A peculiar sense of weightlessness had taken over Lolly’s entire being. Everything looked brighter and shinier. The impossible had happened and she had never, ever thought that it would. Little doubts echoed in the back of her mind but she pushed them away. This was an important now. This was the first time a boy had ever liked her back. Ever. She followed Pa into the trailer and they began their Friday night ritual. It was good to have him home.

Snuggled on the sofa with Fluff, they watched their shows. Pa was happy. That was good. Munch was most likely at home sulking, but there was nothing she could do about that right now. When their programs were over and it was almost time for bed, Pa cleared his throat and said, “There is something I need to talk to you about.”

Please God, don’t let this be the SEX talk. She’d already had that with Grandma Toady. This was going to be so embarrassing.

Pa pulled a small box out of his pocket and set it on the coffee table. Lolly froze. Was that what she thought it was? In a tense voice, he said, “Estelle and I have been talking and well, we think we have wasted enough time.”

The question, Doing what?, reverberated in Lolly’s head.

Pa’s voice broke a little, “I am going to ask her to marry me.” He reached for the box and opened it. Inside was a square cut diamond solitaire ring.

“This week?” Lolly blurted out, “Munch is going to freak out, literally.”

“Yes. I know. I am sorry about Munch.”

While Lolly was not opposed to them dating, this was entirely different. “How many dates have you been on? Its too soon.”

“Is it? We have known each other for years. We love each other. We want to be together.”

“What about Munch and me?”

Pa smiled at her, but she did not return the smile. She had just had an amazing day and one of the most important moments in her life had occurred, and he was dumping this on her. He said, “You two are best friends, you get along. What would change?”

This was the big question and a really stupid one. As much as she loved Munch, being with him seven days a week was going to be a tough gig. “First off, where am I going to live. There is not room in that house for all of us.”

“Ma and me were talking about that this afternoon. We could move the trailer out to the farm and you would still live with her.”

Unexpected hurt filled Lolly’s chest. In a small voice she said, “And when you are off, you will live with them?”

By the look on Pa’s face, Lolly guessed he had not thought of this, nor had Grandma Toady. She knew Grandma Toady was in a rush to get her precious Trace married off and loved up like he deserved to be, but had she thought about Lolly at all?

Slowly Pa said, “I see your point. Maybe we could add a room or something to the house. Or build a new one."

She held up her hand. “Hold up.” Tears filled her eyes. She felt like she was on a train headed toward a brick wall. This trailer had been her home her entire life, well the part of her life that she actually remembered. It was home. Grandma Toady was home. Pa was the on going guest in her life. It wasn’t fair that his one week off would change the three weeks he was not home. Tears slid down her face.

Pa said, “Talk to me, Lolly, what are you thinking?”

“I don’t want my whole life to change.”

“Your whole life will not change, just parts of it.”

He didn’t get it. He was in love, he reeked of it. For the first time in his life someone, loved him back. In a small way she could understand that, but this was so fast and too much. And then there was Munch. If she was upset, she hated to think about what Munch would be.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“If she says, yes,” which, Lolly knew she would, “when are you going to get married?” A small space of silence hung between them. What would he say? Deep in her gut, she knew.

Finally Pa said, “I got vacation coming up in January.”

Two months. In two months her's and Munch’s worlds would be turned upside down. Would Mrs. Dutchendorph agree? Of course she would. What would she call her when she married Pa? Mrs. Phelps, that sounded dumb. She had always called her Mrs. Dutchendorph. She would not call her Mom or Estelle. Maybe she wouldn’t call her anything.

Pa spoke again, “I am going to ask her tomorrow night.”

"Tomorrow? As in Saturday?"

"Yes."

In Lolly's mind the train hit the brick wall with a thundering crash. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. She asked, “When is Munch going to be told?”

“That is up to Estelle.”

“Well, I sure wouldn’t want to be there when she tells him.” Lolly picked up Fluff, got up off the couch and went to her room without saying goodnight. In her room she threw herself on her bed and cried stormy tears. She should be all caught up in the wonder of the fact that Trevor Long liked her, but oh no, not her. Fluff nudged her arm with his head. She pulled him close.

