When I arrived, I found him waiting at the door, looking more at ease than he had in months.
“Hey, Dad,” he said, his tone warm but uncertain. “Come on in. Jessica’s making spaghetti.”
“Spaghetti, huh?” I smiled, the familiar comfort of home cooking settling in my chest. “I’ll take it. No more fancy dinners with wine and tiny portions, right?”
Mark chuckled, looking a little embarrassed. “Yeah, we’re trying to keep things simple.”
When I walked into the apartment, Jessica was in the kitchen, her back to me as she stirred a pot on the stove. I could tell she was nervous, but there was something in her posture—something that felt like she was trying to make amends.
“Hi, Mr. Mitchell,” she said without turning around. Her voice was softer than I remembered, and there was a hint of discomfort in it. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“I am,” I said, keeping my tone neutral, though I felt a strange unease in the air. “Spaghetti sounds great.”
Jessica turned to face me then, her expression apologetic. “I just wanted to say again that I’m really sorry for how my family treated you,” she said, her voice tight. “They didn’t understand the situation, and I should have stood up for you.”
“I appreciate that,” I replied. “But I’m not mad at you. I know you’re caught between two worlds.”
She nodded, a small sigh escaping her lips. “It’s not just that. I was… well, I was a little embarrassed too, to be honest. I didn’t know how to explain things, and I let my family control the situation. But I want you to know that I love Mark. And I want you to be a part of our life, no matter what.”
I felt a small flicker of hope at her words. Maybe she was finally starting to see things more clearly. “I want the same thing,” I said. “I want you both to feel like you have a place with me, without any pretenses or judgments.”
Jessica smiled, though there was still something cautious in her eyes. “I’m glad to hear that. I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’m trying to fix them.”
We sat down to dinner shortly after, and the conversation flowed more easily than I had anticipated. Mark was more relaxed, joking with Jessica about the way her family had pressured him into being someone he wasn’t. Jessica, for her part, seemed more open, asking questions about my life, my business, and my experiences.
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