Reality Ever After (4 page)

Crew shook his head. “I love her.”

“If you loved her, you wouldn’t have taken advantage of her!”

Crew swallowed hard and studied the knick-knacks. He’d told Sydney several times how badly he felt that he didn’t have the self-control to wait until they were married—not that she wasn’t a willing party.

“Now, I am through with this discussion.” Her dad glared at Crew. “Young man, I expect you will keep this secret to your grave. I plan on never seeing you near my daughter again.”

Crew jumped to his feet. Sydney stood by his side. This was all going horribly wrong and she had to stop it.

“You cannot order me to put our baby up for adoption,” she said. “Crew and I are going to be married and
that
is the end of this discussion. You can either give us your permission and attend the ceremony or we will do it on our own. I am fine either way!”

Caroline gasped. Her dad looked stunned. Shocked silence covered the room like a scratchy, wool camping blanket.

Sydney stared directly at her father.

Her dad clung to the arm of his chair and settled into the upholstered seat like an elderly man sinking into his wheelchair.

Crew gave her an admiring glance. He took her hand and they both stepped back, perching themselves on the edge of the loveseat to await her dad’s next words.

A charged silence ensued. Her dad stared at them. Caroline sobbed. She kept muttering, “How could she do this to me?”

“Sir,” Crew began. “I love your daughter. I will provide for her. I plan on being a pediatrician.”

Her dad wiped a hand over his face. He looked like a man beaten down and Sydney felt horrible. As much as he’d always loved her, she would think he’d understand that she already loved this baby and wouldn’t just give him up for adoption and move on with her life.

“How are you going to accomplish that?” her dad muttered.

“My associate’s degree is complete because of AP courses I’ve taken in high school. The University of Utah offered me a full-ride scholarship with a housing stipend. The money I’ve saved for school can provide for food, medical bills, and anything extra we might need. I’ve secured us an apartment, and can continue working on the farm and putting money away until school begins.”

Her dad’s dark eyes seemed to reveal a tinge of respect. “How will you get through medical school?”

“The counselor at the U says if my grades stay as high as they are and if I get accepted at the U for medical, I can get scholarships and financial aid. I may have to get in some debt, but I’m hoping to keep working and avoid that.”

“I want Sydney to finish her schooling. You know how gifted she is.”

Crew glanced at Sydney. “If that’s what she wants, we’ll make it happen.”

Her dad nodded. Had they triumphed? Would he allow them to marry? Sydney squeezed Crew’s hand. He smiled quickly at her then focused on her dad again.

Her dad’s sigh of despair was audible, yet he appeared resigned to his fate. His daughter was being ripped from his grasp, but Sydney was serious and he knew it. They would marry on their own if he didn’t give his blessing.

“You won’t have to get a part-time job,” her dad instructed. “I will give you two thousand dollars a month to help you make ends meet.”

Crew’s grip on her hand tightened.

“What are you saying? You are not backing down. I won’t allow it.” Caroline eyed her husband like he was a traitor.

“What would you like me to do, Caroline? If I don’t back down our daughter and her baby will be lost to us.”

“I don’t care!” Caroline shook her head from side to side, tears flinging from her eyelids. “I don’t care. How could she do this to us? How can you allow it? What will people think? What have I raised?”

“Calm down, sweetie.” He reached for her hand. “Sydney is more important than what people think. You do care. You’re just upset right now. You’re okay. Calm down.”

“I will not calm down!” Caroline withdrew from his touch, turning her anger on him. “Sydney has betrayed everything we’ve taught her, everything we’ve done for her.”

“Honey, she made a mistake,” her dad said. “They’re trying to make it right.”

“You’re siding with her like you always do! Your baby girl. You always let her get away with murder. Well this time she’s gone too far the little—”

“Enough!” he bellowed. “They made a mistake, Caroline. Stop talking before you say something you’re going to regret.”

“Something I’ll regret, more like something you’ll regret.”

Sydney’s dad gave her mom the look that usually stopped any further comments. She turned from him with a humph, folding her arms across her chest.

He swung his gaze back to Crew. “As I was saying, I will give you two thousand dollars per month, or as much as you need, until you graduate from medical school and Sydney graduates from college.”

“No, sir, you will not.” Crew shook his head.

Sydney sucked in a breath. Crew was independent and hard-working, but right now her dad might not appreciate those qualities.

“Why not?”

“Sir, we need to make it on our own. I hope you can respect that.”

“A loan?” Her dad tried again. “You could repay me after you graduate.”

“I appreciate the offer sir, but...” Crew hesitated.

Sydney wondered if he could feel her father’s pain at losing his daughter. The anguish sat so heavy in the room, she could reach out and touch it. Turning her dad down now would be another smack in the back of the head. Crew glanced at Sydney. She begged him with her eyes to accept something.

“If we need some help,” Crew struggled with the sentence. “We’ll...we’ll let you know.” He flinched as he said the words.

“Okay,” her dad conceded, appearing to appreciate how much that sentence cost Crew. “What about Sydney’s schooling?”

It was as if they were negotiating a peace contract between two feuding nations.

“Well,” Crew squirmed, “that may be a little hard, but we’ll find a way to get her through. I know how talented she is.”

Sydney smiled at him. He was so good to her and she knew he would help her achieve any goals she set.

“I will pay for her schooling,” her dad said.

Crew studied him for a second before finally muttering, “Okay.”

“Okay. Why don’t we work out the rest of the details when we’ve all had a little more time to let this news sink in.”

Crew nodded.

Her dad stood, signaling an end to the meeting. They all rose with him. Crew reached out to shake hands again. The past twenty minutes had revolutionized all of their lives. For better or worse would be determined by Crew and Sydney’s future actions.

