Chapter 11
Diane was worn out. All she wanted to do was go to sleep; her whole body was aching, and she had a really bad headache. After crying to Maggie, and her friend giving her pragmatic, albeit unwanted, advice, Diane didn’t have anything left in her to fight.
She was pregnant, and it was going to be found out. She would have to tell her father about it. And Diane was not looking forward to it.
He was going to be furious. She didn’t need to think about it, he would absolutely be furious. Gilbert would go on and on about how she was straying and she was setting herself up for ruin.
But that was the problem. It didn’t feel like Diane was ruining herself. Deep down, this was what she wanted, being with Gregory and having his child.
It was just knowing that she would lose her only parent in the process, and that made her feel lost. Gilbert had been there for her since she was three years old.
While he had been supportive of what she wanted to do when she was younger, he always reminded her of her faith and what path she should be taking. Even when she wanted to do something else, Diane had always ended up following what he wanted. She wanted to get his approval.
This was the first time in years since she had gone against what her father said and did what she wanted, and now it was blowing up in her face. Maggie said there was nothing wrong with doing something for herself for once, but Diane didn’t feel the same way.
How was she going to say to her father that she was pregnant? Gilbert was not going to let her go to Gregory. He was not of the same faith, so that was out of the question, and when he was the pastor of the community, he needed to lead by example.
What would he make her do? Diane was really dreading it.
You’re making him out to be the monster that he isn’t. Calm down and stop being so silly. He’s not like that.
Not yet.
The slamming of a door downstairs made Diane jump. She sat up and listened. Someone was moving around downstairs, and they sounded angry.
Was her father home? And what had happened?
Diane slid off her bed and, reluctantly, left her room. If he was in a bad mood, maybe this wasn’t the best time.
What the hell is wrong with you? You’re twenty-six years old, and you’re cowering like a child. Just act your age and grow a pair.
Squaring her shoulders, Diane made her way downstairs. She followed the noise and found her father in his study. He was pouring out something that looked to be whisky into a glass.
He didn’t drink. What was going on?
“Father? Are you okay?”
Gilbert froze, momentarily looking like a statue. Then he finished pouring his drink.
“When were you going to tell me, Diane?”
“Tell you what?”
“That you were having an affair with Benjamin?”
Diane’s heart almost stopped. What did he just say?
“I…what?”
“Don’t play innocent with me, girl.” Gilbert turned. His expression was thunderous. “I’ve just overheard Benjamin and that pesky mother of his talking about you. I heard from his own mouth that he’s been having an affair with you.”
Gregory had been talking about her in public? Diane’s mouth dropped open.
“What? Where did you hear this? What?”
“I finished my meeting early, and I went into that grill place in Donnelly. Benjamin and his mother were in the booth beside me, I came to find out. And I heard them talking about you.” Gilbert downed his drink in one go. “I had to hear that my own daughter defiled herself with a man like him. Do you know how that makes me feel?”
Diane began to panic. This was not how she wanted to tell him, and his reaction was just as she expected.
“If you’ll let me explain, Father…”
“So, it’s true? You’ve been intimate with Benjamin?”
“We…”
Diane’s hesitation must have been enough because Gilbert let out a snarl and slammed the whisky bottle onto the desk. Diane didn’t like the look in his eyes; it was beginning to scare her.
“Are you kidding me, Diane? Did I not raise you properly? Was I that much of a bad parent?”
“What’s that got to do with it?”
“You wouldn’t have strayed if I had been a better parent.”
Diane’s heart cracked. She reached for him, but Gilbert waved her away.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“You were never a bad parent to me, Father. A little protective of what I did, yes, but given you’re a single parent it was understandable.”
“So, you decided to rebel against me?”
“I’m twenty-six! I’m not a little girl anymore! And Gregory and I have something between us. We are consenting adults, and so we decided to go on a date.”
“Does this also include sex outside of marriage?” Gilbert snarled. “Because I don’t believe that you would have been chaste all this time when you’re with someone who doesn’t care about what God wants.”
“That is none of your business!”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Her father was breathing heavily, his face darker than before. “You were taught what lying with a man meant, and who you were meant to lie with. How could you forget all of that and be corrupted?”
“Nobody corrupted me, Father.” Diane lifted her chin. “I love him.”
For a moment, there was silence. Then Gilbert approached her slowly, which had Diane wanting to back away.
“What did you say?”
“I love Gregory, Father. He’s a good man. You may not think so because he’s not of the same faith, but he is.”
“How is he a good man when he lies with a woman he’s not married to?”
Diane gritted her teeth. She would not lose her temper; she didn’t have the energy for it.