There was a long, and tensioned filled silence. I could hear my heart beating fast, and I squirmed a bit. Tina tugged on my hand and I sighed. I guess I needed to say something, but what? What can I say to get these people to understand what their daughter’s just admitted? This was more intense than telling my father. I cleared my throat.

"I know this may come as a shock to you, but," I started to say when her father interrupted.

"Don’t try to justify yourself, you come into my house and lie to me."

"I never lied sir," I replied my answer shakey, and my defenses faultering.

"Friends," he spat, "some friend Christina."

"Daddy."

"What about Eric? I thought you were happy," he said.

"I was never happy with him."

"This is just great," he said and got up and walked in the house. My heart beating like a drum.

"He’ll come around, just give him some time to let the news sink in," her mother said and held her hand, "Bette, you have your work cut out for you."

"Apparently so," I said and sighed, she smiled and walked inside the house.

I sighed and looked at Tina, her eyes glossing over. I held her and the tears broke free and a small cry escaped her lips. She cried into my shoulder, and I kissed her and tried to make her feel better. Eventually, she stopped and we decided to head to bed. I picked Jackson up off the floor and carried him up the stairs and put him to bed. We went to what used to be her room, showered and dressed for bed. I spooned her and cooed her to sleep, praying tomorrow would bring a better day.

We woke with the sun, I could smell breakfast cooking and the coffee brewing. In the distance I could hear the sound of a mower. I smiled as I’ve never woken up like this, the country surrounding us. I kissed my princess until she woke and we got up and got ready for our day. Jackson was already downstairs, eating with his nana and papa when we arrived.

"Good morning Christina, Bette, have some coffee," Tina’s mother said, and we grabbed some mugs and poured us some. Tina’s dad had yet to look up from his paper.