Dottie walked towards the path. She had seen various sides of the argument. Besides Claire and Reuben, she had also gone and talked to her parents. Her younger siblings had also given their advice as they were at home at the time. Her siblings were quite enthusiastic of the prospect of gaining another family member, and she had been told of their excitement the prospect of getting nieces and nephews in the future. After that embarrassing conversation, she had left her family home with the knowledge of her family's support and advice. Her end decision? She wanted to meet his parents. She wanted them to know that he was not ashamed of knowing her, and that she was not ashamed of their son. Even if she didn't meet Reuben on the path, she was going to be talking to him while she was there so that if she got arguing that she wouldn't be heard by her place's neighbors.
"Hi, Dottie."
She had reached the path and Reuben was waiting for her.
"Hi, Reuben. How are you?"
"I am fine. I've thought my side over and gotten advice from some people I know."
"And?"
The tension was audible in her tone.
"I'd like to hear more of your side, but as far as I know, I really don't want to. However, it is starting to look like I have to."
"Look, I really want to meet your parents. One, I am not ashamed of being your girlfriend. Two, it is showing honor to your parents as your parents, even if you do not like them as people. Three, we need to have some sort of family blessing if we are going to be doing this."
"It's looking like I have to because of two things. One, I don't want them to have the idea you are 'on the wrong side of the tracks' morally. That would give them more ammunition to try to drive me away from my brother. Two, I really want to introduce you to my brother, and this is honoring our shared connection. My brother and my parents have a better connection, and they may tone things down in front of him. We are very close, my brother and I, and I want the introduction to be right for his sake, even if it isn't for my parents'."
"Fine, then. We are agreed."
"Unfortunately."
"We are."
"Yes."
"Hmmph."
Reuben glared at her and fell silent. Dottie, seeing his glare, also fell silent. After a few minutes of walking, she sighed.
"What's up?"
"We just argued while agreeing that we had to do something, even if our reasons aren't the same."
"Hmmm."
"I do agree that putting myself in front of them does not sound pleasant."
"No, it won't be."
They walked on a bit further, thinking.
"We will be meeting with just your brother after that?"
"That would be greatly appreciated. Thank you."
The rest of their time that afternoon together was much less tension filled after that. The two streams of life had joined together just a little bit more.