Mark and I had been together for about a year, and just recently, he proposed. It wasn\u2019t the dreamy, candlelit proposal I had imagined as a little girl, but it was heartfelt, and I knew it came from a place of love.<\/p>\n
Besides, Mark and I would\u2019ve ended up engaged anyway\u2014it was just a matter of timing.<\/p>\n
He proposed shortly after we found out I was pregnant. The pregnancy wasn\u2019t planned, but the moment we saw those two little lines, everything changed. We were thrilled, nervous, and ready to tackle parenthood together.<\/p>\n
That evening, we had dinner plans with Mark\u2019s parents, and I was a bundle of nerves.<\/p>\n
Mark always described them as strict and traditional, which made me feel like I was stepping into an interview instead of a family meal.<\/p>\n
Still, I told myself I could win them over. I\u2019d always been good at making people like me\u2014or so I hoped.<\/p>\n
When Mark got home from work, I immediately began rifling through my closet.<\/p>\n
I must have tried on ten outfits, spinning in front of the mirror, asking, \u201cIs this okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Each time, Mark smiled and said, \u201cYou look great.\u201d<\/p>\n
But \u201cgreat\u201d wasn\u2019t enough. I needed to look flawless. First impressions were everything.<\/p>\n
In the end, I laughed at myself, realizing I had chosen the very first outfit I\u2019d tried on.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think they\u2019ll like me?\u201d I asked, twisting my hair into place.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, they\u2019ll like you. How could they not?\u201d Mark said, watching me in the mirror.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what if they don\u2019t?\u201d I asked, turning to face him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen it doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d he said, his voice calm. \u201cThe only thing that matters is that I like you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike?\u201d I teased, raising an eyebrow.<\/p>\n
Mark smirked. \u201cI like you more than anyone. I love you even more.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed softly. \u201cGood save.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark leaned in and kissed me, his grin warm and reassuring. \u201cYou\u2019ll be perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once we were ready, I carefully picked up the cherry pie I had baked for the dinner.<\/p>\n
The warm, sweet scent was comforting, like a small reminder that I had put effort into tonight. Mark opened the car door for me, and we both climbed in.<\/p>\n
During the drive to his parents\u2019 house, I couldn\u2019t help but notice Mark gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly.<\/p>\n
His jaw was set, and his eyes focused straight ahead. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d I asked softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d he said, but his voice wavered. I reached over, taking his hand. I wasn\u2019t sure if I was trying to calm him or myself.<\/p>\n
When we pulled up in front of the house, Mark sighed and looked at me. \u201cJust… don\u2019t say anything unnecessary, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d I promised.<\/p>\n
We walked to the door, hearts pounding, and Mark rang the bell. A moment later, his mother appeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, we\u2019ve been waiting for you,\u201d she said, her tone sharp but polite. \u201cI\u2019m Erin, though I assume you already know that,\u201d she added, her eyes fixed on me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I\u2019m Danica,\u201d I replied, forcing a smile as I held out the pie. \u201cI baked a cherry pie. Mark told me it\u2019s your favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erin\u2019s face changed instantly, her smile fading. \u201cA pie, hmm? I thought the host was supposed to handle the food. Or do you think I can\u2019t bake my own pie?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, of course not!\u201d I said quickly. \u201cI just wanted to bring something special. I didn\u2019t mean to offend you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at the pie, then back at me. \u201cIt\u2019s fine. Come in,\u201d she said, stepping aside without another word.<\/p>\n
Dinner was painfully quiet. The only sounds were the clinking of silverware and the occasional scrape of a chair.<\/p>\n
Mark had warned me his family didn\u2019t talk during meals, but I thought he was joking.<\/p>\n
Sitting there in silence felt awkward and unnatural. I glanced at Mark, but he just gave me a small, reassuring smile.<\/p>\n
When we finished eating, I stood up to help Erin clear the table. She didn\u2019t say much, just nodded and muttered a quick \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
We moved to the living room, where Mark\u2019s father, George, sat stiffly, barely looking at me.<\/p>\n
He seemed uninterested, like I was a guest he didn\u2019t ask for. Conversation turned to the wedding, but I had little to share.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of dress are you thinking of?\u201d Erin asked, her eyes scanning me like she was already judging my answer.<\/p>\n
Before I could respond, George spoke up. \u201cErin, leave the girl alone. You\u2019ve been bombarding her with questions all evening.\u201d His tone was gruff, but it was the first time he had addressed me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fine. I don\u2019t mind,\u201d I said, offering a small smile, though my nerves were fraying.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee, George? She doesn\u2019t mind,\u201d Erin said, smiling back at me for the first time. It felt almost like approval, and I let out a small breath of relief.<\/p>\n
I looked at Mark and smiled, taking his hand. His touch grounded me. But the warmth of the moment vanished as Erin\u2019s smile hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cDanica, dear, in our family, we don\u2019t show affection in front of others, especially before marriage,\u201d she said, her tone sharp.<\/p>\n
I dropped Mark\u2019s hand like it was on fire. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d I whispered, embarrassed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u201d Erin continued, her focus shifting back to me, \u201cwhat kind of dress do you want? You have such a lovely figure. Something fitted and long would suit you perfectly.\u201d<\/p>\n
I hesitated, feeling my cheeks heat up. \u201cWell, I won\u2019t have this figure for long. I\u2019ll be five months along by the wedding, so I was thinking of something more flowing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark groaned softly and buried his face in his hands. My stomach dropped.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive months along?\u201d Erin\u2019s voice was clipped, her eyebrow arched in disbelief.<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cPregnant,\u201d I said simply.<\/p>\n
