It all came out in a rush. I didn’t know whether to grab Jessie and run for the door, or stand up and prepare to lose a fight, which I knew I certainly would. Instead, I sat in silence, as did everyone…for far too long; and all the while, I think I was holding my breath.
Eli calmly took a sip of his drink, then swished the brandy around in his glass, studying it. Emma had never taken her eyes off me and Jessie, just watching us.
Eli looked up, “Honestly, I’m perplexed. I think I should be upset, distraught maybe, because my son is in love with my daughter…But then I think, my son is a man I couldn’t be prouder of, and if I were a father with a daughter, I would be thrilled to have him as a son-in-law. Oh, but I am a man with a daughter. And my own son loves my own daughter. See, perplexing. Of course, maybe I’m being presumptuous. Maybe, were not talking about marriage here, and maybe this is just an infatuation or something that…”
“No!” We both blurted out.
In a calmer tone, I explained, “Dad, we came here tonight to tell you what has happened with us, how we feel about each other, and that we intend to get married, regardless of the complications…but, most of all, we came with the hope that you would…could accept this. We don’t want to hurt you or alienate you. We want your blessing. But we can’t change how we feel…”
“Jake, Son, easy. I don’t object. Emma doesn’t object to you loving Jessie, to Jessie loving you. We just wanted to be sure this wasn’t something that sprung up from what Jessie just went through, and from what you’ve been going through since Elise left you. We wanted to be sure there was more to it than that.”
“Dad, Mom, thank you. I can’t tell you how worried we were that you wouldn’t understand…accept us…our situation,” Jessie exclaimed with tears in her eyes, “but we are certain…this is our future. We just don’t want you to be hurt by this or…”