Chapter 29

"Oh my God Morgan, it's so beautiful."

"Congratulations, I am so happy for you. It's really gorgeous."

Joanna and Kim congratulated me on my engagement as we meet up.

"Thank you guys." I laughed as they fussed over the ring.

After Sean engaged to me the other night, I was so excited I couldn't wait to tell them.

"You know what this means right?" Kim asked.

"What?"

"It means you better think of an awesome design for my maid of honour dress because I only wear the best." Kim said causing us to laugh.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't have you wearing anything less than the best." I responded.

"So how did aunty Emma and your dad react to the news?" Kim asked.

"Mom was as excited as you guys are. Dad well he's his usual sarcastic self threatening to hurt Sean if he ever hurts me, but he was happy for me too."

"I know it's still early but have you guys decided on a time that you'd want to do the wedding?" Joanna asked.

"Not really but we've agreed to wait until after graduation to start talking about the details. Sean and I think it'll be a good idea to wait until I am finished with school before thinking about the wedding. That way we can have time to do things perfectly."

"Just remember me whenever you guys are ready to start making the plans." Kim said to me.

"How could I ever forget you?" I laughed.

"So you've told me that Sean's oldest daughter isn't too fond of you...How is she taking the engagement news?" Joanna asked me.

"I don't know yet." I said sheepishly.

"What do you mean?" Joanna asked.

"I mean we don't know how she's going to react as yet." I told her.

"Wait... She doesn't know?" Kim asked in surprise.

"No, we haven't told her as yet. We are going to do that tonight at dinner." I sighed. "I'm totally dreading the moment."

"You probably need to try get her to sit down and you tell her how you feel about her father and see if she'll eventually come around." Joanna said to me.

"She's been trying that for almost two years." Kim said. "I think you're going to need a different approach."

"Like what?" I asked.

"Like try bribing her. Find out what she likes and buy them for her. Try to get on her good side." Kim responded.

"You want me to try to buy her acceptance or affection?"

"It's either that or you get used to living with a hostile stepdaughter that hates you." Kim responded. "Look Morgan, nothing tried, nothing done."

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The night was a disaster. Never in a million years would I ever imagined that when Sean and I decided to break the news of our engagement at dinner, the reaction would be anything like the one we received. Chrissy was ecstatic about the news- sure I was expecting that. I had also expected Aliyah to be a bit upset about it- yell and screamed a bit. but it was worst than we expected- she was livid. She screamed, she complained, she ranted, she even cried- like literally full on ugly cry and not tears of joy either.

I never knew what I did for Aliyah to hate me that much but tonight I finally got a good idea. When Aliyah broke down tonight at the news of the engagement, I got my answer. Aliyah wouldn't have had an issue with me if I wasn't dating Sean.

After all the ranting, there were questions I had that got answered. After losing their mom,

Aliyah and Chrissalice became extremely close. The two of them were both daddy's little girls.

However, Aliyah felt that since Sean and I started dating things changed between them. Apparently, Sean and them haven't spend as much time together as they used to. Some of the things they used to do as a family didn't happen as much as before and she's worried that because of me, the relationship that she and her dad had was going to change more. Basically, she wanted to have Sean's attention 100% and I took that away from her.

Then we got to hear the story of one of her friend who lives with her father and stepmother- who is also a much younger woman. Apparently the woman is a cheating gold digging witch. Her friend's stepmom is the definition of cruel. Therefore, Aliyah was hesitant to accept her father dating a woman who isn't her mom because she doesn't want the same experience as her friend with a cruel stepmother.

Another thing I found out was that Aliyah still hadn't come to terms with losing her mom. When her father remained single, it was easier for her to pretend that her mom had gone overseas or to visit family and would be back. But seeing her dad dating another woman, made it more realistic that her mom was really gone. As much as Aliyah gave me hell from the beginning, tonight somewhat opened up my eyes to how she felt. Sean had to practically lift her in his arms, hugging her tightly after she finally stopped her ranting and broke down. I actually felt sorry for her and wondered if we had rushed into the whole engagement thing a bit too soon.

Chrissy was in the room with me when Sean finally came into the room.

"How is she now?" I asked Sean as he came into the room.

"I finally got her to calm down." Sean sighed as he sat down on the bed.

Chrissy got up and climbed into his lap throwing her arms around his neck.

"She's going to be alright. We had a good talk."

"I hope it helps." I said to him. "I never knew she'd be this upset."

