Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
I felt misty-eyed with joy and relief when Mom and Dad stepped onto the curb from baggage claim. Turning on my car’s flashers, I jumped out to greet them. “I’m so happy you’re here!” I exclaimed.
They both grinned as they reached to give me a hug. “We’ve been counting the days until our arrival,” Mom said. “And you look positively radiant.” Dad agreed wholeheartedly.
Rita stepped out of the car to greet them. “I’ll be spending the whole week with you, and I’m looking forward to helping with the final details for the wedding.”
Mom gave her a hug, too. “It’s so nice to finally meet you in person, Rita. I know we’ll have fun.”
While Dad and I loaded their bags, he offered to drive, yet I wanted to show him that I could handle the challenge. “Thanks, but I’ve got it,” I told him. He looked proud of me.
Rita offered her front seat to my father, then scooted into the back seat with Mom. The two of them began chatting like old friends which worked out well for me because I could concentrate on the signs for the exit leading to the correct highway.
Confusing as it was, I managed to find my way to the more familiar Blue Route and breathed a sigh of relief. At that point, I asked, “How was your flight?”
“Very pleasant,” Dad replied. “We had a layover in Atlanta, but no problems.”
“Good, and I’m glad we have a whole week together.”
“Me, too, honey. Your mother and I are looking forward to getting to know Brad.”
I wanted so much for them to feel comfortable around him. “He’ll be joining us for supper tonight,” I relayed.
“That’ll be nice, Jodie. Do you have any doubts as the big day approaches?”
I gave a firm shake of my head. “Not at all. He’s different from Tony, and that’s okay. I know you and Mom will come to love him.”
“We trust your judgment, hon.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“We’re also looking forward to seeing Heather again.”
I gave a quick glance his way. “I don’t know if she’ll make it to the wedding.”
Mom commented from the back seat. “I thought you asked her to be a bridesmaid.”
“I did, and she even has her gown, but her daughter told me she might not be able to join us.”
“You need to call Heather,” Mom said.
I nodded. “I will, but I wanted to give her space. We brought her daughter from the shore, and she’s staying with Brad’s sister. I think they’ll stop by tomorrow.”
To my relief, Rita jumped in with an explanation about her grandson’s budding relationship with Heather and Alicia’s upset response. “I’m sure they’ll all work it out, even if their troubles are untimely.”
“I hope so,” Mom replied with a sigh. “It never fails, though. Weddings precipitate high anxiety, so we all need to stay calm.”
I glanced in the rear view mirror to see if she had directed her comment to me. I wasn’t sure because she’d turned to Rita for affirmation, but I assumed so. Rita caught my eye and winked as she said, “That’s excellent advice.”
I took a deep breath, then kept my eyes on the road.
I pulled into the driveway for Quality Landscapes just after five o’clock. After explaining that Brad’s grandfather built the manor home and gave a parcel of land to Brad’s father, I pointed beyond the trees aligning the property. “Brad inherited his parents’ home next door, so we’ll live there.”
Rita interjected, “You’ll always have an apartment in Stone Harbor—at least as long as I’m alive.”
I smiled, continuing along the circular driveway to the back parking area. “Thank you, Rita. You know I love it there. And this is where I moved last January when Heather offered me a place to live in exchange for clearing out her aunt’s consignment shop.”
“That was a stroke of good luck,” Dad said.
I parked the car and shut the engine. “Yes, it was. Do you remember my nervous rants about the place? Anyway, everything worked out fine.”
“And you met your future husband,” Mom reminded me.
As if on cue, Brad pulled his truck next to me and grinned. I wanted to give him a passionate kiss for his good timing, but I merely said, “And here he is.”
As we exited my car, he sprinted toward us. “Welcome! I’m so happy to see all of you.” I merited a quick kiss, then introduced my parents. Rita received a peck on her cheek which, she told him, needed some work on execution prior to the wedding. He blushed and we laughed.
He and my father carried in the suitcases, while Rita, Mom, and I started preparing for supper. Brad told Dad, “We might as well take these right to Jodie’s bedroom since you’ll be sleeping there.”
Dad frowned. “Where will my daughter be sleeping?”
I hastily intervened. “I’m going upstairs, Dad. Brad and one of his workers moved Aunt Bertha’s bed from his house the other day. I’ll use that as my bedroom until after the wedding.”
“Your mother and I can sleep upstairs, honey. There’s no need to make things difficult for yourself. Besides, if I recall, you never wanted to sleep in Aunt Bertha’s bed.”
I couldn’t stifle my giggle. “That’s true, but I’ve made peace with the idea.”
“Well,” Dad noted, “Brad and I will take the bags upstairs and he can show me around while you girls do your thing. So far, I like what I’m seeing here.”
Brad caught my eye as if to say he’d figured out my father and could handle him. I could only hope.
Supper for all five of us seated around the kitchen table was fine—and even enjoyable. Of course, I relegated my computer to a bookcase for the evening, and we were a little crowded, but we had enough food and good conversation that I didn’t worry.
Rita announced our dessert while I cleared the table. “I’ve heard that some among us like apple pie with ice cream.”
Dad grinned. “Count me in!”
“Me, too,” she echoed.
Brad collected the rest of our dishes while I sliced the pie, then he scooped large portions of vanilla ice cream for the top of each piece. The two of us served our guests, then sat to join them, and I thought my parents enjoyed watching us work together.
“This is a cozy little place,” Dad remarked. “Will you rent it out once you move in with Brad?”
“That’s the plan.” I told them about Nina, Paolo, and their little baby, Marli. “I’m happy for them.”
My mother caught my eye. “Will you miss it here?”
“I’m not sure. It never felt like home, yet I was able to grieve for Tony and Chet until I could let myself move on.” I reached for Brad’s hand and squeezed it. “I never thought I could—until I met this wonderful man. He and I shared similar stories and we gave strength to each other.”
“And he’s a pretty decent guy,” Rita added. “You should see the bathroom renovation he did for me.”
Brad squeezed my hand in return while Rita carried on the conversation about his many skills. I only half-listened because my heart had its own story to tell. He and I kept that between us.