Robbery in Progress

Twenty-Eight

I pulled the reins on the horse to stop him. I was in such shock. How could John do something like this to me? I never thought he would do something like this. John stopped after turning his head back to notice I wasn't moving anymore.

"Jen?"

"John, why didn't you tell me this?"

"Honestly...I was worried you'd say no." I took a deep breath, afraid of what I was about to say. I didn't want to say anything I might regret later or that would truly hurt John, but there were no words to describe what I was feeling.

"I want to leave." I got off the horse, tying the reins loosely around a tree, and started walking off. John quickly jumped off his horse and did the same. He started running after me, jumping in front of me and putting his hand up to try to stop me. I shifted to each side, trying to get away from him.

"Jen, wait." I ignored him and kept walking. "Please Jen...come on. Let's talk about this."

"I don't have anything to say."

"I don't believe that for a second. Talk to me." I stopped and turned to him.

"John, this is so wrong. I can't believe you would go days without talking to me to plan something like this! When I was starting to be okay with it because you were bringing me here, you go and tell me that this is where your parents live?!?! What kind of person does that?" I was so mad. I could not control it anymore.

"I know I should have told you, but I thought since we were here and having a good time that you wouldn't mind so much." I rolled my eyes, meaning it this time.

"There's no excuse.... I'm going back to the barn." There was silence for a minute, then John started after me again.

"Jen, please. This means so much to me for you to meet my parents." He looked so sad. I wanted to apologize, but I wasn't wrong for not wanting him to hide something like this from me. "I'll do anything you want if you'll only agree to meet them."

"I don't know.... this is...meeting parents is just something I need to prepare for."

"Why would you need to prepare for it? They'll love you, Jen. I've been unhappy for so long and never could find the right person. As soon as my parents see us together and how happy you make me, they'll love you."

"I wish I could believe that...I don't even know anything about them, John."

"Then have a seat and let me tell you some things." He sat on the grass, me following behind. "My mom's name is Reta and my dad's name is Roger. My mom is an only child and my dad had a younger brother who died at childbirth along with his mom. They both enjoy being outdoors and hiking, just like me. That's why they have horses and a barn. What else do you want to know?"

"What do you think I should know?"

"I'm not sure." John paused. "They both like country music."

"Well, I'm glad. I don't listen to anything else."

"Well, look at that. I found something else out about you. My mom also likes movies, especially anything that has romance involved." I nodded. "Does this make you feel better?"

"Yeah, it does."

"I'm glad." We looked ahead at the view, not talking. I gently laid my head on his shoulder and we sat there for a while, but I wasn't complaining.

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Do you think you're up to meet my parents?"

"Would it be bad if I wanted to wait until tomorrow?"

"Oh, not at all. It's getting kind of late anyway. Let's get the horses back to the barn and we can go to a hotel to stay." We rode the horses back and put them inside the barn before John drove us to a nice hotel to spend the night.

A/N: Comment and let me know what you think of John and your predictions for Jen meeting his parents.