Chapter 9

As I descended the stairs, I saw my parents and younger brother.

"Dad, Mom." I rushed over to hug them, feeling tears coming to my eyes.

Back when I announced my intention to marry Gary, my parents were against it.

The first dinner where both families met had ended badly.

Gary's mother made it clear she didn't approve of my background. She thought my family was too modest, too "country," and she had no interest in the homemade goods my parents had brought.

She never stopped criticizing them. She even suggested Gary's side wouldn't be contributing anything toward the wedding.

My parents didn't really care about the money- what upset them was the lack of respect.

To keep the peace, Gary and I pooled together sixty thousand dollars and handed it to my parents, pretending it came from his family as a show of goodwill. But my parents still refused to approve of the marriage.

I was in love. Gary and I drove to the county clerk's office and got married without telling anyone.

When my parents found out, they were devastated. They told me to leave and didn't speak to me for two years.

They didn't answer my calls. Any letters or packages I sent were returned without a word.

It wasn't until I mailed them a photo of Harley that things began to change. My brother told me they cried when they saw it.

After that, I sent a photo every week. Slowly, my parents softened. Eventually, they invited me and Harley to come back for the holidays.

They adored Harley. Every time we visited, they gave him gifts and sent us home with bags full of vegetables from their farm.

I knew they were really trying to help me.

But after Harley turned five, he started refusing to go.

When I asked why, he shrugged and said, "I hate the country."

I never told my parents. I was afraid it would break their hearts. When they asked, I just said Harley had after-school programs and couldn't make the trip.

My parents believed me. They even told me I was being too strict with him.

"Mom and Dad heard about the divorce. They insisted on coming to get you." My brother said softly beside me.

I pulled them into a tighter hug. "I'm sorry for making you worry."

"What's done is done. Let's go home." My parents patted my shoulder gently.