“You have got to be out of your mind if you think you are going to marry her.” He shakes his head. “There is no way. You are a self-respecting mayor. You come from the best family that there is. You have generations upon generations of blue blood.”

“And?” I look at him.

“You can’t marry that woman.” He slams his glass down, and his voice gets a touch louder. “She’s a woman you fuck, not marry.”

“That’s two,” I say, putting up my fingers. “You insult her one more time, and I’m going to forget you’re my father when I slam my fist through your face.”

“You’d better watch yourself.” He glares at me as someone knocks on the door. “What is it, Mary Ellen?”

The door opens, and my mother comes in. “Listen, you two,” she says. “I will not have our good name dragged through the mud. People will think you are in here fighting with each other.”

I look at my mother. “I was informing Father that I’m getting married.”

My mother puts her hands together. “Oh, that is wonderful.”

“To Savannah,” my father tells her, and the smile on my mother’s face drops.

“Beau.” The way she says my name is almost in pity. “That’s not going to happen.”

“Really, Mother?” I put my hands on my head. “And why is that?”

“Well, she has a child,” she starts.

“Mom, are you saying I have to marry a virgin? Because I can tell you right now, your debutante girls are not virgins,” I say, and she shakes her head.

“It’s not just that. She has a child.” My mother wrings her hands. “But it’s just not suitable.”

I look up. “I’m not here for your permission,” I tell them. “Either of you. I’m here just to let you know that I’m marrying her, and she’s mine.” I look at my father now. “And with being mine, that means I will do what I need to do in order to protect her. Even if it’s from my family.”

My mother now sniffles. “This is crazy.”

“I love her,” I say out loud, and my mother just stands there with her mouth open in shock.

“What has love got anything to do with it?” my father asks. “She’s a little slut. You see her. She’s probably slept with half the town already, and you’re the idiot who is going to marry her.”

My mother gasps. “That’s three.” I turn and walk to the door. “Also, that’s your last warning.” I look at my mother. “I take it you aren’t going to offer me your mother’s engagement ring?”

“It’s a family heirloom,” she says.