"I said they're waiting for your blessing and high school graduation," Melissa said slowly, "It's clear that they love each other very much and want to do things right."
Martin looked over to his wife, and as much as he wished be happy to be in her presence again and embrace her and do other things with her, a portion of her answers regarding their daughter and Eric Anderson were puzzling to him. They were young and happy, and he figured that in four years, at the earliest, one of them would propose to the other. He wondered why waiting until High School graduation was so critical.
"Of course they want to do things "right," but love's definition of what is "right" isn't always the same as someone else's," Martin commented.
"Well... for Julie and Eric... "right" might be a bit faster than for others," Melissa said to him, "In a way... they are the inverse of us in EVERY way."
Martin blinked as Melissa bit her lip for a moment. She was clearly nervous about something, but he let her continue.
"Julie is playing your role and Eric is playing mine," Melissa said slowly, "and unlike us... where I... where I held you back from happiness..."
"You didn't hold anyone back," Martin interrupted, feeling the strong urge to be there and comfort her. "You had to be free to make your own choices and to be ready. And I loved you dearly. I would have waited a hundred years if that was what it took, because then it would be right by you."
"But... but I was so stupid," Melissa actually broke down, tears flowing down her cheeks as she slid across the couch and hugged Martin with all her might, "we were so happy together when it happened... and I pushed that back..."
"You aren't and weren't stupid," Martin said to her and held her to him, "Things like Moon Lake can be very surprising to those who aren't familiar with it beforehand. And regardless of the happiness we've shared as mers, forcing you into weremer society before YOU were ready wouldn't be right and would undercut our shot at happiness as you would know that I'd taken your choices away in the matter."
Melissa only sighed and let her head rest on Martin's shoulder and let him hold her.
"Feel better?" Martin asked her.
"Yeah," Melissa said after a moment.
"Now, with Eric and Julie...?" Martin asked.
Melissa nodded and sat back, "Well... unlike us where things went slowly... their courtship has been quick."
"A part of that was something we already knew," Martin commented, "they're both so young..."
"Yes, but it's faster than what we'd even expected," Melissa said weakly, "for... well... after his transformation into a weremerman, Eric gave Julie a pearl necklace..."
Martin's eyes widened in surprise, knowing what pearl necklaces meant to weremers culturally.
"A... a..." he managed to stammer.
"From what Julie's told me, his mom had the idea for it to be a sort of "promise ring," but felt it was even more appropriate after his transformation," Melissa said weakly, "but they have agreed to wait on the ceremony until after high school graduation."
"Okay..." Martin said slowly, "I trust that that's all that they've had...?"
"Outside of possible prophecy dreams, sure," Melissa said weakly, "which according to what Julie's said... is that after they graduate from college, they begin having children of their own. Eric Junior and Melinda... but that's AFTER college according to their dreams."
"Just dreams," Martin said slowly, as if trying to assure himself, "that includes the necklace?"
"No, the necklace is real," Melissa answered, "they do truly love each other... they're fully courting each other to be happy."
"It's all so fast," Martin said slowly.
"Which is why they want your blessing and are eager to wait for high school graduation when it would be legal for them to marry," Melissa answered, "I'm sure you'd prefer that they waited until later to get to where they are now... and there is plenty about it that has me somewhat nervous as well, but they do want things done as "right" as possible and to be happy."
Martin paused and took a deep breath, "and Julie is still on her pill?"
"Her weremer birth control pill?" Melissa asked back and then nodded, "Yes. Yes, she is."
Martin did feel some relief at that. He'd heard plenty of tales about prophecy dreams, but he also knew that telling what were prophecy dreams from standard dreams and nightmares was near impossible. That raised some potential fear that Julie's romance was progressing far faster than normal, even for Moon Lake and even for weremers, and that was his biggest fear.
"And he loves her?" Martin asked after a moment.
"As much as she loves him," Melissa answered, "you watch them look at each other... and you can see their eyes twinkle."
Martin nodded and was quiet for a moment. He did eventually look over to his wife, "well... I'm not sure that I'm fully ready... but so long as Eric is respectful and Julie is happy and they wait till after high school at the earliest... they'll have my official consent."