Jack & Diane by Lena Hampton

better than the ones my mother used to make,” Robert said as he cut off another bite.
    “It’s the freshness,” Jack’s father responded. “We have a place we can get them really fresh.” Once again he was the only one to laugh at his lame humor.
    “I’d love to take some home. Where do you get them from?” Robert asked
    “They raise pigs, I mean hogs, Daddy,” Diane answered her father’s question.
    “Sweetie, can you use your phone to reserve us a room in town. I think it’s best we wait until the morning to head back home.”
    “Nonsense, you can stay here. We have plenty of room,” Rose said.
    “That is a kind offer, but a hotel will be just fine,” Catherine said wanting to be alone with her husband to process the events of the day.
    “We insist. There’s no need for you to spend your money on a room,” Jack’s father said.
    “We have the money so it is not a problem for us to get a room,” Catherine said a defensively.
    “It won’t be a problem to stay here either Catherine,” Robert simply stated to his wife.
    ♥♥♥
    The rest of dinner passed with only a few stilted words. Late that night Jack found a moment of time alone with Robert.
    “May I speak with you a moment sir?”
    “Yes Jack.”
    They walked into the den and sat in two chairs that are separated by a small table with a lamp on it. Jack took a deep breath and began to speak.
    “Sir, I know you didn’t even know of my existence prior to this afternoon. I also know that I’ve only known your daughter for a brief amount of time. That being said, I want you to know that I have thought greatly about this. What I’m getting at sir is that I would like your permission to ask your daughter to marry me?”
    Robert did not say anything for a moment. Jack looked at the desk across the room instead of at the other man. His hands rested clasped together on his lap so that he wouldn’t fidget with them nervously.
    “You definitely have not known her long. Are you certain?”
    “Sir, I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
    “Is she pregnant?”
    “No sir. I respect that she wants to wait until she’s married.”
    “Is that the reason then?”
    Uncomfortable with discussing sex with Diane’s father, Jack smiled an awkward smile. “Not at all, I just love your daughter sir.”
    “If you truly love her now, you’ll love her a year from now. Why the rush?”
    “I’ve come to understand how fragile life can be and not to waste a single moment. I don’t want to squander time when I know this is what I want.”
    “This may be what you want, but what about what Diane wants.”
    “I think she feels the same about me. She is cautious because it isn’t logical to her. I suspect I’ll have to ask her about three times before she says yes.”
    Robert chuckled because he knew his daughter could be overly cautious. “If I say no will you hold off from asking her?”
    “With all due respect sir, I likely will still ask her.”
    Robert smiled. He liked that Jack was respectful, honest and did not back down from his feelings. “Are you trying to have a quick wedding?”
    “Whatever Di wants. The next day or the next year is fine as long as she becomes my wife.”
    “It’s good you know before marriage who is in charge. That being said, the wedding will likely be based on what Catherine wants. Even if she’s not thrilled about you two getting married, which she likely won’t be, there’s no way she won’t have something to do with the planning.”
    “If that’s what Di wants, that’s fine.” Jack simply stated expressing that this was about what Diane wanted and not her mother.
    “I know it’s old fashion for you to ask for her hand, but I appreciate that you did. Alan didn’t bother to. If he had I don’t know that I would have said yes. I never trusted that boy, he has shifty eyes. Catherine and I had only been dating for a couple of weeks before we married. Granted we’d known each other longer