"Me either." Sean sighed. "It's the first time in years, I've ever seen her this upset."

"Do you think we rushed into this?"

"No, no we didn't. We did what was right. She's going to get over it eventually." Sean said to me.

"Daddy?" Chrissy asked. "Is Alli not happy about Morgan being our new mom?"

New mom? I never thought of it like that.

"Don't worry sweetheart, she'll be alright." Sean said to her.

"I like you Morgan. I'm glad you're going to be my new mom."

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The following morning, I was surprised when Aliyah got into the car with me before we left for school. Ever since she and I had fallen out about the lipsticks, she either got a ride from one of her friends or rode in the back of the car. This morning she sat in the front seat and actually told me good morning when she got in.

"Hi." I responded. "Are we ready to go now?"

"Yeah." Aliyah responded as she put on the seatbelt.

"Okay." I nodded as I started the car. "Are you okay now?"

"I'm fine." Was her response.

Well at least that's progress. She usually never wants to talk to me.

"I guess the engagement came as a shock to you huh?" I said carefully, not wanting her to start having another melt down.

"Shock is an understatement." Aliyah responded.

"Okay." I nodded. "Look Aliyah, I know you don't really like me but you don't have to hate me that much. I'm not that bad. And I am absolutely nothing like your friend's stepmother."

"Can we please just drive in silence? I really don't want to have this conversation alright?" Aliyah responded.

"I do. This is the only opportunity I've ever gotten to really speak with you. I know you probably don't want to talk but please, I'd like if you just allowed me this one chance to talk to you." I said to her. "I want you to know that I really do love your father..."

"Morgan, I can see that." Aliyah responded. "I've noticed that you'd worship the ground dad walks on."

I wouldn't say worship.

"Well then you know that I would never do anything to hurt him or jeopardize our relationship." I said to her. "I heard what you said about your friend Akira's stepmother. And I am nothing like her, I'll never be like her. I adore your father and not to mention Chrissy. I'm still trying to get on your good side. I can't tell you that I know what it's like losing your mom and then seeing your dad with another woman but I'm sorry about anything you've been going through. I'm not trying to replace your mom, I'm not trying to take over your family. Your dad loves you and your sister so much and he's never going to stop no matter what. The relationship between you and your dad isn't going to change because I came into the picture. And I know it's hard to accept the fact that your dad has moved on with another woman but I know that he loved your mom very much. Nothing is going to change that fact but I don't think that him being single all these years made him happy.

"You're old enough to understand things Aliyah. If Sean was happy being alone, he wouldn't have seeked out a relationship. He deserves to be happy Aliyah and I try to make him happy at all times if can. Not because he's in a relationship with me doesn't mean that he's completely thrown out all memories of your mom. He's always going to remember her because she left a piece of her here with him. They loved each other Aliyah, and I don't think your mom would want him to be forever unhappy. She wouldn't want you to be unhappy either. I know talking isn't going to do much and I'm not asking you to think of me as your new mom or anything. I'm just asking you to give me a chance. You've practically judged me before even knowing me and I really would like it if we could get along. If there is a possibility that we could even be friends, I would like to try, but that's only if you want to. I can't force you to accept me if you don't want to but I wish you'd at least give it some thought."

"Do I have a choice?" Aliyah responded with a sigh. "It doesn't matter what I think or what I want. You and my dad are going to get married anyway. I might as well suck it up. All my attempts to sabotage your relationship failed anyway."

"Maybe if you stop trying to break us up and give me a chance you'd see that I am not a complete bitch like you think. I can be a pretty nice person you know." I said to her.

"You don't need to sell yourself to me Morgan. Dad already did a good job of that. He's already tried convincing me of just how perfect you are."

"I am not perfect. No one is perfect Aliyah. We both know that." I said to her.

"My dad thinks you are. Try convincing him that you're not."

"I don't have to. He knows that I'm not perfect. He just knows me more than you do." I said to her. "Aliyah, I don't want us to keep fighting alright. We need to get along for Sean's sake. I'm willing to try, it's just up to you now."

"Whatever." Aliyah sighed.

"What does that mean? You're willing to try or..."

"Okay, okay. I'll try." Aliyah responded. "Now please can we just rest this conversation?"

"Alright." I nodded.

We drove in complete silence until we reached the block where Aliyah usually got off and walked the rest of the way up to the school.

"Do you want me to stop here?" I asked glancing at her briefly.

"No." Aliyah responded.

"No?"

"What's the use? Everyone is going to know that you're with my father eventually."