All I Want

9

I parked the car right in front of the front door, I left the keys inside since I knew Bruce was going to park it where it belonged. I got out, with the biggest smile on my face and I sprinted towards the door. I started to mumble the words to one of my favorite songs by Ed Sheeran and as I get inside of the house I heard laughter and familiar voices in the dining room. I paced to the room and to my surprise I encountered Conor and both my parents, having a blast of a conversation. I stood right in on the door frame, trying to process the entire situation. It didn't make sense at all that he was bonding with my parents if we were over. I furrowed my eyebrows, crossing my arms against my chest.

"Taylor, my love," Said my mother. "Please sit down with us." She demanded, pointing at my usual sitting spot. 

"Uh," I cleared my throat. "What's Conor doing here?" I was confused as hell. This day was going the way I wanted and seeing him, just made me stop feeling the bubbly feeling I was feeling a few minutes ago.

"He came to apologize to you. He told us you guys had an awful fight last night." I furrowed my eyebrows as she explained the situation. I glanced at my father. He was too focused on his bagel. I rolled my eyes.

"What fight? Mom," I scoffed, glancing back at her. "We broke up last night. It was a break up fight, not a temporary thing."

"I thought a few hours were going to be enough for you to calm down and think things through," Conor spoke, as he stood up from the table. "Can you please excuse me? I need to speak with my fiancée." 

"Go ahead." My mother said, before taking a sip of her orange juice. Conor grabbed my arm and lead the way toward the living room. 

"Stop, it's hurting." I said, letting go as we reached the destination. He was clutching onto my arm, really tight. Tight enough for it hurt. 

"I spoke to your mother and for the well being of your family, we should go on with the wedding." He stated, as if I had no say whatsoever. I furrowed my eyebrows, trying to process the words he said. 

"What are you talking about? I don't want to be with you anymore," I recalled. "I think I made that clear yesterday."

"Your dad might face some time in jail and of course, bankrupt." My eyes opened wide, shocked. I took a few seconds before speaking.

"Jail?" I asked, confused.

"I'm really not the one you should ask this to. So, it's really up to you," He scoffed. "Daddy goes to jail or a lifetime with the love your life." He went in for a kiss and as I kept my lips closed and still, I felt the pressure in the way he cupped my cheeks. His tongue made traces and it felt like the most disgusting thing I've ever experienced. He let go, I glared at him, furious.

"One thing, you are not the love of my life," I stated and turned away, but before I walked out of the room, I turned around once again, facing him. "I won't spend the rest of my life with you, I will fix this. I'm sure of it." At the moment I wasn't sure if I was reassuring him or myself. 

"Good luck with that," He said. "I'm sure your mother won't let you spend your days with some ass broke mechanic."

"Don't you get it Conor?" He looked at me, confused, waiting for what I was going to say next. His arms were crossed, pressed against his chest. "Yesterday, it was about that so called ass broke mechanic you're talking about, now it's about me. I won't let myself drown in misery for your whim. I'll end this. I promise you that."

"Good luck." He said under his breath. I stared at him one last time before walking away. I headed straight to the dining room. My parents were both reading the newspaper. I dared to interrupt their quiet moment. 

"Dad, can I talk to you. Please?" I asked, standing from the door frame, noticing the quick glance both my parents shared. 

"Taylor, darling, let your father enjoy his morning." My mother spoke, before taking a sip of her black coffee. 

"Mom, I'm asking him," I said, focusing on the 'him'. "Could you please for once stay out of something?" She looked at me, like I just said the biggest insult in her life and then she set her eyes on the newspaper. I rolled my eyes.

"Okay," My dad said, after the scene. "What's wrong?" He stood up from the table and as we walked to the door, I noticed Conor was still in the living room. He was pacing back and forth with his phone. I opened the door and let my dad go first, I shut it slightly behind me and took a deep breath as he put his hand on my shoulder. 

"Dad, I left Conor yesterday. We did fight, but it wasn't just a fight. It was a break up fight." I explained... again.

"Darling, couples break up and make up all the time. Your mother and I broke up six times before getting married." I took a deep breath. That was the most terrible example he chose. They weren't the perfect marriage, too many break ups is a sign. And your fiancé almost getting you killed is also a sign.

"I know that you know where I'm heading to. Conor said something about you going to jail and I don't want that for you and for this family, but I don't want to live unhappily for the rest of my life."

"Why did he say that to you?" He furrowed his eyebrows and I could easily notice how worried he felt in the moment. He took a deep breath. "It is true, I might go to jail." He confessed.

"But..." I licked my lips, trying to find the right words to ask. "Uh, why?" 

"I haven't payed taxes in such a long time. I lost count already, and well you know," He smiled awkwardly, using it as a cover. "Since Conor did an internship at the company, he knows what's up with everything," He cleared his throat. "You are the fourth soul to know about this. It can't get out of here."

"Dad, who am I going to tell that to?" I chuckled.

"Harold." He stated, no hesitation.

"Dad, come on-"

"Darling," He interrupted. "I know you like him a lot and you might feel at some point like you can trust him, but be careful. You don't know him that well and if you talk to him about family issues and everything goes wrong between you two, it can cause a war," He patted my hand with his, as I clutched his arm. "And we don't want that, do we?" I nodded, as we walked over to the grand garden. 

"Dad, I know I can trust you with this situation, right?" He nodded. "I don't want to marry Conor."

"Sweetheart, I love you, but you have to. I don't want to face jail time, even worse, I don't want you and your mother to go from having everything to nothing."

"Dad, I don't care about the money." He scoffed.

"Are you telling me the girl used to having everything in her life will get used to another life style?"

"I mean, yeah, it might be hard at first," I pressed my lips together. We reached a bench and we sat down. "But I can work and mom can too."

"Your mother, working?" He chuckled. "No, that's not going to happen. Let me handle it and we'll see what happens."

"And what am I supposed to do in the mean while?" I asked, concerned.

"Stay away from Harold. That is all." But I didn't want to. Not at all.