Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride

~

Thank God it was the weekend-no work,

-or maybe a whole week's worth at this point. It was su

ht with Mom over my decision to go to London. She

ime they try to bring up "the topic," I act like I've suddenly gon

akes my chest ache, and I feel the tears

t was already past noon whe

my voice still h

?" Dad's familiar voice f

. Good afte

reshen up and come down

xactly what this "talk" was about. "Can I take a r

eplied softly, but there was

in

listened to his footste

ling the load of the conversation pre

was Mom, sit-ting on our one worn-out sofa. Lisa and Lora were nowhere to be s

om, I stayed standing by the door

id calmly, like this was

back, stubborn as ever. My feet were

hat said I'm not in the mood t

nable, even when he disagreed. And no matter how ridiculous my ideas seemed, he'd always h

hed on the edge of the coffee table instead of the

voice calm but firm, "do you want to tell me what exactly happened between you and your mother

the floor, like that was more important than this conver-sation. "Well," I said,

ant to hear it from you-about the 'friend' that made you turn

and I don't know where you heard that from," I

ice a challenge, like he was

know I would never do something like

u mind explaining

er ahead. I laid it all out for him-Rachael, her job offer, and th

a picture of opportunity. Then I re-counted how Mom had exploded in anger for what felt like no rea

her eyes sparking with indignation, ready to fire back. B

bbing his temples like he was trying to ease a headac

began, clearly bris-t

urned back to me, his expression softening. "None of the sacrifices you've made for this family are a waste, and I believe your mother knows that too." He paused, his gaze

breath, willing them to understand. "London is a land of opportunity, where it doesn't matter where you come from as long as you work hard. In two years, Lisa and Lora will finish their scholarships and start prepping

res-taurant forever, or farming for that matter. Yesterday, I heard some company in town of-fering a lot of money to buy lands.

"That's why I need to take this chance. Even if t

o far ahead, while we, the parents, haven't." He let out a long sigh. "It's not t

I'd never do anything to jeop

, eyes fixed on the floor. "Honey!" he called ge

her, she pushed him aside

was defying her and even more so t

or our future as a family. She might not see it now, but one day, she'll understand-when

ion. It seemed I wasn't the only one who hated fighting.

ad. Give her some time

f. "So, does this mean... you're giving me your

amily. Every decision you've made has al-ways been for us, not just for yourself. I trus

so much, Papa. You don't know how happy I am to hear yo

do. I'll handle your mother. But don't forge

Dad.

he sofa. I should be happy that I got his bl

ff the thought. There was no time for that. I went back to m