“Shane, don’t-” Molly protested, grabbing at the phone, but it was too late.

“Mr. Kroll? My name is Shane McCutcheon. I’m marrying your daughter.” Shane waited with baited breath for Leonard’s response.

“Put my daughter back on the phone, please,” Leonard says briskly.

“No, sir. I’m sorry, but I can’t do that yet. I know this is a lot to take in all at once, but please, love Molly enough to accept her choices. I love your daughter more than anything and she loves me. We’re going to be married with or without your blessing, but it would mean the world to us if we had your approval.” With that said, Shane hands the phone back to Molly.

She takes a deep breath and says, “Daddy? Please, listen…”

“That’s quite a woman you have there,” Leonard says, still taken aback by Shane’s words.

“Yeah, she is,” Molly says proudly, as she takes Shane’s hand.

“Molly, I’m sorry. This is just really hard for me. I feel like I don’t know you anymore,” Leonard says, defeated.

“I’m still me, Daddy. I’m still your little girl.”
            “I know,” Leonard says. “It’s just…so much has changed in your life, it seems, and I’m not a part of it anymore.”

“Yes, you are,” Molly declares. She takes a deep breath and continues, “Shane and I are getting married in three weeks. Why don’t you come out the week before so we can all spend some time together and you can get to know Shane?”

Leonard exhales sharply and says, “Okay.”

“I love you,” Molly says, in a tone of voice that reminds Leonard of his daughter as the little girl he would tuck into bed at night.

Sighing, he says, “Love you too honey. Bye.”
            “Bye,” Molly says, hanging up the phone. She places it on the table and then hangs her head in hands. “That was hard,” she admits.

“I know, baby, I know,” Shane says, rubbing her back, as Alice, Tasha and Jenny come over to the couch.

“We’ve all been there before, Molly,” Alice says, placing her hand on her shoulder.

“Believe it or not, it does get easier,” Jenny says, as she sits next to Molly and pats her knee.

“Thanks,” Molly says. “It could have been worse I guess. He’s still going to come out for the wedding.”

“That’s huge,” Tasha adds. “He’s just reacting right now. He wasn’t expecting to hear that. You just need to give him time. He’ll come around.”

“Yeah, I know,” Molly says, wiping her tears away. She sits up ad takes another deep breath. “I’m not going to let it get to me. I’m getting married to the person I love and he either accepts that or he doesn’t.” She kisses Shane on the cheek, stands up and extends her hand to Shane. “We’ve got a wedding to plan. Come on.”

Shane smiles and takes Molly’s hand. She stands up and as Molly begins to walk towards the kitchen, Shane wraps her arms around her and walks with her. “That’s my girl,” she whispers into her ear.