“MOM, DAD, this is Steve Bernard.”
She gripped Steve’s hand tightly as her parents met them in the driveway. Watching their wary expressions, her heart thudded in her chest. Her mother’s eyes flicked to their joined hands, her mouth pressing into a thin line.
“Mr. and Mrs. Jones, it’s nice to meet you.” Steve held out his hand to Ava’s dad.
“Thank you for bringing our daughter home.”
She exhaled when her dad shook Steve’s hand, embarrassed that she had worried her dad might refuse. Maybe this could work. Hope bloomed in her chest. If her parents were willing to get to know him, they would see what a caring and sincere man he was.
Then her mother straightened her shoulders and said, “Thank you for dropping our daughter off. I’m sure you’re eager to get back on the road and return to your own home.”
No one could mistake her tone. Steve was being dismissed.
“Mom, I think it would be nice to invite Steve to stay for dinner to thank him for his hospitality.”
“Is that what we’re calling it?” her mom muttered under her breath.
“Ava, I’m sure Mr. Bernard understands that we’d like to have a family dinner tonight.” Her dad’s emphasis on the word family left no doubt he sided with her mom.
“Oh, okay.” Steve let go of her hand and shoved his in his pockets.
Her dad hoisted her backpack over his shoulder. “We’ll give you a few moments to say goodbye.”
She started shaking, realizing this was it. She would have to say goodbye.
“I’m sorry you can’t stay for dinner.”
Steve glanced over his shoulder toward where her parents hovered in the front doorway and then grabbed her hand, pulling her to the other side of Pearl. “I have something for you.”
He opened the side door and dug through his backpack for a minute, then pressed a cassette tape into her hand.
Her heart tripped over itself, looking down at his neat handwriting, which listed the songs they had sung and danced to on their trip. “When did you have time to make this?”
He gave her a sheepish smile. “I’d record a song here and there, when you took a shower, or when we made a pit stop. Any moment I could find.”
The names of the songs blurred behind a sheen of tears she frantically tried to blink back. She pushed herself into Steve’s chest and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight.
“I’m going to miss you so much. I know it’s been a short amount of time, but I—if I asked you to come to Seattle with me, would you?”
Ava wanted him to ask so badly, but now that he had, anxiety overwhelmed her. She’d always jumped into situations with both feet fearlessly. This time, she hesitated. Not because she didn’t want to, but because of all the risks she’d taken. Would her parents forgive her for this one?
“Steve, I—I need to talk to my parents.”
He sighed and glanced toward her house again before dropping his forehead to hers. “I know I shouldn’t have asked. I can see a future with you, but I can’t ask you to jeopardize your relationship with your parents.”
“What about your parents? What would they say to you bringing home a Black girl?”
He gently grasped her shoulders, his eyes searching hers. “I don’t know. I won’t lie and pretend with you. I’d like to think they would welcome you with open arms, but I can’t promise you that’s what will happen.” He drew in a deep breath. “What I can promise is no matter what they think, I’ll always put your feelings… your heart first.”
The tenderness in his voice shattered her heart. With a sob, she pressed her lips to his as if she could solve all of their problems with a kiss.
She pressed herself against him, trying to get as close as possible, his gift clutched in her hand between them. It was the soundtrack of her life. She’d never listen to the songs the same way again.
Steve broke away, and with a shuddering breath, said, “I can’t be the reason you don’t have a relationship with your family. How could we build a future together if we’ve—if I’ve torn your family apart?”
“Please don’t say that.”
“One of us has to. Your parents made it pretty clear just now that they don’t approve of us together.”
“Stop.” She pressed her hand over Steve’s heart. “I’m going to make them understand.”
He shook his head. “You can’t force anyone to do anything when they’re not ready.” He gently tugged one of her curls. “I couldn’t get you to notice me for four years. We had to be at the right time in the right place.”
She sniffed and nodded. “You’re right, I know that you’re right, I hate that you’re right, and”—her tears flowed—“I love you because you’re right.”
His tears mingled with hers as he kissed her again, murmuring “I love you” against her lips.
