things over, Kristin swallowed hard and whispered she’d like to leave.
“We can’t leave already, it’s early. We haven’t had dinner, and it’s Christmas.”
“I won’t have somebody talking to me that way,” she said, trying to keep the peace, and not go off on Ty for not jumping in sooner to save her from the tirade.
Ty’s mother was sweet and kind at first, but she nodded in agreement. “I’m an old fashioned girl, and can’t see just wasting a year like that, but you modern girls tend to make different choices.” She wasn’t rude, but it was obvious she didn’t approve of her decision.
Pulling Ty aside again, “I need to leave. I’m not comfortable, Ty.”
He looked at Kristin, “They don’t mean harm, it’s just their way.”
“I don’t care what their way is, it’s confrontational and abrasive. I don’t want to be here. Can you please take me home?”
Ty felt torn, not wanting to offend his parents, while seeing that Kristin was obviously upset.
“Ty, I want to leave.”
He nodded, and made an excuse. “Kristin’s not feeling well; we’re going to head out.”
“What? You haven’t had supper, and I’ve been cooking all day. She can go lie down in one of the back bedrooms.”
He didn’t want to speak the truth, so Kristin did, leaving Ty in an awkward spot.
“Thank you for your hospitality, but I’m honestly ready to leave. I’m feeling a bit taken back, even attacked. So, I apologize for our departure, but I really feel it’s best.”
They were stunned. “Attacked? You felt attacked? We were just talking, giving our thoughts on the matter,” his father interjected. “All you modern women need your say, need to…”
“Dad, enough! Give the girl a break. The least you could do is be nicer to her. She’s a guest in your home. This is the woman I love, and I won’t have you talking to her like that.”
His father stared at him, shaking his head. “Go on, then,” and walked away.
Driving home, Kristin stared out the window. She was glad Ty finally said something, but it felt a little too late. He sat quietly as his father threw his opinion at her, telling her what a fool she was, and…
A mule deer shot across the road, causing Ty to slam on his brakes. It snapped her out of her thought process.
“Close one,” Ty said, not saying much else.
“Why didn’t you step in and say something earlier?”
“I didn’t want to be disrespectful to my father, when I knew he wasn’t trying to be rude. It’s just his way. And yet I know you’re more sensitive.”
“I was hurt you didn’t stick up for me.”
“I’m so used to how they are, I don’t really think about it. I’m sorry your feelings were hurt. I should have been more aware.”
On dropping her off, he didn’t lean over to kiss her, and he didn’t come in. “I’ll call you later,” he said, and then pulled out of the driveway. Kristin stood, watching him leave. This wasn’t how she wanted to spend Christmas.
Going inside, she greeted Molly by letting her out, and then called her brother, finally getting through. The baby was due anytime, they saw Mom and Dad last night, and they missed her. He was hoping she’d be back for Christmas, but understood.
Kristin curled up on the sofa, her knees to her chest and thought about life. She’d finally moved forward, but didn’t know if this was the life she wanted. Ty made her feel complete, but she wasn’t in love with the area. Could she leave Ty to go back home, or would she stay here to be with him? She thought she’d decided, and thought Wyoming could be home – but without a job, without a home when her lease ran up, she had no idea where she’d be, or what she’d be doing.
She was crushed with questions that there were no answers to, and the unknowing weighed heavy on her.
When Ty called her the following day, reception was iffy. He said he’d drop by after work later in the week. She was fine with that. She needed time to think.
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