Brides To Be

We Are Engaged

The kids were playing in Emma's old tree house, the adults were all talking and laughing, and the young adults with them. But Emma and Natalie were silent. Finally, Emma's older sister, Kate, noticed something was up.
"Emma? Natalie? What's wrong? You two haven't made a peep or even taken a bite and that is so not like you. Especially, you, Emma Jane." Kate asked. Everyone nodded in agreement and looked to the girls for an answer. They remained silent, staring at the ground.
"Natalie, honey, is everything okay?" Asked Nat's mom. Natalie stood up and grabbed Emma's hand, making her stand up to.
"We have something to say..." Nat said, her voice shaking.
"Well, spit it out."
Natalie didn't know how to word it. Suddenly, she was too nervous to talk. She had to bite her lip to stop from bursting into tears. She squeezed EJ's hand.
"Everyone,......... we are engaged....." Emma Jane finally said. Everyone smiled and clapped.
"Oh, dear, that's wonderful. Who are the two lucky gentlemen?" Mrs. H asked. The girl's hands got clammy.
"Well,........ there is no man......" Natalie said. "We are engaged..... to each other......" The entire family went silent and stared at the two girls. What had they done?! Their families must hate them now!
No one spoke, the only sound to be heard was the kids playing in the distance. The silence seemed to last forever. Kate was the first to speak.
"That is......." Kate sighed "I'm happy for you two. Congratulations." She got up and gave the two a much needed hug. Emma Jane seemed to take a deep breath which she didn't know she was holding. Emma Jane and Kate's dad stood up looking furious.
"Your congratulating them?! Kate, can't you see? Your sister is a lesbian!"
"And? Dad, your daughter is in love. Why can't you celebrate that?"
"How can you call it love? Love is when a man has feelings for a woman. Not this!" He said as he gestured towards Emma Jane and Natalie. Emma started to cry. Nat hugged her and glared at Mr. H.
"Emma, honey, you are just confused. You are mixing up friendship love with romantic love. This, this isn't right." Emma's mother said. Natalie's Mother was the next to speak.
"I agree, Nat, you don't know what romantic love is. You have never had a relationship. For all I know you are still a virgin."
"No, mom. I'm not. And I have been in a relationship. For the passed six years. With EJ." Natalie said firmly. "And if you don't think that this is love then you don't love us."
"Natalie, don't be silly, of course we love you. We just don't think you understand what romantic love is." Said her father. Emma Jane had enough. She squeezed Nat's hand and pulled her through the house and into the front yard. She didn't speak or look back until they reached her car. She sat on the hood and burst into tears. She knew this would happen.