With one last fierce hug, he got into Pearl and drove away, leaving Ava with her heart in tatters. She went into the house that had been the only home she’d ever known until now. Her new home, her heart, her future had just driven away.
Her sister found her in her room, lying in the bed, her pillow wet with tears as she stared up at the ceiling and clutched the mix tape.
“For a minute, I thought I walked into a funeral home,” Nell said, perching on the edge of the bed. “Mom is slamming around on the stove muttering to herself, and Daddy is shut in his den. What the hell happened?”
Ava sat up, gathering her knees to her chest. “They were horrible to Steve when he dropped me off. They wouldn’t even let him stay for dinner.”
“Oh no.” Nell reared back, looking at her with a critical eye. “You fell for that boy, didn’t you?”
She buried her face in her knees.
“Oh, sis, you should have known Mom and Dad wouldn’t be happy to have you bring home a White boy.”
Before she could answer, there was a quick knock on the door. Their mother’s stern voice announced dinner was ready.
She exchanged a look with her sister. Family dinners were mandatory in the Jones household. Broken hearts weren’t an excuse not to come to the table.
Ava stared down at her plate, still full of food. The only sound that filled the dining room was the scrape of silverware against china as her parents and sister ate.
“I’ve made an appointment to have your hair fixed. It’s an absolute disgrace. We’ll need to go shopping next week for your gown for the Jack and Jill ball next month. Your sister already has hers,” her mom announced.
She reached up, fingering the loose curls she’d grown used to.
Her dad took a sip of his drink, then set the glass down with enough force to make the contents slosh over the side. “Just how long must we have to endure your sulking?”
Her head jerked in her dad’s direction, his words hitting her like a slap in the face.
“You didn’t even give him a chance. You didn’t take time to get to know him.”
“What are you thinking with this boy? That the two of you can have some kind of future together?” her mom spat out.
“Why not? Why can’t I have a future with someone who loves me?”
Her mom scoffed, waving her hand as if swatting away her hopes and dreams like a pesky fly.
“What about your children? What will happen to them?” her dad asked.
“They’ll be loved. Through the good times and the bad, just like you did for me.”
“You’ve just come home from school. You have a life here all planned out,” her mom continued, ignoring Ava’s answer to her dad’s question. The dismissal left a fresh bruise on her heart.
Her sister watched the back and forth, her head bobbing as if she were viewing a tennis tournament.
Ava shook her head, realizing this would always be a point of contention with her parents. She exhaled, gripping the edge of the table tightly. “I wish I could be the daughter you want me to be, but I can’t. I don’t want the same life you have. You can’t write my future; it’s my story to tell. Mom, Dad….” Ava swallowed, blinking back tears. “I can’t sacrifice my dreams to make your ideas for my future come true. I’m—” She bit back a sob. “—I’m sorry I’m such a disappointment.” She looked at Nell with a teary smile. “I’m glad you have one dutiful daughter who will make you proud.”
She got up from the table and walked on shaky legs into her room, where she started throwing clothes into her backpack.
“What do you think you’re doing?” her dad asked, standing in the doorway with her mom and sister.
“I love you, and I know you’ll think it’s too soon, but I know Steve is the love of my life.”
She hitched her backpack over her shoulder and turned to her sister. “Nell, will you give me a ride?”
Nell’s eyes narrowed. She pressed her lips together in a thin line. Her breath caught. Would her sister let her down? After a few seconds, Nell nodded.
Her mom sighed, shaking her head. “When you’re done making a fool of yourself, we’ll be here. You’re our daughter, and you’ll always be welcome here.”
“Will you welcome Steve too?”
Her dad began to object, but her mom stopped him with a hand on his arm. They exchanged a look, and when her father turned back to Ava, his expression was one of stubborn acceptance. “Let’s take it one day at a time. If you kids make it six months, we’ll sit down for a family dinner.”
She rushed to her dad, throwing her arms around him. “Thanks, Dad. I promise everything’s going to work out.”
Her dad patted her back. “For your sake, I hope so.” He gently kissed her forehead.
She left her dad’s embrace and hugged her mom. “I’ll call you when I get to Seattle.”
Her mom sighed. “Make sure you do.”