Page 43 of Husband to Go
“Yeah, that’s my conundrum. After a bizarre series of events, I somehow ended up seeing the daughter of the woman I’m supposed to marry. I realize it’s twisted, and believe me, I never expected this either. But now, I’m not sure what’s next. I mean, if I get married, I have to break it off with the daughter right? But if Idon’tget married, is it amoral to take up with the spurned bride’s daughter? It’s a real Catch-22.”
Lacey goes quiet for a few seconds. She looks down into her mug, twisting her mouth back and forth.
“Is this girl legal?”
I sputter and a bit of tea comes out of my nose.
“Yeah, she’s legal. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Lacey nods.
“Good because I don’t want you breaking the law, after what I’ve been through.” She takes a few moments, and then continues. “You know I don’t blame you for what happened to me, right? You were just a kid then.”
I sigh. What happened when we were teens still haunts me, even if my sister has long since forgiven me.
“I know, Lacey. I know. I just don’t want to make the wrong choice again after what I did to you.”
She looks me straight in the eye.
“I don’t think you will, big bro. Before, we didn’t have options, but now the Logans have come a long way, and you have the world at your fingertips. Besides, something tells me you’ve changed.”
Hmm, interesting. I’ve only been at my sister’s house for five minutes, but somehow, she can sense the shift in me. Chalk that up to a sisterly spidey-sense.
I stare at my hands hopelessly.
“So what do you think I should do?” I press.
Lacey looks down into her mug again, clearly contemplating.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Tanner. I really think this has to be a choice you make yourself. I know you’re saying you don’t know what you want, but you’re really the only person who can make this decision. This isyourfuture. And yeah, you could go down the wrong path. There’s always a chance of that, but it’s just life and I believe in your ability to make the right decision. Just because you think you super messed up when you were a kid, doesn’t mean the same thing is going to happen this time. You’re grown now. An adult.”
While that wasn’t what I was expecting, Lacey’s pep talk makes me feel a little less apprehensive about this whole thing.
“Thanks. Yeah, I hear you. It’s just … I don’t know. She’s my fiancée’s daughter. How fucked up is that?
Lacey nods.
“That’s true, but if you want things to work out, then you have to own it. There’s no dodging that fact.”
I nod, resigned.
“No, there isn’t, is there?” With that, I drain the rest of my drink and stand up.
“I can’t believe you’re my younger sister and you’re the one giving me advice now.”
A smile breaks out on her face then, and Lacey looks suddenly younger. The creases around her eyes lift a bit, and the wrinkles on her forehead disappear momentarily.
“Everyonedidalways say I was smarter than you, even though I didn’t do well on those damned standardized tests,” she says pointedly.
I nod.
“Lacey, standardized tests are bullshit. They were back then, and they are now. What you’ve learned, and especially how much you’ve changed, are what makes youyounow. Not your past.”
My sister nods.
“I know, but it still hangs over my head because anyone can look up my criminal record on-line,” she says a little sadly. “There’s no way to expunge it.”
I nod.