“How soon do you want to be married?” her dad asked.

“July first.” Crew stood straight as if preparing for the onslaught.

“That’s barely a month!” Caroline shrieked. “Do you have any idea how hard it will be to pull a wedding together in a month?”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Richland,” Crew said.

“July first.” Her dad nodded.

Sydney blushed when her dad glanced at her. He had to know how far along she was.

Caroline pressed a hand to her mouth.

Sydney reached over to hug her shaking mother. Caroline stiffened. “It’ll be okay, Mom.”

“No, it won’t.” The voice came from Antarctica. “Don’t kid yourself, Sydney, you’ve made the biggest ‘mistake’ of your life. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a wedding to plan.”

Caroline’s shoulders drooped and a sob shook her frame as she trudged wearily from the room. Her exit was completely opposite her entrance.

“I’ll help,” Sydney said to her mom’s back.

“You’ve helped enough.” She waved a hand in Sydney’s direction, not looking back.

Sydney hung her head, fighting back the tears. She was an adult now. Her mom’s rejection shouldn’t matter anymore. She turned to Crew, but it was her dad who hugged her to him.

“She’ll be okay, baby. You’ve got to give her some time. I’ll take care of her.” He rested his chin on the top of her head. “You’ll have to give us both some time. This wasn’t what we planned for you, little girl.”

“I know Daddy, I know. Will you ever forgive us?”

The tears streamed down her cheeks. Crew wiped them away and she gave him a grateful smile.

Her dad looked up, startled, he must have forgotten Crew was part of this equation.

“Us? That will take some getting used to.” He shook his head. “Of course I’ll forgive you, but it’s not me you have to ask forgiveness from. That’s a matter the two of you will need to take to the Lord.”

Crew nodded his agreement. “We have, sir.”

“Good.” Her dad’s swiveled his gaze to Crew. “Can I trust you with my daughter? You won’t be married for another four weeks.” His implication hung in the air.

“Yes, sir, I know.”

Crew bravely met her dad’s gaze. Sydney wondered if he was remembering that incredible night. She had such mixed feelings of guilt and pleasure when she thought about it.

“Don’t worry, Daddy,” Sydney interjected, “I’m so sick I can barely kiss him, let alone do anything else.”

He tried to hide a smile. “That was neither tasteful nor appropriate, Sydney.”

“No, but it still got you to smile. A few minutes ago I thought you’d never smile again.”

“Never’s a long time, baby.” He ran a hand over her hair, his eyes full of sadness. “I feel like I’m losing my little girl.”

“Oh, Daddy.” More tears spilled.

“I’m okay.” Her dad dashed his own tears away. “I’ll go see if I can help your mother come to terms with...all of this.”

Crew stepped forward to grasp his hand again. “Sir.”

“Enough of the sir garbage, call me... um, well, Thomas will suffice.”

“Thomas,” Crew repeated.

Her dad walked from the room. Sydney pivoted toward Crew, ecstatic despite the awful confrontation. It had turned out as well as could be expected. Her mom was wrong; she knew exactly how huge her mistake was. But her love for Crew and her desire to be a good mother to her child would carry her through the terrifying times.

“I’m gonna marry you.” Sydney smiled into the chiseled face of the man she loved.

Crew lifted her off the oak floor. Swinging her around several times, he lightly brushed her lips with his own.

“Yes you are, and we don’t even have to go to Vegas.”

“What a bummer.” She shook her head. “Leave it to my parents to ruin a good trip.”

Crew smirked, but didn’t reply. He dropped down to one knee, carefully withdrawing a small box from his pocket.

“Sydney Richland. Will you be my wife?”

Popping the lid open, he revealed an exquisite gold and diamond ring. The light falling from the chandelier danced off the glittery diamonds highlighting the huge center stone.

“Oh, Crew,” Sydney covered her mouth in surprise. “How did you? Where did you? You can’t afford this.”

Crew’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “It was my grandma’s.”

“It’s beautiful.” Sydney was awestruck. “But what is your grandma wearing?”

Crew chuckled. “She stopped wearing it a few years after Grandpa died. She gave it to me with her blessing. She said and I quote, ‘It will look a heap better on that pretty young thang’s finger than on mine.’”

“I
love
your grandma.”

“I’m still waiting for an answer,” Crew reminded her.

“Oh,” Sydney laughed, pulling him to his feet, “Of course I’ll marry you.” They kissed briefly and then Crew slid the ring onto its proper spot.

“A perfect fit,” Sydney breathed in awe.

“I told you we were meant to be,” Crew smiled at her.

Sydney gazed into his midnight blue eyes. She traced a finger up his strong jaw and through his dark, wavy hair. She could feel the tremor her touch initiated.

“Don’t do that,” Crew begged. “I told your dad we were going to be good. Remember? Forsake our sins?”

“I’m just trying to teach you self-control.”

“Well, keep your lessons to yourself,” Crew growled, pulling her close and capturing her mouth.

A few delicious seconds later, Sydney wrenched herself from Crew’s strong arms. She tasted the bile before it escaped.

“I’ll be right back,” she managed through her fingertips, fleeing to the fancy bathroom off the entry.

Returning a few moments later was embarrassing as usual.

“I guess the little one wants to keep his parents pure,” Sydney said. She patted her still flat stomach, wondering when she would start to show.

“Good boy,” Crew reached down, gently touching her abdomen. “Your daddy needs all the help he can get, little buddy. If your momma wasn’t so dang pretty, maybe I could control myself.”

“Don’t blame it on me,” Sydney laughed. “I think you were a willing party to this child’s conception.”

“Too willing,” Crew shook his head. “I’d better go.” He pulled her in close. “Sick or not, I can’t keep my hands off you. The next month is going to be the longest of my life.”