walking inside. I turn off my car, waiting until she makes a move.

“Did you know that I only said I would come because I knew it would make him happy?” she says quietly, never looking away from the doors.

“No, I didn’t know that.”

“I thought it would help things. But then he forgot me again and barely talks to me. I don’t even know why I’m here.”

“Because he’s your dad and you wanted to give him another chance,” I answer.

“Well, this is his last chance.” She opens the door and steps out, so I follow. Haley grasps my hand when we meet at the front of my car; she is shivering.

“Where’s your coat?”

Her smile shows her embarrassment. “I guess I forgot it.”

I shrug out of mine and hang it over her shoulders before we continue on our way.

We’re a little early, which is normally a good thing, but all it’s doing is making me more anxious. Most of the people are milling around in the lobby until it’s time to be seated, I guess. Since I haven’t spoken to Dad, I don’t know if he’s in here as well or somewhere else. I assume somewhere else. I search the sea of people for someone familiar. There’s no time before the large wooden doors of the sanctuary open. Ushers seemingly appear out of nowhere to lead people to their seats.

Keelan and I are led to seats, answering my question that I won’t be in the front with family. That is until my grandparents spot me. My dad isn’t close to them and therefore I’m not either. However, it is apparently unacceptable for me to keep my current seat. So, Keelan and I have to move to where two seats were reserved for us. I drop my cell into Keelan’s coat pocket since I don’t have any and return it to him now that we’re inside and I’m warm. He shrugs it back on.

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