Chapter 23 Elizabeth
ELIZABETH
Is Jon really here, standing on my parents’ doorstep?
While I’m shocked to see him, it’s such a nice surprise. When he told me he had plans, I took that at face value. But he’s here and I don’t have to suffer my family alone.
Although I didn’t think this far ahead. What will I say when I have to introduce him? Hey guys, this is Jon, my boss/the man buying your company/my boyfriend.
My father and brother would have a field day lighting into him.
“Thank Dani?” I ask curiously. “Oh no. What did she do?” I know my best friend well, and she would be one to go above and beyond to make me happy, but getting there is always reckless.
Laughing, he explains further. “I met with Chase at the bar, and she was already there, getting comfortable with him. Apparently, they’ve been sneaking around for a few weeks now.”
I shake my head and laugh. That is such a Dani move to get Jon to come see me. “So she talked you into coming?”
“I didn’t need too much convincing,” he replies. “I missed you and immediately wished I had accepted your invite the moment I got to the bar.”
Smiling, I realize I’ve been keeping him outside in the cold and invite him inside. “Just a warning,” I whisper to him as he stands beside me. “My family can be a little much sometimes.”
“What family isn’t?” He takes his coat and scarf off, and I take them, putting them on the coat rack by the front door.
He stays awkwardly looking around the house, and the commotion from the living room catches his attention. Like clockwork, my father and brother are sitting on the couch, screaming at the television as they watch the football game.
Jon smiles at me before walking closer and standing in the doorway, watching along with them.
“Oh, come on!” Dad yells and points to the TV. “Karl, did you see that. What a bullshit call.”
“That was a fumble,” Jon comments out loud. “The refs never make the right calls on the Christmas game.”
Both Karl and my dad stop and turn their heads to look at Jon, and my heart stops. I’m praying that they are at least polite with Jon, but I have only brought one other boy home in my life, and it was my senior year of high school.
That didn’t go well when they found out that his parents were these rich people who were the reason that their favorite deli was sold. What will they do when they find out that Jon’s company is buying their jobs out from under them?
I can feel the sweat beading on my forehead as they stare. “Who the hell is this?” Dad asks in the typical protective father’s voice.
“Dad, this is Jonathan. He’s … my date for this evening.”
The room then falls silent, with their judgmental eyes sizing him up as he stands tall beside me. “Well, you’re right about that, Jonathan,” Dad continues. “I think the refs are paid off to make bad calls.”
My body instantly relaxes as Dad tosses Jon a beer and invites him to watch the game with them. Maybe since I’m grown, his view on my dating life has changed. I think he will always keep a little bit of that protective side, which I’m okay with.
“He’s cute,” my mom whispers as she walks up with her arms folded, watching the men be men.
“I know, right. Oh, Mom, he honestly couldn’t be a better person for me. He’s perfect.”
My mother and I continue talking about Jon as the men scream at the game, and it’s odd to see this side of him. The fact that he immediately fits in with my crazy family only makes my heart swell more for him.
“Okay, boys,” Mom announces. “Five minutes and then dinner is done, and I want you at that table. Come help me grab the food, Lizzy.”
The counter is full of delicious food when I step into the kitchen. Freshly baked dinner rolls, a large ham with pineapple slices surrounding it, candied yams, and even a fresh apple crumble pie that she loves to make for every holiday.
As we strategically set the table for the feast, Jon walks up behind me. “Whoa, Mrs. Morgan. This is the most delicious looking display I’ve ever seen.” Mom giggles and blushes.
“Well, thank you, Jon. You can call me Mary. Alright, fellas, it’s time to eat. Lizzy, grab that bottle of champagne off the counter.”
Jon takes the seat next to me, but across from Karl, and we start loading our plates and filling our flutes with champagne. Before anyone digs in, my mother raises her glass, and the rest of us follow her.
“To family, to good health, and Lizzy’s new friend, Jon,” my mother toasts, and then we begin digging into our plates.
Jon thanks her and takes a few bites. There’s a slight shift in his facial features as he chews.
Almost a bit of sadness, but when he sees me watching, he smiles half-heartedly, switching his mood.
“So, Jon,” my dad starts in. “How did you two meet, since this is the first I’m hearing about you, and now you are here?”
“Dad,” I scold and shake my head. “Don’t mind him, Jon. He’s not as much of a hard ass as he likes to put on for people.”
