Summery: Youâre relationship with your family is less than ideal. So when you get invited to meet your new born niece, Parker joins as a plus one. Things go south, and you never had some stand up for you the way Parker does.
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You were always the black sheep of your family, the girl that loved color in a beige house and read too much during socialite events and the girl that⊠likes girls.
To say that youâre not close to your family would be an understatement. You really only see them⊠well not much any more. Since you and Parker started dating you spent all holidays with her and her family, so you donât ever see your family any more. The contact you have is texts on birthdays and holidays. It makes you sad that they arenât there but you now know the support and love of a family and what it should look like because of Parker.
Today is the first time you are seeing your family in a couple of years. You are going to see your niece for the first time, sheâs just a month old.
You were excited to be an aunt, but terrified to be around your family. They were cold and judgmental, especially when you came out.
Their judgment is why you were unsure if you wanted Parker to come with you. You didnât want to put her in that situation, but she was too protective to let you go in that alone.
The thing that scared you the most was that you were invited, Parker included, and this feels like they are accepting you and you just hope youâre not wrong. You hope they have changed and grown, and the hope is whatâs scares you.
Parker was scared of that too. She really didnât want you be let down by the people that were supposed to protect and build you up. She had met your family briefly when you ran into them at your cousinâs wedding, and she was not impressed. Not impressed with how cold they were and how uninterested they were in you. She honestly couldnât believe that they had the most amazing daughter and didnât even care, they didnât care about your successful career that you built with no help from them or that you were happy with the life you built.
The drive to your brotherâs house was nerve racking. You have never been so anxious. Parker drove and you bounced your leg until Parker put your hand on your thigh.
âBabe, we donât have to go,â Parkerâs voice laced with support for which ever you choose.
âI want too. This is my niece and I want to be apart of her life,â you pause, debating on voice your other reasons out loud, âand also I want to see if things have changed. I know itâs stupid but I would like for my family to be proud of me.â
âItâs not stupid, itâs normal. I just worry they havenât changed. I donât like seeing you hurt.â
âIâm worried about that too. I hate and love that your coming with meâ you state quietly, a truth you maybe shouldnât voice.
Parker looks at you before turning back to the road, âwhat do you mean by that,â her voice not accusing but curious.
âIâm just scared theyâll say something rude and I donât want you near that. But Iâm selfish and I want you there for support, itâs hard being alone with them.â You play with the rings on Parkerâs fingers, needing the distraction.
âBaby, I get that, but I know what Iâm getting myself into and I can handle it,â she laughed. She thought it was cute you were worried about her, âbut in all seriousness, I wouldnât not let you walk into a situation that stressed you out let this alone. Just like I know you havenât for me.â
Pulling up to your brotherâs house made you sad. You had never been before, you and your older brother were never close. He never protected you, never stood up for you even when your parents yelled or when the kids at school were mean. Now he has a kid and has invited you to meet her with the rest of the family.
You walked in hand in hand with Parker, and everything stops. Like everyone isnât sure how to proceed, until a cousin of yours says hi and goes in for a hug and soon enough everyone follows. All polite hugs and greetings. And surprisingly, everything went smooth, no out of pocket comments, some weird glances but nothing crazy. You got to hold your niece and talk a little with your brother about your job. Your parents kept their distance though, but you didnât mind, it was to be expected. You thought that maybe you and your family could start having a better relationship.
After dinner you were helping clean, while Parker was talking with your uncle about working in the ER in the living room. You were helping your sister in law with dishes when your mother walked in. âI do not understand why you brought your friend to a family event,â Your motherâs voice was cold and filled with disgust.
And there it is. What you were worried about. Once a delightful moment turned awkward and cruel. Your sister in law left the room and you couldnât even blame her, you wanted to follow. âShe is my girlfriend, not a friend and we are very serious. Also we were both invited here not just me.â You tried your best to keep your voice strong. You have really been working on standing up for yourself so this was a proud moment for you.
âYouâre wasting your life with her. You could be having kids like your brother-â
âI donât want kids. Literally never have, but wouldnât know because you never listened. Not that you would even care what I wanted.â You snapped, raising your voice a little.
Parker heard your voice from the living room, it was faint over the conversations in the room and on one else seemed to notice but Parker did. She made her way into the kitchen in the middle of your and your motherâs argument.
âWhatâs going on here?â Parker asked, while walking over to you.
Your mother rolled her eyes, âExcuse me, Iâm having a private conversation with my daughter.â
âDonât talk to her like that,â you again snapped, âIâm over this. You do not get to talk to me or my girlfriend like this.â With that you drag Parker out to the living room and start to say goodbyes to the rest of your family so you could leave.
Just moments before walking out, your mother again storms in and starts a making a scene in front of everyone. âYou were always such a disappointment. You donât belong here, you are not the daughter I raised or wanted.â
âAre you fucking kidding me,â Parker shoved you behind her, facing your mother.
âYou literally have such a brilliant, creative daughter, who has been so successful and you called her a disappointment. You actually have to be out of your mind. She doesnât deserve this.â
You and Parker go to leave again when your mother drags your brother into her fight, âSee, I told you it would be a bad idea inviting her here.â
âI didnât know there would be a fight-â
âNo, your mother just attacked your sister and you are not standing up for her,â Parker scoffed, âhave you ever stood up for her?â
No one said anything. It stung, nothing has changed. âLetâs go, Iâm done,â your voice quite only for Parker to hear.
With that you left and got in the car.
The car ride was silent, not awkward but heavy. There was still an hour to go until home when Parker took the next exit.
You looked at her confused, and she looked over with a little sly smile, âTrust me?â
Parker pulled up to a charming diner, and hoped out before jogging over to open your door. She helped you out of the car before leading you into the diner for desert and drinks.
âIâm sorry,â Parker hated how small your voice was, âI really thought they were going to be different this time.â
âBaby, please donât apologize.â Parker reached for your hand when you started to tear up.
âI just feel so stupid,â Parker squeezed your hand.
âYouâre not stupid, not at all. Youâre so smart and so kind,â Parker got up and moved to your side of the booth and just warped you up in her arms, âand far too good for them.â
âThank you for standing up for me,â you whispered as you buried your face into Parkerâs neck.
You decided to go no contact and not to give them another chance. You have given too many and itâs not fair to you.
Even though today was tough, it just reaffirmed that Parker is your person. Always there, protecting and assuring.
And Parker, well she was just so damn proud of you for standing up for yourself and for her. She thought of the engagement ring sitting in her nightstand. She truly couldnât wait to make you her wife and give you the family you always deserved.