The sympathy in Jessica’s eyes crushes me. She looks over at my father. “I don’t want your money. I want to be clear. I’m not unhappy with my lot in life. I’ve saved my own money, worked very hard, and I make significantly less money than someone else would in my position in your company. I don’t complain, in fact, I’d work for free if I could because, for my entire life, I’ve tried to win you both over. I’m not sure what I ever did, but it really doesn’t matter because you think I’m not good enough. However, your opinion isn’t what counts, is it?” Jessica asks me.

“No. It isn’t.”

“I’ll never be liked by you, and that’s okay because Grayson is who matters.”

My mother volleys her gaze back and forth between us and then to my father.

“You’re what matters,” I assure her.

She grins. “Good.” She turns back to my mother. “Then you can like me or not. You can remind me how far beneath you I am or that my mother once cleaned your toilets, and that’s fine. She did. We’re not ashamed of it, regardless of what you might hope.”

I get to my feet, walk over to her, and extend my hand. “You’re what matters,” I tell her again.

Jessica places her hand in mine. “I know.”

As though I’ve shed my cloak, I feel lighter. I look at my parents without hatred, more pitying because they are the ones who are without. Even if they cut me off, I’ll still have more than I ever could’ve had with my job and money. I have an amazing woman and a beautiful little girl.

“Mom, Dad, I’d like to say it’s been a pleasure, but that would be a lie. I don’t know why you can’t get over this idea that you have a say in who I love, but I choose Jessica. You can both have each other.”

My mother gets to her feet, her eyes shrewd and calculating. “I didn’t want to do this,” she says as she makes her way over to a side table, grabbing an envelope. “I wanted us to talk and discuss things that had nothing to do with Jessica, but you saw this dinner as something else.”

I saw it for what it was, an ambush against Jessica and I. Still, I find myself asking. “Then what was it about?”

She looks to my father and back to me. “I asked you here tonight, Jessica, because regardless of your background and financial situation, I believe that you truly love my son. God knows he’s going to need to feel that.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.