Attention to new readers
This is a mini-story which serves as a continuation of the story "The Return of a Soldier" and as a prequel to "Life of Bay". I hope you enjoy it.
Ty got out of his truck. His palms were sweating. He looked at the Kennish household and felt faint. It was 9 PM and he was about to break the news to John and Kathryn that he would be marrying Bay and taking her with him to live in Germany. They were going to kill him he was sure.
Bay looked at his face and took his hand in hers. She tried to give him a reassuring smile, but he could see that she was nervous as well. He could feel the tacos churning around in his stomach. Maybe having indulged in a meal before facing the wrath of the Kennishes had not been such a good idea after all.
They both took a deep breath and walked through the door. John and Kathryn were sitting in the kitchen having a tea and glancing over some paperwork. They raised their heads when they heard them come in. John smiled at them.
"Ty, nice to see you. Did you come to watch the game with me? It starts in 10."
Kathryn looked at Bay.
"How did your exams go honey? Did you eat?"
Bay was standing against the wall with her hands laced behind her back. Showing the engagement ring right now was not the best of ideas.
"My exams went really well and yes I ate. We had diner in East Riverside."
John got up.
"Right then Ty, let's go. We can catch a bit of the pre-game report."
Ty wiped his hands on his pants.
"Errrr, John….we came to talk to you about something."
John and Kathryn looked at their faces and looked slightly worried.
"What's wrong?" John asked.
Ty took a deep breath.
"I'm being deployed to Germany for two years."
John and Kathryn looked alarmed and shot a look at Bay. Kathryn looked puzzled when she saw Bay's face.
"I'm so sorry to hear that Ty. Bay, are you ok?"
"I'm fine Mum. In fact I'm more than fine."
Kathryn and John looked even more puzzled. Was that their daughter standing in front of them? Overly dramatic Bay, who they expected to be screaming and crying and begging John to keep Ty here?
Ty nervously looked around the room. It was now or never.
"John, I've asked Bay to marry me…" he blurted out.
"And I said yes!" Bay said and held out her hand with the engagement ring.
They could see the colour drain from Kathryn and John's faces.
"You've done WHAT?" John said with a raised voice.
"I love Ty, Dad. It's the only way we can be together. If we get married the Army will provide for our housing and my travel. I can finish my semester here and then transfer to the University of Heidelberg if they'll accept me."
Kathryn took John's hand and looked at him pleadingly.
"You are taking my daughter to live in Germany? Bay, you're not pregnant are you?"
John's voice was still raised. Bay blushed a million colours of red and Ty looked at the floor.
"DAD! Of course not!" She looked dreadfully embarrassed.
"I think we need to sit down and talk about this." Kathryn said.
They took their seats around the kitchen table.
"Bay, Ty, tell us your plan." Kathryn spoke first.
Bay looked a bit more relieved and took over.
"Ty is being deployed in five days. I thought we could get our marriage license tomorrow and get married at City Hall the day after. I would spend the next six months here and start learning German and then join Ty as soon as the semester is over."
"How are you planning to support yourself?" John asked.
Ty chimed in.
"I'll support her John. I don't make much, but it'll be enough. We don't have to pay rent and utilities."
Bay interjected.
"And college costs next to nothing in Germany. The only thing I might ask you is to help me pay for the flights so I can come and see you during the University breaks. They are super long in Germany. I remember that from the time I was looking at art schools in Berlin."
Ty looked embarrassed.
"There's no need for that Bay. I'm sure I can put some money on the side to pay for your flights."
John raised his hand.
"There is no way I can stop this, is there?" He said.
"Dad, we love each other and if I had gone to college somewhere else than KC it wouldn't be so different would it?" Bay looked at John pleadingly.
"No, I guess it wouldn't." John conceded "But this is another continent."
"I'll take good care of her John, I promise." Ty looked exhausted.
"I know you will, son, but it doesn't mean I have to agree with this."
Bay left her seat next to Ty and sat between John and Kathryn. She took both their hands in hers. She had tears in her eyes.
"Mum, Dad, please, please give me your blessing. I don't want this to be like Toby's wedding. I need you by my side."
Kathryn squeezed Bay's hand and sighted.
"Oh honey! Of course we will. This is just such a shock for us. I've seen you together and I know there is something special there. I just think you're so young."
"Mum, I know, but I need to be with Ty and I'll still go to college and get my degree. It's not like I'm dropping out to raise a baby."
They heard the doorbell ring. Kathryn looked confused.
"Who could it be at this time?" She asked.
"It's Regina and Angelo." Bay said "I told them to come, but I wanted to talk to you first."
Ty went to open the door. He stepped into the kitchen with Regina and Angelo in tow. They looked at the scene in front of them and felt a sense of dread.
"What's going on?" Regina asked worried.
"What's going on is that our daughter is getting married and moving to Germany." John said.
"WHAT?" Angelo asked in a raised voice "Are you pregnant?"
Bay rolled her eyes and blushed again.
"No, I'm not pregnant. Geeez, why does everyone keep asking this?"
"Then why?" Regina asked.
Bay and Ty told the story again and were met by dissent once more. Ty ran his hand through his hair. Doing this once was hard enough. Doing this twice was a pure suicide mission. He heard the raised voices around the table and wished he could just scoop up Bay and take her somewhere quiet. Bay looked drained as well. She had moved back to sit next to Ty and he had his arm wrapped around her shoulder.
Finally it seemed that the voices settled back to a normal level. There seemed to be some resigned acceptance now. Bay looked at Kathryn and Regina.
"Will you help me chose a dress after we get the license tomorrow?"
Kathryn and Regina gave each other a resigned look.
"Of course we will Bay and I will do your hair and make-up." Regina said.
"Thanks Regina."
"We should tell Daphne" Ty said.
"I'll text her. She won't make it back from Texas for the wedding, but we have to let her know." Bay said.
Daphne had been attending a culinary school in Austin for the past 6 months and was having the time of her life.
Bay yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"I'm exhausted. I need to go to bed" She said.
"Yes, I'm heading back to the barracks if that's ok with you." Ty looked around the room.
They said goodbye and Bay walked Ty to the door. Ty took her in his arms and rested his head on hers.
"That was something else." He whispered in her ear.
"You bet. Well, we've done it now. They'll be fine eventually. It kinda of helps that I'm not pregnant."
"Maybe soon?" Ty gave her a wink then laughed at Bay's shocked face.
"Not for a couple of years Ty!"
"I know babe, in the mean time we can have fun trying." He smiled at her "I can't wait to put a ring on your finger, Ms. Kennish soon to be Mrs. Mendoza."
Bay smiled and kissed him.
"I love you."
Here is the first chapter of "Germany, here we come!"
I hope that you have liked this chapter and I can't wait for your feedback.