Charged Connection

XII

XII. Tomorrow is the day

Third Person's Point of View

The night settled softly around the Knowles household, the lights in the dining room casting a warm glow as Jefferson helped Tina set the table. Beyoncé, however, was feeling anything but calm. She stood by the door, anxiously watching her father carry out plates, her hands wringing together as she wished for the hundredth time that Solange was there to back her up.

"Now where's your sister this time?" Tina murmured, smoothing the edge of the tablecloth. Beyoncé bit her lip, disappointed but determined. She had to do this on her own.

She took a deep breath and stepped into the dining room, pushing back the knot of nerves with a smile as she gathered her courage. Jefferson noticed her lingering by the table, raising an eyebrow.

"Everything alright, Bey?" he asked as he passed her the silverware.

"Oh, yeah," she replied, feeling her voice quiver slightly. "Just...just thinking how nice it would be to have Solange here for moral support."

Jefferson chuckled, glancing over at Tina with a playful grin. "Moral support, huh? What exactly are we talking about here?" he asked, clearly teasing.

Beyoncé took a steadying breath and felt the words slip out before she could second-guess herself. "I'm ready to have sex with Megan," she said, almost casually, grabbing a pitcher of water and strutting to the kitchen, leaving her parents frozen in shock.

There was a full beat of silence before Jefferson's face morphed from a casual smile to wide-eyed alarm. Tina, equally caught off-guard, blinked rapidly before a slow, surprised smile crept onto her face.

"Wait, hold up," Jefferson stammered, glancing helplessly at Tina. "Did she just...?"

Tina was already smiling, a glint of pride in her eyes. "Yes, she did. And Jefferson," she whispered as she squeezed his arm, "I'm just proud she felt comfortable enough to tell us."

"Proud?!" Jefferson sputtered under his breath. "I'm giving Megan a talk that'll have her scared to even think about my daughter!"

Beyoncé returned to the table with a pitcher of water, settling in as if she hadn't just upended their evening. As they began eating, Jefferson shook his head, already drafting his "speech" for Megan. Cutting into his food with extra emphasis, he muttered, "You're too young for this, Beyoncé."

Beyoncé looked up, unfazed. "Well, how old were y'all when you...you know?"

Jefferson froze, fork mid-air, his eyes darting to Tina, who gave him an amused look. The man could save a city but couldn't escape this question. The air in the room shifted. Beyoncé shifted uncomfortably, picking at her food as her father regained his composure, trying to explain in a way that didn't feel like prying.

Clearing his throat, Jefferson gave a small, hesitant nod. "Your mom and I, uh... we were really in love, Bey. Deeply in love."

Beyoncé tilted her head, a spark of curiosity lighting up her face. "So... were you each other's first?" she asked, innocently.

Caught off guard, Jefferson hesitated, clearly trying to pick his words carefully. "Uh...no. No, we weren't."

Beyoncé gave a small, surprised nod, absorbing this new insight. Tina leaned over with a gentle smile. "Sweetheart, we just want you to be with someone who respects and values you. You want to look back on this decision with no regrets."

Beyoncé shrugged, nodding. "Noted." She took a casual bite, then continued with surprising ease, "And anyway, tomorrow's the day. I'll be out in the afternoon and back by curfew."