A Visit from the O'Briens

“Are you the dirty old man trying to date my daughter?”

You hear as soon as you open your apartment door. The person asking you is someone you haven’t seen before, but someone awfully familiar. He’s a clean shaven man, both his head and face; his build is stocky, and looks like someone who works out, but more farm strength than gym muscles; and standing next to him is a sea of red hair.

“Dad! Don’t call him that!” Maddy shouts in irritation to her father’s choice of words.

“Fine. Just an old man then.” The man, apparently Maddy’s dad, corrects himself.

“He’s younger than you, son.” Mr. O’Brien points out to him with a chuckle.

“Don’t push it, Dad.” Maddy’s dad replies.

“Oh Connor, stop it. He’s just Maddy’s idol, that's all.” A woman, about the same age as Connor from the looks of it, tells him.

“You must be Maddy’s parents. It’s nice to finally meet both of you. I’m Jay.” You greet them, and offer a handshake, which the woman you assume is Maddy’s mom accepts.

“Nice to meet you, Jay. I’m Liza. My daughter’s a huge fan of your books.” She greets you back as she shakes your hand. “Well, I’m sure you already know that after having her hang out here with your girls.” Liza continues, and you chuckle at how embarrassed Maddy looks, but it’s not like her mom wasn’t speaking the truth about Maddy’s fandom.

Connor hesitates after Liza lets go of your hand, and you offer it towards him. When he finally takes it, his handshake is firm and strong. Maybe a little too strong.

“I’m Sergeant Connor O’Brien. Maddy’s father.” He introduces himself as he shakes your hand. You’d think he was trying to intimidate you with his handshake and saying his military rank, but he seems professional enough to let go of your hand before it really hurts that you just assume that’s his normal handshake.

You say hi to Maddy finally, but just with a hand wave, since a hug might be too forward in front of her father; and you’re still feeling out his level of comfort with you. You also greet Maddy’s other siblings that you haven’t met yet. From the looks of it, it seems Tricia’s the eldest and Maddy’s the second eldest, as their three other sisters all look younger than both of them.

“May we come in, young man?” Mrs. O’Brien asks you, and you step aside and invite the O’Briens inside your apartment. Connor walks past you immediately while his wife gives you a pleasant smile as she passes by, while Maddy’s three younger sisters walk past you with their mother. Maddy awkwardly glances at you as she passes, but doesn’t do anything that might trigger her father, while Mr. O’Brien greets you with a playful tap on your shoulder, as he and Mrs. O’Brien go inside.

“Hey, Mr. Craig.” Tricia greets you as she enters your apartment last. “Mom and Dad are allowing me to stay with Grammy and Grandpa Rick for the summer too. I don’t know how they convinced my dad, but I have this weird feeling I have you to thank for that.” Tricia then greets you, offering you a handshake as well.

“I’m glad to hear it, Tricia.” You greet her back while shaking her hand.

“Maddy! Oh my God!” You hear Stella shout from the couch. You can only imagine how embarrassed she and Cassie must be if the O’Briens saw them in their splayed positions on the couch, looking as lazy as possible, when they first entered. “You should’ve messaged us you were bringing your family!” Stella then adds.

“Please, have a seat.” Cassie offers them seats on the couch, as she and Stella take turns hugging Maddy.

“Not that it’s inconvenient, but why didn’t you guys message us that you were dropping by?” You ask Tricia, while you have her separate from the others.

“Dad took our phones. He’s lightening up after his talk with Grammy and Grandpa Rick, but it’s still baby steps.” Tricia answers you. “Still, I can’t believe he allowed me to stay here without needing much convincing. Maddy had to fight tooth and nail and give a presentation for why she should come here for school, let alone come here early, before she was allowed.” Tricia adds.

“Don’t be too surprised. Maddy has you to thank for chipping away at your dad to be more lenient, I’m sure.” You tell Tricia with an assuring smile, trying to say that older siblings usually play that role, but Tricia actually blushes in reaction after hearing your response.

It’s her embarrassment that reminds you about what Maddy told you regarding the pregnancy scare that drove her father to become even stricter. You realize, now that you’re sure that Tricia is Maddy’s eldest sister, that Maddy was talking about Tricia as the sister that went through that pregnancy scare. You try to play it off and gesture for you and her to join the rest of the group in the living room, and she can hopefully forget you even made the comment.

“Guys, this is Stella and Cassie. Stella is Mr. Craig’s daughter and Cassie’s her best friend, and they’re both Mr. Craig’s girlfriends.” You hear Maddy introduce Cassie and Stella to the rest of her family who haven't met you three before.

“Are the others busy today, Mr. Craig?” Maddy then asks as she looks towards you.

“Becca is definitely busy; but Brooke, Viv, and Tanya will all be back before dinner.” You answer Maddy.

“Are you telling me that all those women you just listed are all your girlfriends?” Connor asks you with a straight face, not necessarily voicing displeasure or his disapproval, but you can hear a hint of it.

“Yes.” You answer him honestly, not even qualifying Becca’s status since you don’t think you need to anymore.

“So, what? You need a girlfriend for every day of the week, is that it?” Connor asks you, still with a straight face.

