Her father stared at her. “What happened to you?” he asked.
“Nothing,” said Nina. “I’ve always been like this. O
r, if you’d rather a different answer: I grew up. Goodbye.”
Her father shook his head. Her mother watched him with an implacable face.
“She said goodbye,” Joel said.
“I’m not leaving without my wife,” her dad said.
Joel stepped up to him. “I’m afraid you are.”
***
Joel thought he might never in his life been as angry with anyone as he was with Nina’s father right now.
That man was no kind of father. He couldn’t imagine a situation in which he’d abandon Zach like that, call him an unnatural monster and never want to see him again. And Zach wasn’t his responsibility like a child was.
As he stepped up to the man, he saw the same fear in his eyes that had been there when he looked at his daughter. This man was terrified of what he thought Nina was, and now Joel too.
And fear was making him cruel. It was overwhelming any human feeling he might have had, in the desperate desire to get away from the thing that scared him.
Joel felt a flash of understanding. He’d been overwhelmed by fear today, too. He’d behaved like a coward, running from Nina because he couldn’t face the idea that they really were mates, and that might be a good thing for them.
But Joel had stopped. He’d turned himself around, faced his fear like a man. He’d stepped up, taken responsibility, treated Nina with respect, and now he was happier than he’d ever been.
Nina’s father, on the other hand, had let fear turn him into an ugly excuse for a person.
“I don’t see what you think you can do,” Joel told him. “Your wife has said she’s not going with you. I’m not going to let you touch either her or Nina. You can leave while I’m still in human form, or you can refuse, and see what I look like when I’m shifted.”
The fear in Nina’s dad’s eyes expanded. Joel could almost see it take over, leaving no room for any other thought.
“A—all right,” he said finally. He tried to look past Joel at his wife, but Joel stepped aside so he was fully between them.
“Go,” he said. “Get out. Now. This is the last time I ask in words.”
Finally, Nina’s dad turned away. Joel watched narrowly as he went to his car, got in, and pulled away. “And stay away,” he muttered as the taillights disappeared down the road.
When Joel turned back, Nina and her mother were talking softly again. “I knew he’d never change his mind,” Nina’s mother was saying sadly. “I was just going to come alone, but he wouldn’t stand for the idea.”
“You don’t have to worry about what he’d stand for anymore,” Joel said grimly.
“Mom,” said Nina. “Did you really mean all that? You didn’t want me to leave?”
Her mother shook her head, tears coming once again. “No, baby. I wanted you back so bad.” She hugged her again, and Nina wrapped her arms around her mom and cried.
Joel smiled at the sight of them together. Nina deserved this. After so many years of no family at all, to get her mother back...that was worth being thankful for.
And no one else had to matter.
Nina pulled back suddenly. “What are you going to do?” she asked. “If you’ve really left Dad—you’re out here with nothing. I—” she looked at Joel. “Maybe she could....stay with us?”
Joel had about an instant to contemplate living with his mother-in-law before Nina’s mom shook her head firmly.
“Absolutely not, baby! Like I said, I thought it would go this way. I have a savings account that’s completely separate, all mine, and I’ve got twenty years’ experience in sales. I’ve got plenty of time before my money runs out, and I’m sure I can find a job, no trouble.” She looked around. “Goodness, it’s beautiful out here. You know, I wanted to move out of the city for years, but I was afraid to leave in case you ever came back and we weren’t there anymore.”
“But Dad—” Nina said haltingly. “You must be—I mean, he’s your husband.”