The Farmer's Daughter

Chapter 17

Chapter 17:

                The minute the screen door shut behind us, my parents came ‘round the corner, both having not too pleased looks. I gulped, and subconsciously stepped closer to Daniel; hoping he’d come and explain his thoughts and impress my parents when needed.

                Deciding that now would be a better time to begin explaining, before my parents begin to yell and not allow me to get a word in edge wise. “Now I know you guys are upset,” I began, my eyes wide, and my voice much stronger than what I really felt inside.

                “Damn right we’re upset!” my dad interrupted his face showing nothing but anger and a tad bit of disappointment. Oh, gosh, he said damn, this really isn’t good.

                “We should’ve told you the first night that it happened, and maybe Daniel should’ve asked if it was alright, but we didn’t think it was really necessary,” I quickly explained, my eyes basically begging my parents to understand.

                “Wait this has happened more than once?” my dad asked his voice growing tighter with each word.

                “Well, only with Daniel,” I told them, my voice starting to get a tad bit weary. “You guys know that Daniel is my first boyfriend.”

                I watched all at once, as my mom went from being disappointed and ready to ground me, to being filled with joy and as though she was about to burst. While at the same time, my dad unfolded his arms and clenched his fists while his face contradicted his stance, mere shock and maybe a little bit of happiness as well? Then there’s my brother, who I had no idea was even in the house, and his facial expression didn’t show anything but anger, and the way his fists kept folding and unfolding it looked as though he was trying to refrain himself from coming after Daniel and tackling him to the ground; and maybe most likely throwing in a few punches here and there.

                “I get the feeling that they weren’t talking about us,” Daniel mumbled beside me, his eyes never leaving my dad’s.

                “Daddy,” I said, trying my best to get him to calm down, and at least hear us out.

                He looked at me, and by the way his eyes softened just a teeny tiny bit, I knew that all he needed was an explanation. “Come with me darling,” he said, nodding his head toward the back porch. I nodded my head, and silently followed him. When we passed my brother, he immediately stepped behind me, like a body guard.

                The minute we stepped out on the porch, I watched as my dad looked out at the view, the sun shining high over our farm. My dad grew up in this town, and although I remember hearing my aunts and uncle telling me stories about how when my father was younger, he was determined to leave and never come back. But that changed when he realized that this place was home, along with my mom, she didn’t want to leave, and so he knew his heart belonged wherever she was. I know that sounds cheesy, but I find it extremely sweet.

                “You know when you were born, I promised myself that I’d do everything in my power to make sure that you were safe, and that no man would enter your life unless if I thought him worthy of your time,” my dad began, his back still turned to me. I must say, I’m a little shocked at his beginning words, my dad’s not one for being deep; he’s more of an easy going man; not much for sharing for what’s on his heart.

                “I had this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach that by hiring Daniel, it’d cause me to lose my daughter, but I really needed the help, what with your brother being married and having his own life, and you going off to college in the fall. I just hoped that nothing would happen, that you’d be, not naive, but innocent enough to know that whatever the feelings you have toward Daniel, is nothing but a mere crush, nothing to get serious about.” that’s when he turned around, and I saw tears glistening in his eyes, and I must say, it began to freak me out a little bit more. “How much do you like this man?” he asked.