«Maya, how old are you?» her father asked quietly. «Honestly, it feels like youre not in your first year of university but your first year of primary school. Love is one thing, but you still need somewhere to live, dont you? Food on the table? So tell mewhy the rush? Do you really have to get married *tomorrow*? No ones against your Oliver, let him come over, well meet him properly, talk it through, get to know his parents. Am I making sense here?»
«David, when are you coming home?» Helen called her husband at work, her voice tense.
«Soon. Just wrapping up,» he replied.
«Dont be long. We need to talk,» she said abruptly.
«Has something happened?» Davids pulse quickened.
«Well nothing *yet*, but we need to discuss it.» Helen sounded agitated, but whatever it was, no disaster had struck.
Fifteen minutes later, the head of the household stepped into the flat.
«Whats going on here?» he asked cautiously.
«Change your clothes, wash your handsno need to drop everything and save the universe just yet.» She kissed him lightly and nudged him toward the bathroom.
Soon, he emerged, freshly dressed, and walked into the living room.
«Come on,» Helen said, leading him to their daughters room. Maya sat on her bed, eyes red from crying.
«Alright, whats happened?» David kept his voice steady.
«Ask your daughter,» Helen muttered. «Go on, Maya, tell your father what youve decided!»
Maya scowled, turning toward the window like a petulant child refusing to speak.
«Right, ladies,» David slapped a hand on the desk. «Either you tell me calmlyno hystericswhat the problem is, or you sort it out yourselves, and Ill go unwind after work.»
«Were getting married,» Helen announced with biting sarcasm. «Today, apparently. No time to waste!»
«Come again?» David blinked. «Just like that? And whos the lucky groom, if its not a secret?»
Maya remained stubbornly silent, so Helen took over again.
«Oliver Milford. Youve seen him around lately.»
«Ah. So, Maya?»
Silence.
«Right. Enough games. Am I supposed to dance around to get answers out of you?» His tone sharpened.
«We love each other!» Maya burst out. «Hes perfect, and we *are* getting married!»
«Finally, some clarity,» David exhaled. «Is he in your year?»
«Yes, same class.»
«First year of uni,» he said, sighing as if the weight of the world settled on him. «Kids.»
«Were *not* kids!» Maya snapped. «Were eighteen! Adults!»
«Fine. If youre adults, then well talk like adults.»
«I dont *want* to talk! Itll just be the same rubbishyoure too young, wait till youre settled, test your feelings. Youre all so *wise* and *reasonable*, but you dont get itwe *love* each other! And you just want to ruin it!»
«Im not ruining anything.» David rubbed his temples. «Im trying to understand. So, you and Oliver love each other?» A defiant nod. «Good. And you want to marry? Both of you, or just you?»
«Dont insult Oliver! He wants it too!»
«Right. So, youve got the desire. Where will you live? How will you afford it? Have you thought about *any* of this?»
«That doesnt matter! If we love each other, nothing else does!»
«Maya, how old are you?» he asked again, quieter this time. «Because it feels like youve regressed to primary school. Love doesnt pay rent. Love doesnt put food on the table. Why the *rush*? No ones against Oliverlet him come over, well talk. Am I making sense?» He turned to Helen.
«Perfect sense. But theres a catch they *do* have a reason to rush.»
«What, is Oliver being drafted?»
«No, not Oliver. Maya. Are you going to say anything, or do I have to spell it all out?»
«Im *not* silent,» Maya muttered. «Were having a baby.»
«Ah.» Davids jaw tightened. «And whats the plan?»
«Were getting married! Keeping it! And dont you dare try to talk me out ofof *this*! Our baby is coming!»
«Calm down! No ones talking you out of anything. But we *do* need to sort this out. Do Olivers parents know?»
«Hes we agreed to tell them today.»
«And? Has he called yet?»
«N-no.»
«Right. When he does, let me know. Now, let me eat before I collapse from starvation over your drama.»
He and Helen retreated to the kitchen, where she quickly reheated dinner.
«What do we do?» she whispered.
«I dont know yet. Honestly, I dont. Lets wait and see what his parents saymaybe well figure it out together.»
