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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I DIDN\u2019T EXPECT HIM TO STAND UP, STARE AT THE PALE, TATTOOED TEENAGER, AND ASK HIM TO LEAVE BEFORE HE HAD EVEN FINISHED SAYING HELLO.<\/p>\n
THEN EVAN QUIETLY PLACED AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH ON OUR DINING TABLE.<\/p>\n
ONE LOOK AT IT, AND MY HUSBAND\u2019S EXPRESSION COMPLETELY CHANGED.<\/p>\n
My daughter Maya was eighteen and extremely private whenever the subject involved boys.<\/p>\n
She had dated before, but the moment I showed too much curiosity, names tended to disappear from conversation.<\/p>\n
So when my phone buzzed while I was preparing dinner and I saw her message, I nearly dropped the vegetables in my hand.<\/p>\n
Bringing Evan over tonight. Please be nice. I really like him.<\/p>\n
I smiled.<\/p>\n
Then another message arrived.<\/p>\n
And please tell Dad to act normal.<\/p>\n
That made me laugh.<\/p>\n
My husband, Daniel, was sitting at the kitchen table fixing a loose cabinet handle.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaya says you\u2019re supposed to behave normally tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
He glanced up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds like a lot of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s bringing home a boy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stopped turning the screwdriver.<\/p>\n
\u201cA boy?\u201d<\/p>\n
He gave me a thoughtful look.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould I ask for references?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n
At least, I hoped he was.<\/p>\n
He went back to the cabinet.<\/p>\n
\u201cMark is stopping by later to return my torque wrench. Maybe he can help with the interview.\u201d<\/p>\n
I lightly tapped his shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaya will never bring anyone home again if you keep this up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel laughed.<\/p>\n
Mark and Daniel had known each other since their twenties.<\/p>\n
They weren\u2019t especially close anymore.<\/p>\n
Sometimes Mark appeared at barbecues.<\/p>\n
They exchanged birthday messages.<\/p>\n
Occasionally, they borrowed tools from each other.<\/p>\n
Their friendship seemed to exist mostly because of history.<\/p>\n
I had never thought much about it.<\/p>\n
At six thirty, the front door opened.<\/p>\n
Maya walked in holding hands with Evan.<\/p>\n
My first thought was that he looked nervous.<\/p>\n
My second was that I understood why Maya had warned us.<\/p>\n
Evan was thin and pale, with dyed black hair that fell almost to his jaw.<\/p>\n
His fingernails were painted black.<\/p>\n
Dark eyeliner framed his eyes, and tattoos covered part of his left forearm.<\/p>\n
He wore black jeans, heavy boots, and an old band shirt.<\/p>\n
His appearance was dramatic, but there was something shy about the way he stood beside Maya.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, Dad, this is Evan.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, Evan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel didn\u2019t respond.<\/p>\n
He simply stared.<\/p>\n
For several seconds, nobody moved.<\/p>\n
Then Daniel\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n
He stood so quickly that his chair shifted behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maya blinked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked directly at Evan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you should leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed at first because I assumed this was another badly timed father joke.<\/p>\n
Then I saw Daniel\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
He was serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, but he needs to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maya tightened her grip on Evan\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, what is wrong with you? You haven\u2019t even talked to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
That irritated me.<\/p>\n
Daniel had spent years teaching Maya not to judge people based on clothes, hairstyles, tattoos, jobs, or money.<\/p>\n
Now he was reacting to Evan before the boy had even had a chance to sit down.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel, enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
He never looked away from Evan.<\/p>\n
\u201cSarah, please. Just trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n
MY DAUGHTER HAD NEVER BROUGHT A BOYFRIEND HOME BEFORE, SO I EXPECTED MY HUSBAND TO EMBARRASS HER WITH A FEW OVERPROTECTIVE-DAD JOKES. I DIDN\u2019T EXPECT HIM TO STAND UP, STARE AT THE PALE, TATTOOED...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n