In a Real Love

"Your dad hates me," Ben said.

"He loves you," Miranda told her boyfriend, touching the front of his shirt, listening to him groan. Ben hardly ever got rattled, but whenever he was in the presence of her father, he shrunk an inch.

"Yeah, right."

"Because you love me." Out of habit, Miranda turned the knob and found that it was locked. She reached in her purse for the key to her parent's house. The knob jiggled.

"C'mon in, ya'll," Elena said opening the door for them. Miranda stepped into her childhood home first followed by Ben. She looked around, not much had changed, but living away from home since college had made everything seem different.

"Hey, mama," she said hugging and kissing her mother's cheek. "How are you?"

"I'm good, daughter of mine."

"Mrs. Bailey," Ben said.

"Ben, I swear. Call me, Elena. You're old enough now," Elena told him, taking his coat.

"I just don't want you to jump me," he said hugging the older woman. She hit his shoulder. "See!"

"I thought I heard voices," William said coming out of the kitchen. He threw a towel over his shoulder. "Little girl."

"Daddy," she said moving to her father. She put her arms around him and he hugged her tightly. "What's up?"

"Nothing much. I see you brought your knucklehead of a boyfriend," he said for only her to hear.

"Be nice. He already thinks you don't like him," Miranda responded. "And your chest?" She asked dropping her arms. Her father had just had a minor heart attack.

"Everything is still ticking in there," William said tapping his chest and making the other two laugh. Miranda rolled her eyes. "Hello, Ben."

The two men shook hands. "Mr. Bailey or can I call you William?" Ben looked between Elena and Miranda and back to William. The older man didn't answer.

"Of course, you can call him William," Elena said taking the towel from her husband's shoulder and hitting him with it.

"Ready for dinner?" William asked.

"Yes!" They responded.

Miranda followed behind Elena into the kitchen. "I thought daddy was cooking."

"Yeah, the meat. You know that man can't make macaroni and cheese or yams to save his life." Miranda giggled. The two women talked as the sides finished cooking. "Go and tell them to get ready."

She left the kitchen and walked toward the living room. Only the TV provided sound. She started to round the corner when she heard Ben speak: "She really is incredible, you know?"

"Excuse me?" William said. Miranda could tell that he was genuinely confused.

"Your daughter. Miranda. She—I love her."

"I know. And she loves you, too. I can see it." William said. Miranda moved stealthily against the wall so that she could get a view of her father and her boyfriend while staying out of sight.

"And William, just so you know, I have the very of intentions being in love with Miranda."

William rubbed his head and looked at Ben. "Look, as far as any guy I'd want my daughter with, you're…" He sighed. "Pretty good."

Ben chuckled. "Woah, it almost sounds as though you like me." He smiled.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, knucklehead," William laughed. The younger man joined in. "As long as you continue to make her happy, Ben, I'll like you."

"Yes, sir."

Miranda smiled and made a bunch of noise to let them know someone was coming. Ben stood up as she walked into the room. "Food's almost finished."

While they had dessert and coffee after dinner, Elena asked, bluntly: "So, do you two have any plans to get married?"

"Mama!" Miranda said blushing.

Elena didn't notice and continued: "In a year or two? Because if that's the case, we need to get started on the planning now."

"What about kids?" William added.

"Yes! And about how many?" Elena asked.

"What? Why? Mama! Daddy!" Miranda screeched. She glanced quickly at Ben who was eating his apple pie, unbothered.

"We're making wills and need to know what we should be prepared for."

"What are you two doing?" Miranda asked looking at her parents.

"We just want to know what the future holds for Miranda and Ben?" Elena said sipping her coffee. Ambushed. That's how she felt right now. Her heart was pounding and in addition to turning red, she was seeing red.

"Are you guys looking for a house?" Miranda's father asked. "We can help, I know a guy."

"Excuse us for a second, parents." In her old bedroom, Miranda walked back and forth, annoyed. Ben cleared his throat and smiled down at her. "Why are you smiling?" She asked.

"Why aren't you?" He responded.

"Because they're making wills and asking questions about stuff we haven't even really… I mean, seriously, talked about."

He sat on the bed and lay back. "We've been together for a while—since college—I assumed you knew that marriage was somewhere on the table."

"How could I know that?" She asked standing over him.

"Don't you want to get married to me?"

She bounced from foot to foot. "Yeah, I guess. Sure. That's not the point."

He smiled. "And we talked about having kids when Ariana was born."

She nodded slowly, "But that was in jest, not anything for real." He rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "It's like when men propose to women after great sex."

Ben laughed, uncontrollably. "Miranda…" She pushed him and motioned for him to move over and got into bed beside him, putting her head on his chest. "So, let's move in together. Let's start looking at houses and going to open houses. We can't afford one now, but we'll be able to—eventually."

"Are you being serious?" She squinted at him, trying to see if he was lying. "Like really serious?"

"Yes, I'm serious, baby. You're the only woman I want to build a future with. I am in this. One hundred perfect. I assume you feel the same."

Miranda leaned over and kissed him. "Maybe."

They were quiet for a long time. "So, do you want to have sex in your childhood bedroom?" Ben asked.

"You are so damn weird! And tactless," Miranda added as he slid a hand up her skirt. She gasped and squeezed her legs together. "Stop."

He put his hand to her mouth. "Your parents are going to hear us." He touched her gently between her thighs and she squirmed. He kissed her and rolled off of the bed. Ben held out a hand for her. "Ready to go and face your parents?"

"Only if you're by my side?" Miranda said.

"No doubt," he reassured her pulling her out of the room.