No sooner had he finished eating than Olivers call camehis parents were vehemently opposed. A brutal argument had erupted. Bad news.
Fifteen minutes later, Maya reappeared, phone in hand.
«Its Olivers mum. She wants to talk to one of you.»
Helen crossed her arms. «*You* handle it. I cant.»
David shot her a look but took the phone, putting it on speaker.
«Hello, this is David Carter, Mayas father.»
«Laura. Olivers mother. Our son just informed us hes been seeing your daughter. And given her *condition*, things have clearly escalated. Youre aware?»
«Yes, weve spoken to Maya.»
«Good. Then understand thiswe are *absolutely* against these grand plans.» She spat the words. «Our son needs to focus on his degree, his career. Marriage in his first year? A *child*? Not part of the plan.»
«It wasnt part of ours either. But Maya *is* pregnantby your son, I might add. So what do you propose we do about it?»
«Thats *your* problem, Mr. Carter. First, Im not even convinced its Olivers. Second, even if it is, this shotgun wedding nonsense wont work with us. Your daughters cleverOliver comes from a good family, with property and prospects. I *understand* her angle. But as his mother, I *will* make sure she leaves him alone. My husband agrees. Weve spoken to Oliver, and hes come around. Tell your daughter to stop harassing him. What she doeswhether she keeps it or notis *her* business. Goodbye.»
The line went dead.
David turned to his wife and daughter, his expression grim.
«You heard that? Long story shortwell handle this. The babys innocent, even if its fathers a coward. Youll take a leave from uni, return lateryoure not the first, wont be the last. Well help financially, babysit. But those people? Well deal with them later. Spineless, the lot of them.» He exhaled. «Cry if you need to, but not for long. Well get through this.»
Pulling Helen aside, he murmured, «Take Maya with you tonight. Keep her calm. Ill sleep in her room.»
An hour later, the doorbell rang.
«Who the hells here now?» David grumbled, heading to answer.
Moments later, he returned with a young man in tow.
«Oliver!» Maya flung herself at him. «You came for me?»
«Yes. Mr. Carter, HelenIm here to take Maya.»
«Take her *where*?» David folded his arms.
«Not sure yet. Well rent a flat. Were adultsso please dont interfere. Maya, are you coming?»
«*Yes*! Anywhere!»
«Hold on.» David raised a hand. «Press conference first. Your mother said your entire familys against thisincluding you.»
«Not exactly. My mother decided. My father just agrees by default.» He said it smoothly, no pretence. «I played along, then grabbed my wallet, passport, and bank card. Here I am.»
«Well, well.» Davids eyebrows lifted. «So youre here to whisk Maya away, rent a placewith *what* money?»
«Ive saved up. I run a blog, a channel. Enough for a few months rent and food. Ill earn more.»
«Impressive.» David glanced at Helen. «What do you think? Shall we let her go? Seems the lads got more spine than we thought.»
«I dont know,» Helen fretted. «Its late»
«Shes right, no rushing off at night. Lets settle this. Youre getting married?»
«Yes!» They answered in unison.
«And keeping the baby?»
Another yes.
«Then well support youon *conditions*. Oneyou *both* try to reconcile with Olivers parents. TwoOliver stays here tonight. Youre still just Mayas friend to us. Text your parents youre at a mates. Then, *calmly*, tell them the truthno shouting. Threeno dropping out. Especially you, Oliver. Maya will take maternity leave, catch up later. Well help where we canmoney, babysittingbut we wont *carry* you. And keep the wedding quiet for now. Save the big celebration for later. Agreed?»
«Yes,» Oliver said without hesitation.
«But I wanted a *proper* wedding,» Maya mumbled. «Dress, limo, guests»
«Not the time!» Oliver cut in. «Well register quietly, celebrate properly in a year or two.»
«Fine»
«Alright, kids. Plans set, tasks assigned. Early start tomorrow.»
Later, Helen cornered David in the kitchen.
«How did you change your mind so fast?»
«Fast? After that call with his *mother*, I was shaking. Then *he* shows upthought hed be a mummys boy. Turns out hes got guts. Didnt abandon her. Thats the kind of man Id let marry my daughter.»
«Youre always right, love.» She kissed him and went to sort sleeping arrangements.
