Page 25 of Stolen Hearts (WaterColor Romance #7)

Had that actually happened? All these years Autumn had been falling all over herself trying to please her parents.

Desperately attempting to do things their way.

All she had needed to do was stand up for herself and argue her point.

Autumn had to keep herself from laughing out loud.

All these years and she’d just learned something new about her parents.

They did respect her. They weren’t overly sentimental people but they certainly did care about her.

Autumn decided to lean in, pressing her luck slightly more.

“I think that’s a great idea. I hope that the two of you will be able to come visit me more often. Maybe if you come for longer I can even show you more of what WaterColor has to offer.”

“We would love that,” Moira said with a wide smile.

“I agree. It would be nice to get to know you better now that you’re an adult,” James chuckled.

Autumn felt her heart opening to her parents.

Her heart warmed causing her to tear up ever so slightly.

She’d spent so much time dreading this dinner but tonight had offered her so much opportunity for growth.

She had never imagined having the opportunity to experience getting to know her parents in a new way.

Autumn was sure that she’d remember this night for as long as she lived.

Her parents hugged Quinn goodbye when it was time to leave. Autumn locked eyes with Quinn and felt the sizzle between them growing. She forced herself to make the goodbye hug between them a short one.

“Meet me at my place in an hour,” Autumn practically demanded.

Quinn pulled away from their embrace her warm eyes dancing in the lights of the bar. There was a tinge of uncertainty behind her eyes.

“I made a promise to you this morning that I need to fulfill,” Autumn whispered. Quinn’s eyebrows practically shot to her hairline but she smiled at Autumn.

Once inside the car her Father cleared his throat.

“You should keep that one around for a while. Quinn seems like good people,” James said as he fastened his seatbelt.

The words were simple, but coming from her Father this was the highest of compliments.

“I think so too, sweetie. Quinn really seems like she has a good head on her shoulders,” Moira chimed in.

“Thank you for saying that. I think Quinn and I fit well together,” Autumn smiled.

“You know, we don’t say this enough, but we’re so proud of you. You have built quite a life for yourself here in WaterColor,” Moira added.

“I was so worried about tonight. But it went really well,” Autumn smiled.

“Why would you have been worried?” James asked.

“I just know how high your standards can be for me. For my business. And I was afraid you wouldn’t approve of what I’m trying to build here,” Autumn wavered.

“Don’t be perposterous. We’ve always been supportive of you and your dreams,” Moira argued.

Autumn felt her jaw clench. She had to make a decision. Did she want to let her Mother’s words go? They could still end the night on a high note. Something inside of Autumn couldn’t let it go.

“You’ve always been supportive of me doing things your way. But you’ve both had plenty of opionions as far as how I should go about being a success,” Autumn answered. There was a newfound coolness in her tone that she wished she could tamp down.

“Of course we’ve had opinions through the years. We want you to do well. All parents have their thoughts on how to improve thier kid’s lives.”

“True. But not every parent won’t let their kid take a breath without considering whether what they’re doing is good enough.”

“We weren’t like that.” Autumn watched her Mother cross her arms over her chest in the rearview mirror.

“Mom, you and Dad told me that a baking soda volcano wasn’t a good enough science fair experiement for a Kingsport. You made me redo my entire exhibit.”

“And you won that fair,” James huffed in frustration.

“I was seven. I didn’t want to win the fair. I wanted to make a baking soda volcano.”

“Are we actually going to fight about your science fair experiment?” Moira asked pointedly. In the statement Autumn felt the pressing weight of her Mother’s judgement.

“It isn’t about the science experiment. It’s just an example. I never felt like I was good enough to be your daughter unless I was perfect.”

Her parents went silent. They didn’t argue or offer any rebuttals.

There was no offer for comfort or validation.

That was the final push she needed. Autumn could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as she pulled into the hotel parking lot.

She helped unload the luggage in the back of her car.

Her Mom brought her in for a hug, and it felt like she held on tighter than ever before.

A few stray tears fell, though Autumn managed to hold most of them back.

Her Father gave her his customary short hug but there was a sweetness to it that Autumn hadn’t noticed previously.

Autumn gave her parents one final goodbye before getting back inside her car.

As she pulled out of the parking lot red hot tears stung her eyes.

She owed Quinn big for facilitating such a wonderful evening between herself and her parents.

Somehow even after having the best possible evening with her parents she’d managed to mess everything up.