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‘Dan, sit down.’
‘I’m going in there.’
‘No! Dan, stop it. Come back.’
‘They can’t be doing that.’
‘Dan, sit down and be quiet or I’ll exile you to the den.’
‘You can’t seriously be okay with this.’
‘They’re seventeen. It’s a perfectly acceptable age.’
‘No, I have to talk to him first before he-‘
‘No, you don’t. Maddy is very capable of making these decisions on her own.’
‘She’s too young. They’re both too young.’
‘Dan, need I remind you of-‘
‘That was different!’
‘How?’
‘Because- Well, because-‘
‘Because you were in control of your own actions?’
‘We were 18!’
‘You were 18. I was 17. Which is how old Maddy is.’
‘…But…she doesn’t know how she should be treated. For that matter, how does he know how he should treat her?’
‘How did you know what to do with me? How did I know what to do with you?’
‘Well…you told me…and-‘
‘Exactly! Communication. They talk to each other non stop so I’m sure this won’t be an issue for them.’
‘How do we know they’re being safe? I don’t want a pregnant teenage daughter.’
‘We don’t, for sure - Dan, sit down - but I’ve talked to her about it. I am sure the Vaughans have also spoken with him. And schools teach sex ed now.’
‘So, what, he’s just been carrying protection around, waiting for this moment?!’
‘Would you rather he hadn’t?’
‘Hmph.’
‘Plus, it was the formal tonight. End of school freedom, plus the high of partying with friends, something like this was bound to happen. Maddy was beautiful, I’m frankly not surprised he found her irresistible.’
‘But what if he pressured her into it?’
‘Dan, have you forgotten who your daughter is? Maddy couldn’t be pressured to do anything she didn’t want to do even if it was from the devil himself.’
‘We should tell the Vaughans.’
‘No we most certainly should not. Rhydian will let them know in his own time.’
‘I don’t want them doing this in my house.’
‘They already are, sweetheart.’
‘Anymore.’
‘It’s Maddy’s house too. Where do you suggest they do it then?’
‘Anywhere else.’
‘How do you know the Vaughans won’t say exactly the same thing when it inevitably happens there too? Do you want them to do it at school? Bernie’s? The moors?’
‘Hmph.’
‘We’ll pretend we don’t know. Let Maddy tell us when she’s ready.’
‘No, I have to speak with her in the morning. Can’t have her making any irreversible mistakes.’
‘Dan, look at me. Maddy is smart. She’s mature. She knows what she’s doing. She doesn’t want any mistakes either, and I would assume that goes for Rhydian as well. They will be careful. It’s best for us to trust her. Overbearing parents is the last thing she’d want. Especially when it comes to something as private as a sex life. She will tell us when she’s ready.’
‘But…I’m not ready.’
‘Oh, come here. I know you aren’t, darling. Neither am I. I’m not ready for our little Maddy to be so grown up. But sometimes we just have to accept these things.’
‘Should make them get married first. Should be the rule.’
‘You think you could have waited that long?’
‘Would’ve married you straight away.’
‘I’m sure they would too, if that were a rule.’
‘Wouldn’t let them. I’d make them wait.’
‘Imagine your father, or my father, had stopped us from having sex. Or getting married.’
‘I’m allowed to complain.’
‘Of course you are, sweetheart. Just not too loudly. And make sure you turn a blind eye to Rhydian escaping in the morning.’
‘Fine.’
‘Good.’