Bunny hesitated for a few moments more, her eyes bouncing between us warily. Then she turned and silently descended the stairs.
Maggie looked up at me, her blue eyes swimming with unshed tears. I kissed her lovingly and whispered, “Trust me, baby doll.” Her lips tipped up and some of the fear receded.
Keeping her hand in mine, I led her down the stairs to the living room. Bunny had taken a seat on the couch, but Stanley was pacing in front of the television across the room. He halted when we entered the room and when he noticed Maggie, he glared at me.
“Bunny, would you please take Magnolia to another room so Harrison and I can talk?” he asked her calmly. His tone and general demeanor were calm anyway, his eyes were spitting fire at me. “She shouldn’t have to witness this, nor should Harrison be able to hide behind a child,” he spit.
“No,” Maggie piped up. “I’m staying. And, I’d like to point out, once again, that I am eighteen. An adult, not a child. I was an adult long before I turned eighteen and it’s time everyone started treating me like it.”
Stanley’s expression became a little rueful. “You’re right, Magnolia. But, you’re still too young for my much older brother to be taking advantage of you.” His brown eyes shifted to me and all the softness fled from his face. “I’ve never been so disappointed in you, Harrison. I always thought I raised you better than this. I trusted you with my daughter and come home to find you’ve taken advantage of an innocent girl!”
I’d had enough. “Stanley, I’m going to need you to shut it and listen to what we have to say.”
His lips pressed together in a straight line and his face flushed with anger, but he didn’t continue. I nodded and led Maggie over to the love seat. We both sat and I tucked her into my side, ignoring the daggers poking from Stanley’s eyes.
“I didn’t come here with the intention of seducing Maggie and that’s not what happened. I fell for her the moment we met”—I held up my hand for silence when Stanley opened his mouth. He harrumphed, but didn’t speak—“and before you accuse me, we waited until after she turned eighteen.”
“It was the same for me, Stanley,” Maggie interjected. “I knew the day he showed up that I loved him.”
“Love?” Bunny gasped. Her eye brightened and she smiled at Maggie, almost dreamily.
“Yes, I love him, Mom,” she confirmed.
“And I am completely head over heels in love with your daughter, Bunny.”
She clasped her hands in front of her and sighed.
Stanley sputtered, “What about college? And—and, you can’t possibly continue your ridiculous lifestyle, constantly leaving Magnolia and—You’re not what she needs, Harrison.”
“Honey, don’t you think that’s for Magnolia to decide?” Bunny asked quietly. “Look at them, Stanley. Really look. It’s obvious they’re in love.”
“But, his lifestyle and...” Stanley was obviously incredulous that Bunny wasn’t backing him up.
“Besides,” she continued. “Magnolia’s right. I’m ashamed to admit it, but she’s been taking care of me her whole life. It’s her turn to have freedom. Even if what she and Harrison have doesn’t last”—I growled, but calmed when Maggie’s hand landed on my thigh—“she deserves the opportunity to make her own mistakes.”
Irritation was blooming in my chest at her referring to my relationship with Maggie as a mistake.
“I don’t think that’s what this is though, honey.” Bunny stood and walked to Stanley, wrapping her arms around him. “He looks at my girl the way you look at me.”
Stanley seemed speechless, staring at Bunny as though he would find the answers to all the mysteries of the world in her eyes. After a minute, he looked rather resigned, but when his head lifted and he looked at me, there was still a hard quality on his face.
“I won’t allow you to break her heart, Harrison. And, making her fall in love with you, only to leave her behind, is something only a jackass would do.”
I nodded. “You’re absolutely right.” Stanley was taken aback by my answer, clearly he hadn’t been expecting it. “That’s why I’m staying here until Maggie graduates. I have some assignments lined up that are all close enough to complete on a weekend, when I can take my woman with me.”
“Stanley,” Bunny said quietly. “You’ve always been so proud of Harrison. Ever since I met you, you’ve shown how much you loved him. Do you really think he isn’t good enough for our girl? That he wouldn’t take care of her or that he’d mistreat her?”