“Dad!” Maddy shouts her displeasure.

“Connor!” Liza shouts in reprimand as well.

“What?” Connor asks his wife defensively. “Liza, he’s not even denying that he wants to date our eighteen year old daughter!” Connor adds.

“I don’t have to deny it. I do want to date your daughter.” You clarify calmly, getting gasps from everyone, including Maddy. There’s no reason to pussyfoot about it anymore, and possibly hurt Maddy’s feelings in the process again. You know she likes you, and you know she wants to be one of your girlfriends; and you didn’t want to send a mixed message by not admitting it given the opportunity.

“Of course, it’s not just up to me. It’s up to Maddy too.” You add, trying to subtly tell Maddy that she should tell her parents that that’s what she wants too. Mr. O’Brien just laughs at your brazen admission of your intent for his granddaughter to his son.

“Of course, it’s—” You’re about to add that you, of course, would like their permission to openly date their daughter, but Connor cuts you off before you could.

“That’s where you’re wrong, big guy. That’s up to me.” Connor then corrects you.

“Up to us, honey. We already talked about this.” Liza immediately corrects him.

“Shouldn’t it be up to me?” Maddy finally chimes in.

“Of course, Maddiecakes. It’s ultimately your choice. Definitely. But as your parents, your father and I just want to make sure you’re making good decisions.” Liza tells her.

“My idea of a good decision isn’t dating someone twice your age. Let me just be upfront about that.” Connor comments.

“My idea of a good parent isn’t controlling your kids' life when they’re already adults, but that’s just me.” Stella side comments right after, getting a chuckle from Mr. O’Brien and Tricia, the latter immediately trying to hide it as to not incur repercussions from her father.

“I don’t appreciate your rude comment, young lady.” Connor tells her.

“Stella, that was out of line. Apologize to Mr. O’Brien.” You reprimand your daughter.

“Sergeant O’Brien. Mr. O’Brien’s my father.” Connor corrects you.

“I’m sorry, Sergeant O’Brien,” Stella apologizes… to absolutely nobody. “I’m sorry if you thought my comment was rude; because I meant it, and you needed to hear it.” Stella adds right after.

“Enough, baby.” You tell her.

“Oh~. I see how it is. You just allow your brat to run her mouth and pretend you do parenting after.” Connor comments, getting a loud “Connor!” from his wife in reprimand, while Maddy and Tricia both shout at their dad in reprimand as well. You even hear Cassie shout “Excuse me?” in offense, while Stella shouts, “You don’t get to call me a brat!”

“ENOUGH!” You shout to try and get a hold of the situation, and everyone looks at you in shock; obviously not expecting you to raise your voice louder than everybody else.

“Stella! Apologize. Now!” You tell your daughter as authoritatively as you can.

“I’m sorry.” Stella apologizes, genuinely this time.

“Now you.” You immediately address Connor.

“Excuse me?” Connor looks at you, appalled that you’re asking him to apologize.

“I understand that my daughter may have offended you, but you don’t get to call her a brat and question my parenting in front of me.” You tell him confidently. “Apologize.” You tell him again, and you can see Liza nudge him and give him a suggestive look with her eyes to apologize as well.

“I apologize.” Connor tells you, and you’re waiting if he’ll do the same thing Stella did and add something, but he doesn’t. “Sincerely.” Connor then adds, as he may have noticed that you were probably waiting to see if he meant it or not.

“Apology accepted.” You reply.

“Now you.” Connor returns your words to you.

“I apologize for my daughter’s behavior and for shouting. Sincerely.” You apologize as well.

“Look at that. You boys can talk calmly.” Liza comments. “Isn’t this better?” Liza asks, obviously trying to defuse the situation further.

“There’s just something about this house that induces shouting, doesn’t it?” Mrs. O’Brien comments.

“Agh. Don’t remind me.” Mr. O’Brien chimes in.

“So that shouting match happened here, I take it?” Connor asks his parents.

“Oh your mother told you about that, did she?” Mr. O’Brien asks his son.

“Liza did.” Connor confesses.

“You boys had your conversation while you were out fishing, I had mine with Mary.” Liza says, basically saying Mrs. O’Brien sharing that story wasn’t such a big deal.

“I still can’t believe he gets off scot-free for all the stuff he pulls as long as he buys you Auntie Angel’s donuts.” Connor comments in disapproval of his parents method of patching things up.

“If it works it works, honey.” Liza tells Connor.

“Oh, please. You used to love those donuts too.” Mrs. O’Brien points out defensively.

“Oh! That’s a great idea actually! Connor was meaning to go there anyway.” Liza then shouts in realization. “Why don’t you boys buy us some of those donuts and you can have your little talk on the way there?” Liza suggests, and Tricia audibly supports the suggestion with an “Oh yes! Please, Dad?”, and Mrs. O’Brien voicing her agreement as well.

Connor looks you up and down, then back to Liza who gives him a look that can only mean there’s no discussion to be had. Liza then turns towards you and giving you the same look she's giving Connor for a split second, before giving you a beaming smile.

“Umm~... is it okay if I go with them?”