The room felt like it froze. Erin gasped, clutching her chest like I had just confessed to a crime. \u201cOh, my God,\u201d she whispered. \u201cWhat a disgrace! My son is going to have a child out of wedlock!\u201d<\/p>\n
I blinked, stunned. \u201cExcuse me, what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is shameful! You\u2019re a disgrace to our family! How could you do such a thing before marriage?\u201d Erin shouted, her voice rising with each word.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re adults,\u201d I said, trying to stay calm. \u201cWe\u2019re excited about this baby\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDanica, stop talking,\u201d Mark muttered under his breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow could you choose such a shameless fianc\u00e9e?\u201d Erin yelled at Mark. \u201cShe must have seduced you!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cErin, stop yelling at her. She\u2019s pregnant,\u201d George said, his voice cutting through her tirade.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the problem! What will people say?\u201d Erin wailed. \u201cGet out of my house! I don\u2019t want to see you again!\u201d<\/p>\n
Tears spilled over as I stammered, \u201cWhat did I do? I don\u2019t understand…\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou and your illegitimate child are a stain on this family!\u201d Erin spat. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s not too late for an abortion?\u201d<\/p>\n
I gasped. \u201cWhat? What are you saying?\u201d I cried, choking on my tears. Mark stayed silent, his face unreadable.<\/p>\n
\u201cDanica, let\u2019s go,\u201d Mark finally said, grabbing my hand.<\/p>\n
Outside, his frustration boiled over. \u201cWhat was that?!\u201d he yelled at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI should be asking you that!\u201d I shot back, my voice shaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you not to say anything unnecessary!\u201d he snapped.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know our child was \u2018unnecessary\u2019 to you!\u201d I yelled.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot to me\u2014to them,\u201d he replied sharply.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said their opinions didn\u2019t matter!\u201d I cried, shaking my head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI warned you they were conservative,\u201d he said, his voice flat.<\/p>\n
I looked at him, my heart breaking. \u201cI\u2019m staying at my place tonight,\u201d I said, my tone firm, before turning away.<\/p>\n
I still had a month left on the lease for my old apartment, so Mark drove me there. The ride was silent, tense.<\/p>\n
When he pulled up, I stepped out without a word. Once inside, I sat on the couch, tears streaming down my face.<\/p>\n
My chest ached as I replayed the dinner over and over. Mark hadn\u2019t defended me or our baby.<\/p>\n
How could he let his mother say those things? My thoughts spiraled, and I placed a hand on my stomach, wondering if all this stress was hurting the baby.<\/p>\n
The next morning, a firm knock startled me awake. Groggy, I shuffled to the door and opened it. George stood there, his expression unreadable.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are you?\u201d George asked, his voice calm but firm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d I snapped, crossing my arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came to apologize for Erin,\u201d he said, glancing down briefly. \u201cShe can be… overly emotional.\u201d<\/p>\n
I hesitated, then stepped back. \u201cWould you like to come in?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I won\u2019t stay long,\u201d he replied, shaking his head. \u201cI just wanted to explain. This is personal for her. Her parents were very conservative, even more than she is. When we got married, she was already pregnant with Mark.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him, stunned. \u201cWhat? Then why did she react so negatively to me being pregnant?\u201d<\/p>\n
George sighed, shifting uncomfortably. \u201cShe has always felt ashamed of it. She thinks we should have waited. She doesn\u2019t regret having Mark, but it\u2019s something she struggles with. I wanted you to know.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned, still hurt but trying to understand. \u201cThat\u2019s why she treated me like that? To protect some old-fashioned idea of pride?\u201d<\/p>\n
George nodded. \u201cYes. You can share this with Mark or even tell Erin\u2019s relatives if she keeps making a fuss.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t tell anyone,\u201d I said softly. \u201cI don\u2019t want her to feel as hurt as I do now.\u201d<\/p>\n
George gave me a small nod, then turned to leave.<\/p>\n
After he left, I decided to return to Mark. But as I stepped outside, I froze. He was standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Mark said, looking right at me. \u201cI should have stood up for you and the baby. I didn\u2019t know what to do, and I was scared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for apologizing. It hurt so much,\u201d I admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt won\u2019t happen again. I promise, I\u2019ll always be on your side,\u201d he said, his voice steady.<\/p>\n
I nodded, a small smile breaking through. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark leaned in, and I kissed him.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, his phone buzzed. He stepped aside to answer it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was my mom,\u201d he said when he came back. \u201cShe wants to apologize. She asked what your favorite pie is.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled faintly. \u201cTell her I love cherry pie too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark grinned. \u201cLooks like you already have something in common.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have no idea,\u201d I whispered, letting him pull me into a warm hug.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mark and I had been together for about a year, and just recently, he proposed. It wasn\u2019t the dreamy, candlelit proposal I had imagined as a little girl, but it was heartfelt, and I knew it came from a place of love. Besides, Mark and I would\u2019ve ended up engaged anyway\u2014it was just a matter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":6061,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tales"],"yoast_head":"\n