Chapter 30
chapter thirty
Two days later, we pull up to my parents’ house. Mom invited us over to catch up after the trip, telling us that Dad was barbecuing. Other than woodworking, one of my father’s greatest passions is cooking meat.
Dinner is guaranteed to be incredible.
But despite the promise of good food, Nate is tense the entire drive. He’s said over and over that he’s ready to tell them, but he still seems to dread it.
I’m trying to decide if I should fight my dad or not.
“I’m sure they’ll be happy for us.”
“It’s different with dating,” Nate reminds me.
I hate seeing him serious. He’s so rarely worried that it feels like he floats through life with ease.
Panicking is my job.
“Seriously, I’ll go off on him.”
“No, I need to face this. He’ll get over it ... eventually. After he grills me over my intent with you and how I plan to take care of you.”
“Ew,” I say with a shake of my head. “If I hear that, I’ll remind him I can easily take care of myself. ”
“Still, I’ll have to survive it.”
I’m tempted to tell him to turn around and go home, but before I can, he gets out of the car. I have a moment to take a deep breath before he opens my door for me.
“Let’s do it.” A smile crosses his face, but it’s not the easygoing one I know.
I will be fighting my dad today. If only because whatever he did with Rob has Nate this stressed.
Mom is waiting for us at the front door, and when she sees us, she practically bounces on her feet. She pulls me into a hug so tight it almost strangles me. Then she goes for Nate, but pauses before she gets close.
“Oh, pardon me. I should ask permission before a hug. Maisie tells me you might not like people touching you.”
“She did, huh?” He laughs and then hugs Mom anyway. “I’m happy to tell you she was very wrong about that, Judy.”
“Yay!” Mom says before trying to crush Nate like a soda can. He lets her, but he winces when she lets go.
“You both look like you had fun!” She eyes me. “Maisie, is that a tan?”
“A little bit of one.”
“And your hair .” She gasps. “I just knew a vacation would do you some good.”
“You were right.”
“Come on. Let’s go say hi to your father.”
She grabs both of us and leads us to the back patio, where Dad is staring at his smoker intently. When he turns to see us, he has the same stern expression he always does.
“Take it easy on him,” she murmurs to us. “He’s had a rough day. Something about a newbie using the wrong kind of wood at work.”
“A rough day, huh?” Nate asks weakly. “Awesome.”
“Nate, Maisie,” Dad says. “Come smell dinner. It’s the only decent part of this god-awful day. ”
Nate stares at him like he’s a snake ready to attack, but I join him to see what he’s made. “It smells good,” I reply. “It always does.”
“Thanks. You look good. Healthy.” He turns to Nate. “You both do.”
“That’s what I was thinking, Jeff.” Mom walks over and throws an arm around Dad. “I told you she would be fine on a cruise.”
“Yeah, but not with that idiot fiancé.” He eyes me. “Take a little more time with dating next time. Really think about it.”
My laugh is stilted and I glance at Nate.
We are so fucked.
Mom loops her arm through mine and tugs me into the backyard. “Oh, Maisie, I’ve missed you. Have I shown you how the tomatoes are doing? I’ll have to send some home with the both of you.”
“You haven’t. I’m sure Nate would?—”
“Nate hasn’t seen my barbecue yet,” Dad says. “Why are you hanging out in the corner, kid? Get over here.”
Nate slowly walks over to Dad as I’m dragged away. My parents don’t have a massive yard, so I’m able to hear everything Dad says. Luckily, my father seems none the wiser to us as he tells Nate every detail about how to cook meat.
“And you have to take it really slow. Patience is key. You get me, right?”
“Uh, yeah. Of course I do.”
“Good kid. You always were smart.”
“So,” Mom says. “You seem a little ... tense.”
“Tense? Me?” I laugh. “Not at all. I’m fine. Good, even.”
She raises an eyebrow. “I’m guessing there will be some news at the dinner table, yes?”
“M-maybe.”
“I’ll prepare myself.” She pats my arm. “And your father.”
I have no idea if Mom has any inkling of what I’m about to say, but she doesn’t give me a chance to probe because she launches into talking about all of the tomatoes she has. I help her water the garden before Dad announces the food is ready.
Nate and I always set the table, so we go inside to do just that.
“How are we playing this?” he whispers as we put forks down.
“Mom knows something is coming.”
“She figures things out way too quickly,” he says with a sigh.
“Like the time we snuck into a rated-R movie when we were fifteen?”
He shudders. “I’ve never seen her so mad.”
“I seriously doubt she’ll be angry. And Dad might disagree about the timing, but we’ll be okay.”
“I know we will be.” He takes a breath. “I just ... like how things are right now. It feels like I still have a family, even after my mom died.”
My eyes water immediately. “You do. I won’t let this change anything.”
“I know. But it’ll be different from here on out. I’m just preparing.”
I want to say more, but Dad is bringing in the food and I try to get myself together. Mom follows, and we finish getting everything ready before sitting at the table.
“So, start from the beginning,” Mom says. “I wanna see every photo from the trip.”