Jon laughs. “No, it’s okay. We actually met at work.”
“Oh, so you two work together, then?” Mom cuts in, trying to lighten the mood. “That’s nice.”
I clear my throat and set my fork down. “Actually, Dad,” I say. “He’s … my boss.”
Their eyes widen, and they exchange glances. “To be honest,” I continue. “I didn’t even know he was my boss until he promoted me. But we’ve been working closely for a little while, and it kind of just happened.”
“Oh, so you got the promotion before. Well, that’s good, at least.” Karl’s voice breaks the awkwardness, and everyone, including Jon, laughs.
The topic finally changes back to football and then to Dad and Karl’s jobs. I grow increasingly more nervous because I know something will be brought up, and I’m not ready to ruin Christmas.
“So, Jon. What exactly do you do at your big company?” Dad asks, and my stomach drops.
“Oh, come on, Dad. Enough of the work talk. Let’s keep things light.” I have no other choice but to steer the conversation elsewhere. This lovely dinner will quickly go south if they find out anything yet.
Mom cuts in and begins telling us funny stories from our childhood, and the mood is picked back up rather quickly.
Deciding to invite him for Christmas may not have been such a bad idea after all.
Jon fit right in the second he arrived, and other than the strict father persona Dad is putting on, everyone really likes him.
Once dinner is wrapped up, Jon and I help my mother clear the table before I offer him a tour of the rest of the house. I figured if he is going to be around, he might as well know how I grew up.
First, I show him the back deck that was just built a few years prior and the spacious backyard. Since he’s seen most of the first floor, I drag him up the light orange carpeted staircase leading to the second floor.
“I apologize for the seventies shag carpet,” I laugh as I open my childhood bedroom door. “Also, for my dad being … well, a dad.”
“Oh, stop. I had a blast. Your family is great, and this room is gaudy,” he changes pace as he steps inside my old room. The walls are half pink and half purple.
Posters of boy bands line the wall behind my polka-dot comforter-covered twin bed. My white vanity is still plastered with stickers and holds a few trophies from high school sports.
“Wow …” he exclaims again.
“I know. I was a very expressive teenager, I guess.” I sit down on the edge of the bed and watch him pick up each trophy and read the plaques.
“How many sports did you play?” he asks, setting one of the trophies back down.
“I think about five. I was never one to sit at home and be bored out of my mind. When one season ended, another began, so it was perfect.”
Laughing, he walks over and sits next to me. “Thank you again for the invite.”
“Not a problem.” I rest my head on his shoulder. “I’m really glad you decided to make it after all.” He kisses the top of my head, and I look up, giving him a real kiss on the lips.
As he pulls away, I remember the point at dinner where he looked sad. “Hey, earlier when we started eating, what was wrong?”
“You saw that, huh?” he replies. Sighing, he stands up and paces the room. “I haven’t had a meal like that since before my mother ran off. It just tasted like home, is all. Before everything got so screwed up.”
His explanation melts my heart. I couldn’t imagine being alone my entire life like he was. Never getting to feel the warmth of a family dinner or even a home-cooked meal. I assume his father always did takeout.
I stand and join him, throwing my hands around his neck and kissing him on my tiptoes. This time, there’s a lot of emotion behind his lips. It draws me in, and before I know it, we are lying on the bed making out.
It’s something I never was able to do when living here because my dad would never allow me to have a boy in my room. I feel like I’m sneaking around, and it’s exhilarating.
After a few minutes, I can feel myself wanting to push things further, but this would be the worst place to get caught, so I pull away. “We should probably get back downstairs before they come looking for us.”
Jon laughs. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” We stand and make our way downstairs to join the rest of my family. The boys are catching the last few minutes of the game, and my mom is standing, leaning against the wooden doorway, watching with them.
“Thank you all again for the meal and the warm welcome,” Jon says with a smile before turning to me. “I have my car outside. Do you want a ride back to the city?”
Nodding, I accept his offer. I hug my family and thank them again for being nice to Jon before being escorted out to the car. Jon opens the door, and I slide in. The drive home is spent with my head on his shoulder and my fingers interlaced with his.
This has been hands down the best Christmas I’ve had in a long time, and it’s all thanks to Jon showing up and saving the day. But I can’t help but wonder if my family caught on to me as I kept steering the conversation away from work questions.
I don’t have a plan as of yet to tell Jon or my family, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep up with this lie.