They exchanged glances. Dara shook her head. “We’re not ruling anything out, but we haven’t gotten that far yet. We just started dating and want to take things slow and see if—”
“Having a baby together is not taking things slow,” Matt’s mother interjected.
“It’s not up for discussion,” Matt said. “Look, the bottom line is that I love her and we’re having a baby together. And that’s final.”
“Unbelievable,” his mother said. “This is—”
“It’s really none of your business,” Dara spat. “This is happening. I’m happy. Your son is happy. And there’s nothing to debate.”
“Oh, there is certainly nothing to debate. This is appalling and—”
“Fine.” Still holding Matt’s hand, Dara pointed toward the front door. “Then get out of my house.”
Matt’s mother blinked. “I beg your—”
“Get out.”
“Matt, are you going to let her—”
“I’m not letting her do anything.” Matt squeezed Dara’s hand. “This is her house, and you’re insulting her repeatedly. So…” He nodded sharply toward the door.
With a huff, Matt’s mother stood and stormed out of the room. His father hesitated, and then, without making eye contact with anyone or saying a word, he followed her. A moment later, the front door slammed.
Dara’s mom stared for a long moment at the doorway the Coolidges had gone through. Then she faced Matt and Dara again. “This is all a lot to take in.”
“I know it is,” Dara said.
“I’m…” Mom shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m still not sure about all of this.” She looked at them, then at Dad. “I think we should go. I need some time to absorb everything.”
Dad scowled, but he didn’t stop her when she got up and left the room.
Dara sagged against the back of her chair.
Dad got up and came around the table. Hugging her tight, he said, “I’m proud of you, sweetheart. Your mom will come around.”
“We’ll see.”
“Trust me, kiddo.” He let her go and smiled at her. “One look at her grandbaby, and she won’t remember any of this.” Then he extended his hand past Dara to Matt. “Welcome to the family, son.”
Dara had to fight tears as Matt smiled and shook her dad’s hand, and it sounded like he was choking on his emotions a little as he said, “Thank you, sir.”
Dad chuckled. “Just call me Bill, okay?”
“Okay. I will. Thanks.”
“I’d better go check on your mother. But it’ll be okay.” He squeezed Dara’s shoulder. “I promise, it’ll be okay.”
She put her hand on his and squeezed it. “Thanks, Dad.”
After Dara’s parents had left, Matt turned to his sister. “Well, Adam will be thrilled.”
“Probably, yeah.”
Matt cringed. “I’m sorry, Beth. I know this isn’t going to make things easy for—”
“No, you’d better not be sorry.” She gestured sharply at him. “You did nothing wrong, so don’t you dare apologize.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do, and God knows we both fought the good fight for a long time.” She sighed and rolled her tense shoulders as she said, “To be honest, I’m tired. Let Mom and Adam do what they’re going to do.”
“But Aspen—”
“Aspen Mill will be fine. The thing is, I saw how sick your work made you, and I’ve seen what this has been doing to you too. I don’t want to see you buckling under that stress again.”
Matt exhaled. “Thank you. And I meant what I said. Anything you need, it’s yours.”
She smiled. “Thanks.” Then she turned to Dara and hugged her tight. “Welcome to the family. The sane part, not the fucked-up part.”
Dara laughed, returning the embrace. “Thank you.”
“Well, I should really get going.” Beth released her and smiled. “And give me a call one of these days. We can go pick out a pony saddle for the kid.”
Dara laughed. “I don’t think we’ll need that for a few years.”
“Never hurts to plan ahead.”
Beth hugged Dara once more, and then her brother, before he saw her out.
Now that it was just Matt and Dara, the house quiet and empty, she sank onto the sofa.
Matt joined her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “You all right?”
She nodded. “Yeah. That was just…not fun.”
“No, it wasn’t. But it’s over.”
“Thank God.” She turned to him. “You know, it’s amazing that your mother produced two well-adjusted people who actually care about others.”