“I sent most of them.”
“But not all. And I want details. Such as how you fared near water.”
“Oh, it was something.” Nate laughs. “It was mostly panic at first.”
“I thought you got over your fear of it,” Mom says.
“Not exactly.” I say it slowly. “Rob was the one who wanted a cruise.”
Dad huffs. “Of course he did.”
Mom elbows him. “Jeff. Let’s be respectful.”
Dad doesn’t seem happy about the order.
“It’s fine,” I say. “But having Nate there helped a lot. I actually got over some of my fear.”
“After you fell off a dock.”
Mom chokes on her food. “What? When did that happen?”
“They could’ve done without that detail,” I hiss.
“Second excursion. Some asshole knocked her in. I pulled her out.”
“It was heroic, apparently.” I elbow him. “And it taught me that I need to face some things. I finally had Nate give me swimming lessons.”
“Really?” Mom leans in. “Did you like them?”
“I don’t think I’m ever gonna love water, but I can be convinced to go near it now at least.”
“It’s a win in my book,” Nate adds.
“Did anything else happen on the trip? Or when you got back?” Mom is hedging the news, and I see Dad’s grip on his fork tighten.
Nate and I glance at each other.
“Yes. There’s another thing that happened. It’s big.”
“I have an idea what it is,” Mom says.
“You do?” I ask.
“Yes.” She nods. “You’re back with Rob, aren’t you?”
“No!” Nate and I say at the same time. It comes out with such a ferocity that both of my parents startle.
“That’s some mighty defensiveness there,” Dad says. “From both of you.”
“Let’s just say Rob caused some problems,” I reply. “And that will never be happening again.”
“Good,” Dad mutters.
“What’s the news then?” Mom asks, her eyes wide. “Now I have no idea what it could be!” She scoots to the edge of the chair, watching us intently.
My heart kicks up speed as I say it. “Nate and I are dating. ”
I’m careful not to use the word “together” when Quinn had taken it entirely the wrong way.
Throughout the drive, I had been going through ways that they could react. I considered anger. I considered shock.
And judging by the way Mom’s eyes turn into saucers, I’m definitely getting the second one from her.
I look at Dad, wondering if I’ll see anger on his face. But he’s gone still.
Nate has too.
I hate this.
“So, yeah.” My hand rests on Nate’s leg, which is as tense as stone. “We got together on the trip, and made it official when we got back. That’s the big news, guys.”
I laugh, but both of my parents are silent.
“We meant to tell you as soon as possible,” Nate adds. “But Maisie had Quinn’s party and we both were exhausted.”
“It’s a huge change from what we said we were,” I say. “So, take as much time as you need.”
I wait for a barrage of questions from Mom and the expected quiet contempt from Dad. But they’re still staring at us.
Then Dad breaks the silence with the most shocking sound I’ve ever heard in my life.
He doesn’t laugh often, but when he does, it’s a high-pitched giggle that sounds wrong coming from a man like him.
I’ve heard it just a few times in my life, mostly when his favorite team pulls off a move that no one else should have, or when he sinks his teeth into ribs that came out of the smoker perfectly.
It starts quietly as if he’s trying to contain himself, and then it gets louder and louder until his giggle echoes off the walls.
He’s smiling. He’s laughing.
“You ... aren’t mad, Jeff?” Nate asks slowly.
“What?” he finally says. “Mad? Ha! I knew this would happen. Ever since you two were kids, I was hoping you’d end up together. I almost lost hope. You had me with that loser, Rob, but this? Oh, finally! Didn’t I tell you, Judy? They were never just friends.”
Mom sighs. “You did tell me. And now you’ll never let me live it down.”
Nate looks between them, shaking his head. “You asked Rob so many questions that I thought you were planning his funeral. You’re really not upset?”
“God, no! This is what I needed to hear! Finally you two saw what we all did years ago!”
“To be fair,” I say, “I was the one who didn’t see it.”
“You had a man-child clogging up your vision. I knew what Rob was and I tried to scare him away. But he stuck around.” Dad’s nose scrunches. “Like a little cockroach.”
“That’s what I think about him,” Nate says with a childlike smile. “He never gives up. One day, I feel like he’s gonna grow extra legs and turn brown.”
“Oh, he gave up after I was done with him,” I say.
“True. She thanked him for getting us together.”
Dad laughs again. “That’s my girl! If only I could have been there. I’d love to see that little idiot realize he never stood a chance.”
Nate finally laughs, all tension melting from his body. I turn to him with a smile. “And to think, you were nervous this would change things.”
“Oh, Nate.” Mom reaches across and pats his hand. “We care about you no matter what. Nothing is changing.”
“Except your marital status.” Dad is still smiling. “Which better be soon. I have thoughts on this one.”
My jaw drops. “Dad!”
He pays me no mind. “Judy, it’s time to get out the scrapbook. I have a real wedding to plan now.”
I sink lower into my chair as Nate laughs. Mom gives me a sympathetic smile before she joins in too.
And it’s the best dinner I’ve ever had.