*

Saturday night, Mrs. Dutchendorph brought Munch over before the date. He had to fit Lolly’s dress. She hadn’t seen it yet. The entire night was going to be a farce. How in the hell was she supposed to pretend things were fine, when they were NOT? Though Lolly reluctantly hugged Pa, Munch did not hug his mother good bye or even speak to her. He shot daggers at Pa. When they left he bitterly muttered, “Wonder which hotel he is going to drag her to.”

This offended Lolly. “Don’t talk like that about Pa.”

Munch just shrugged. He sat down on the couch and pulled the dress out of his bag. It was mostly machine sewn but he had done some hand stitching on the bodice. His hand sewing was immaculate. “This is really beautiful Munch.”

“Thanks.” He looked up at the TV and asked, “Can you turn that on?”

“Sure.” Lolly turned on the TV and settled into the recliner. It was going to be a long night. One show lead to another. Time drug on. Lolly wished she could talk to Munch about what was happening, and what was going to happen but she couldn’t. Feeling like she would explode if one more silent moment passed between them, she asked, “So how far along is your collection?”

“The pants and vests I made for Max and Trevor are finished. I still have to finish, the shirt I am making for Kevin. I got Aunt Jessie’s dress altered for Mama. It looks okay. I brought Grandma Toady’s dress. I need to check the hem.” He returned to his sewing and didn’t say another word.

The phone rang. In the kitchen, Grandma Toady answered it. It was probably one of her quilting buds. Lolly heard the receiver being put down. Grandma Toady came into the living room and said, “It is Trevor. If you want to take it in my room, you can.” Lolly couldn’t help but notice, Grandma Toady’s eyes had that romantic shine. She was such a sucker for romance.

“Okay.” She went to Grandma Toady’s bedroom and shut the door. She took a big breath and picked up the phone. “Hello.”

“Hey, Lolly, are you busy?”

“Not really. Munch is here sewing. Our parents are on a date. I am just watching TV.”

“So you can talk?”

Well hopefully she could talk, if only the words would line up properly in her brain and come out her MOUTH. She said, “Yes.”

He asked, “Is Munch okay?”

Though she had no intention of telling Trevor anything, the whole story just flowed out of her like a torrent. She had never spoken so many words to Trevor Long in the entire time she had known him. She fell silent.

“Wow,” he said. “That is tough. I’m sorry that’s happening. So they are getting married in January?”

“According to Pa. There is an off chance, that Mrs. Dutchendorph might not be in such a rush, but I just have feeling she’s gonna agree.”

“Do you think Munch will go ballistic?”

“Oh yeah.”

After talking to Trevor, Lolly felt a little better. When she went into the living room Munch actually looked up from his sewing and asked, “So how is lover boy?'

“Don’t call him that.”

Munch smirked.

Around 11:00 Pa and Mrs. Dutchendorph returned. Mrs. Dutchendorph was trying to hide her glow, but she was utterly failing. Pa looked like he was going to bust out in song. Munch eyed them both and said, “I’m tired. Can we go?”

Lolly prayed they were not about to spring their news on Munch. It was late, he was tired. To her relief, they didn’t. Mrs. Dutchendorph said, “Of course.” She lightly squeezed Pa’s arm and headed out the door with Munch.

As soon as the front door closed, Grandma Toady pounced. “What did she say Trace?”

Pa’s eyes sparked with happiness. “She said yes.”

Grandma Toady threw her arms around him. “I am so happy for you son.”

All Lolly wanted to do was run to her room, but she forced herself to remain where she was. Pa did deserve to be happy. Her mother had left him. He had known the worst kind of rejection. Mrs. Dutchendorph would never do that to him. She loved Mrs. Dutchendorph. It could be a lot worse. The question that hung in her mind was, Would Munch be able to see that?

When Grandma Toady let go of Pa, Lolly hugged him. She did not ask if they had set the date or if they had figured out the living arrangements. Instead, she told him, “I am happy for you.”

Hearing her words, brought a peculiar expression to Pa’s face. He said, “I know this is not going to be easy, but I do believe we can make a family.”

No, it was not going to be easy. Maybe they could make a family, but Munch was not going to join peacefully. She nodded and said, “Good night.”