***Melanie***
I was sitting on Lainey’s couch when I went home for Thanksgiving as we watched a Hallmark rom/com. Well, in reality, she sat on the opposite couch staring into space.
“Lainey?” I asked in order to snap her out of her thoughts of Jim. Ken was down there, and they were meeting with a therapist to get the poor guy some help for his issue.
She turned, “Yeah?”
“How did you know Ken was the one?”
She laughed and said, “I just knew. I don’t know how to explain it other than that. Why? What’s up?”
“I’m struggling with Joe. He never had a girlfriend and doesn’t know how to handle me. In return, I became too controlling and was squeezing the life out of him. Are we moving too fast? Or do I just need to let him figure it out?”
“Sorry, sis. I don’t know how to answer that. I don’t know him that well. Why not step back and let him drive for a while. See if he ‘figures it out,’ like you said.”
I sighed. “I tried that. I hardly saw him for weeks.”
“Is that bad? I mean, you’re in school, honey. Shouldn’t you be focused there first?”
“Of course, but school’s going fine.”
“Okay, Mel. Try this: slow it down to weekends. Give yourselves some room to breathe during the week. You forget, Ken and I may have fallen for each other very fast, but he was away a lot for those first few months, and I didn’t see him every day. Give yourselves a chance to miss each other. You won’t feel like it’s moving too fast, and he won’t feel smothered.”
I nodded and turned my attention back to the movie. I would follow her advice.
***
On Thanksgiving, I helped Lainey set the table for dinner. When I noticed she had one too many place settings, she simply said, “Always prepare for one more than expected. You never know who’s gonna show up unannounced.” She smirked and patted my shoulder as she left the room.
Ken came back for Thanksgiving dinner and to most everyone’s surprise he wasn’t alone.
“Look what I found at the gate,” Ken shouted as he walked into his home.
“Joe!” I shouted as I ran up and hugged him. “What are you doing here? I thought you were spending break with Jim and Abby?”
“I missed you, silly. Ken saw me sulking around and took pity on me. Abby practically kicked my depressed butt out the door.”
I hugged him again and turned the room. I introduced him formally to my parents and Ken’s mom. I dragged him out to Ken and Lainey’s four season’s room and cuddled by the wood stove.
“I missed you, Joe.”
“I missed you too, Mel. Can we talk for a bit?” He asked that very nervously. I was immediately on guard and defensive, but I reigned it in.
“Of course. What’s up?” I asked with forced sweetness.
“Well, um…you asked me to tell you when I think you’re getting to bossy.”
I sighed, “Yeah.”
“Well, you, uh…never stopped.”
“What!” I shrieked.
He took my hand as I fumed. I wondered if steam shot out of my ears, I was so mad. Then I saw the look in his eyes and realized what I was doing. I completely discounted his feelings.
“Wait, Joe. I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I didn’t do enough to stop, because I honestly thought I was doing better.”
“You’re doing better, Melanie. You just haven’t stopped. Know what I mean?”
I didn’t, but I agreed.
“Joe, look. Maybe, we should slow down.”
He paled and sat up.
“No, I’m not breaking up with you. Let’s not see each other every day. Let’s make the weekends for us, but the rest of the week is for ourselves. Do you think that will help?”
I was afraid. I didn’t want to lose him, and I didn’t want him to think I was dumping him either.
“Okay. Let’s try that, with one condition though.”
I asked, “What’s that?”
“If I miss you too much, I can see you during the week.”
I smiled and kissed him. “Silly, man. You can see me whenever you want. I just don’t want you to feel like you’re being forced to see me.”
We hugged and he said, “I do love you. Don’t doubt that.”
“I love you, too.”
I kissed him and said, “Come on, I’ve still got some work to do. Go watch football with the rest of the useless men.”
“Yes, dear.”
***Joe***
At halftime, Ryan (Melanie’s father) and Ken were busting my balls about Melanie.
Ryan said, “Son, I don’t know how you handle her. She’s a handful and then some.”
I thought, “what kind of father says that to her daughter’s boyfriend?”
Then Ken said, “I’m not sure who’s worse, Mel or Lainey?”
I realized they were messing with me, and I was about to defend Melanie, but she walked into the room with guns blazing.
“Both of you stop it! You’re going to mess everything up! Why do you have to be assholes and try to ruin what we have. He barely stands me as it is and you’re gonna drive him away!”
She was screaming at them and that brought her mom—Angela, and Lainey running into the room.
“What the hell is going on in here?” Angela shrieked.
“They are talking shit about me to Joe.” Melanie must have been bringing them drinks because she had two cans of beer in her hands, and she threw one at Ken and the other at her dad and ran out of the room.
Lainey chased after her and Angela stood, almost snarling, at Ken and Ryan.
“Explain yourselves, now!” Angela growled.
“Easy, honey,” Ryan started. Ken and I both winced knowing that was the wrong thing to say.
“EASY, HONEY?” She shouted.
I quickly stood and said, “Mrs. Evans, they were just teasing me about dating Melanie. They weren’t saying anything bad or that I would take badly. Melanie happened to hear it or some of it and got mad. Ken and Mr. Evans didn’t know we were having some issues. It’s not their fault.”
When I said we were having issues, they both chastened quickly and tried to apologize. I waved them off and went to find Melanie.
I stopped and said, “Ma’am, I love your daughter. Nothing they say kidding around with me, or even if they were serious, will ever change that.” I continued on to try to find my upset girlfriend.
***Melanie***
I ran out of the room in embarrassment. I knew I overreacted as soon as I opened my mouth. I just couldn’t stop.
Lainey walked into the room and asked, “What happened in there?”
“I overreacted. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I think they were just playing around, and I just lost it on them. I got so mad for no reason.”
“Well,” she said in a motherly way, “you need to settle down and apologize. Guys give each other grief all the time. It’s just how they’re wired. Macho caveman bullshit or something.”
I rolled my eyes, but I knew she was right.
“Mel, you said you guys have issues. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I think so. We talked when he got here about me still being controlling and bossy, so I offered up your suggestion. He liked the idea. I think we’ll be okay.”
“Mel, just remember, you don’t have a lot of experience with dating either. You’re in the same boat he is. You can’t make him into your perfect man. He is what he is, and he seems like a pretty good guy from the outside looking in.”
I hugged her and said, “Thanks, big sis. I love you.”