A Starling's Awakening

The Last Goodbye

I hadn't seen my parents since getting engaged. I joined them for dinner at seven o'clock, Thursday evening. Mom spotted my ring.

"Elise, what is that on your finger?"

"An engagement ring."

"Oh? Who proposed?"

"Bret Whitaker."

"That grubber boy you've been running around with?"

"That's him."

Dad insisted, "Elise, you will call him up and break it off. You will never speak to him again."

"Dad, he's the only guy who has ever respected me. He loves me for who I am. He doesn't care a whit about status."

"Elise, we are the most important family in our society. Hell, in the whole country. Much of the developed world would collapse without us. Your grubber fling will never be a member of our society, and if you continue on with him, you won't be either." I became defensive.

"I have a man who respects me. I've been welcomed into a family who loves me. I have real friends who will not stab me in the back to better their status." I raised my voice. "They may lack material wealth, but I am far richer with them than I ever was with you!" Dad's response was ice cold.

"Elise, pack your belongings, and get out. You have until tomorrow morning. You will never get another penny out of us. Is that clear?"

I went to my room, packed some clothes, grabbed my stuffed cheetah, and headed out the door. I left the credit cards, which my dad had given me, on the vanity. At least I'd been smart enough to buy my own car. Otherwise, I would have been walking.

When I arrived at Bret's, it was a few minutes after ten o'clock. The house was dark. I wasn't sure what to do, so I sat there in my car. After a minute, the living room light came on, followed by the porch light, and the front door opened. It was Raina. As I was getting out of my car, she ran out into the cold, rainy darkness. She grabbed my hand, and pulled me into the house.

"Elise, are you okay? Why are you here this late?"

"My parents kicked me out."

Raina went down the hall. She woke her parents, and Bret. They joined me moments later. They all looked concerned. Bret held me.

"Babe, what are you doing here this late?"

"My parents found out about our engagement."

At that moment the reality of the situation hit me. I knew I would never see my parents again. I knew there was no chance of restoring my relationship with them. Bret walked me to the sofa, and sat me on his lap. He wrapped his arms around me.

I continued, "They saw my ring at dinner tonight. When they asked about it, I told them. I was hoping they'd be happy for me, but all they could think about was their status. How I had embarrassed them by accepting your proposal. They told me I had until tomorrow morning to get out. I packed what I could and came here."

Barney offered, "I'll bring your stuff in from your car."

Raina requested, "Put her stuff in my room." She turned to me. "I will share my room with my sister."

Bret added, "In-law." I ended up sleeping that night on Bret's lap. Barney and Ruby asked to speak with Raina in her room.