Family Ties

“You know, like why do you go to work? To earn money to pay for things you want. That’s an obvious motivation. But why do kids misbehave?”

She thought about it and shook her head.

“Because they want their parents’ attention.”

“So that’s what I mean by a hidden motivation.”

“I still don’t see what—”

“I’ll get there. Hold on. I guess I want to know if you had any hidden motivations when you agreed to marry Simon.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“I loved him! At least… I thought I did.”

She scowled and didn’t answer.

“Look,” I said at last, “I guess this has more to do with me than you.

I glanced at her anxiously.

She didn’t say anything.

“Yes and no. But I thought I should talk to you first, ’cause it’s a big decision, and…”

“Well… I can see myself with you in the future. And it’d affect you too, so…”

Her eyes welled with tears. For a panicky moment I thought she was angry, but then I realized they were happy tears. Neither of us were ready to say it aloud, but we both knew why she was happy.

“So…” I said when she composed herself, “what do you think? Should I think about it some more or should I keep going with architecture?”

“Both!” I said with a laugh.

She laughed too. “The world’s first flying architect!”

“I can design my own targets!”

We laughed and made a few more jokes before we remembered why we were laughing in the first place.

“Do you really want to join the Navy?” she asked. “I’d support you a hundred percent if you do. I’d be proud of you.”

I heard something in her voice. “But…?”

I waited her out, and she eventually grimaced.

“Is that so bad? To trust someone enough that you don’t need to lie to them?”

I grinned and waited for her to turn serious.

“No,” she said at last. “I don’t want you to join the military.”

“Why not?” I asked softly.

“It’s okay,” I said with a laugh. “We’re not painting the baby’s room just yet.”

She nodded without looking up. Then she fidgeted. “Are you upset?”

“That you’re talking about having kids together?”

“No. That I don’t want you to join the Navy.

I thought about it before I answered.

“I can get used to it if you want to,” she said into the silence.

“I… don’t think I do.” I fell silent and tried to put my thoughts into words. “I guess it’s one of those things that’s a childhood dream but isn’t meant to be a grown-up reality. If that makes sense.”

“I wanted to be a prima ballerina when I was little. But then I really started learning to draw and sculpt, and…”

“You fell in love with art.