Mother put her elbow on the table and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re really marrying a firefighter, Ellison? No offense, Mr. Maddox, but how do you plan to provide for our daughter?”

He tossed his napkin on the table, his shoulders relaxed. “Ellie doesn’t really need me to support her financially, but I make six figures annually, Mrs. Edson. That ain’t bad.”

“Really?” Daddy said, intrigued.

Tyler shrugged. “I make a lot of overtime, and hazard pay is the tits.”

“Is the…?” Mother began.

“He means it’s lucrative, Mother,” Finley said, glancing at me.

“Well,” Daddy said, loosening his tie. “I think it sounds like they’ve got it nailed down.”

“No, it most certainly does not,” Mother said. “This boy—”

“Meredith,” Daddy barked. “That’s enough.”

Finley looked down, her mouth infinitesimally curving upward. It didn’t happen often, but we both loved it when Daddy finally reined Mother in.

“I don’t see why Ellison can’t stay in the condo as long as she likes. We’ve purchased a New York apartment for Finley, after all.”

“Finley’s not an addict,” Mother hissed.

“Neither am I,” I said. “I’m a recovering addict.”

Maricela brought out a tray full of crème brulee, passing out a small white bowl to my parents, Finley, Tyler, and me.

“Mother,” I said, taking one bite of Maricela’s specialty before I spoke. “Maybe it’s time you accept that your dreams for me are not mine. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and broke your heart, and for that, I’m sorry. I have a long way to go and much to make up for, but I won’t apologize for wanting to keep a job I love and being engaged to a man who has been everything to me. We might have to get our hands dirty for a paycheck, but … I love being gross with him.”

Tyler’s mouth pulled into a half-smile.

“I want to see some of those features, young lady,” Daddy said.

“Yes, sir.” I smiled.

“Dinner was amazing. Thank you,” Tyler said.

Daddy stood up as we did. “It was nice to meet you, Tyler. Looking forward to hearing some of your stories.”

Tyler walked around the long table to shake Daddy’s hand. “I’m looking forward to you seeing the pictures.”

Tyler returned to me and held out his hand. I followed him for a few steps until Mother called my name.

“Ellison? I just want you to be happy.”

I smiled. “Believe me when I say that for the first time in a long, long time … I am happy. Maybe the happiest.”

She nodded, and Tyler led me down the hall and out the front door to his truck. He held open the door, and I climbed in, settling in while he slid in behind the wheel.

“That was…” I began.