Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Camilla gazed out the taxi window as they drove away from John Glenn Columbus International Airport, watching the urban landscape gradually give way to rolling countryside.
She had never visited Ohio before, having no real reason or desire to venture to the Midwest. But now, with Jade by her side, she was captivated by the winter beauty unfolding before her.
Fields blanketed in snow stretched to the horizon, broken only by the occasional farmhouse or barn.
Bare trees lined the roads, their branches etched in frost, creating delicate silhouettes against the pale January sky.
As they drove further from the city, Camilla noticed how the land opened up, offering vast vistas.
"It's beautiful," she murmured, her breath fogging the window.
Jade squeezed her hand. "Wait until you see it in spring. The fields turn into a patchwork of green and gold."
Camilla turned to her girlfriend. There was a softness to her features, a quiet contentment. "Are you sure they're okay with me coming?" she asked for what felt like the hundredth time since they'd left Los Angeles. "After everything you told them..."
Jade's laugh was warm and reassuring. "Camilla, I promise you have nothing to worry about. My parents are thrilled to meet you. Yes, they were a bit shocked when I told them how we met, but they're also incredibly excited to meet you."
Camilla nodded, trying to quell the butterflies in her stomach.
She was used to high-stakes business meetings and facing down tough negotiators, but somehow the prospect of meeting Jade's parents filled her with a unique kind of anxiety.
These were the people who had raised the woman she was falling in love with, and their opinion mattered. Really mattered.
As they turned onto a narrower road, Jade pointed out landmarks from her childhood - the creek where she'd learned to fish, the old oak tree where she'd had her first kiss – from a boy, Camilla learned, the quaint general store that claimed to sell the best coffee in the county.
Camilla listened intently, soaking in every detail, imagining a young Jade exploring these spaces.
The taxi slowed as they approached a long gravel driveway.
At the end stood a charming two-story farmhouse, its white clapboard siding and wraparound porch picture-perfect against the snowy backdrop.
A weathered red barn sat off to the side, and Camilla could make out the shapes of cows in a nearby field.
As the car came to a stop, two figures emerged from the house. Jade's parents.
"Ready?" Jade asked.
"No," Camilla joked, but she kissed Jade on the cheek and got out. The cold hit her immediately, and she pulled her coat tighter around herself, grateful for the warm boots she’d packed.
"Jade! Oh, honey, you're home!" A woman who could only be Jade's mother rushed down the porch steps, arms outstretched. She enveloped Jade in a tight hug, and Camilla watched as her girlfriend melted into the embrace, looking for all the world like a little girl coming home after a long time away.
Jade's father followed at a more sedate pace, but his smile was just as warm. He was a tall man with kind eyes, his salt-and-pepper hair peeking out from under a worn baseball cap. When he reached them, he wrapped both Jade and her mother in a bear hug.
Camilla stood to the side, not wanting to intrude on the family reunion.
She took the moment to study Jade's parents.
Her mother was petite like Jade, with the same blonde hair, though hers was streaked with silver.
Her father was broader, with weathered hands that spoke of years of hard work on the farm.
Both wore practical, well-worn clothes - jeans, flannel shirts, and sturdy boots.
As the family embrace ended, Jade turned to Camilla. "Mom, Dad, this is Camilla."
Camilla stepped forward, her hand extended. "It's so nice to meet you both. Thank you for having me."
To her surprise, Jade's mother bypassed her outstretched hand and pulled her into a warm hug. "Oh, none of that formal nonsense. We're huggers in this family. I'm Linda, and this is my husband, Frank. We're so happy to finally meet you!"
Frank shook Camilla's hand firmly. "Welcome to Ohio, Camilla. We've heard a lot about you."
"Thank you. All good things, I hope," she said with a nervous laugh.
"Don't worry," Frank said with a wink. "Our daughter has been singing your praises."
As Frank and Jade began unloading luggage from the taxi, Linda looped her arm through Camilla's. "Come on inside, dear. You must be freezing. I've got a pot of hot cocoa waiting, and there's a fire going in the living room."
Camilla let herself be led towards the house, grateful for Linda's easy warmth.
As they walked, she took in more details of the farm.
There was a serene beauty to the place. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the snow-covered yard, and icicles glittered from the eaves of the house.
In the distance, she could hear the low lowing of cattle and the occasional cluck of chickens.
The farmhouse interior was just as charming as its exterior.
They stepped into a mudroom filled with well-worn boots and coats, then into a cozy kitchen that smelled of cinnamon and chocolate.
Warm woods, cheerful curtains, and family photos covering every available surface made the space feel lived-in and loved.
"Have a seat," Linda said, gesturing to the kitchen table. "I'll get that cocoa."
As Linda busied herself at the stove, Camilla's eyes were drawn to the refrigerator, covered in a collage of photos.
Many featured Jade at various ages - a gap-toothed child holding up a fish nearly as big as herself, a teenager in a high school play costume, a young woman in a graduation cap and gown.
Linda noticed Camilla looking at the photos and smiled. "She's cute, isn't she? Always had that sparkle in her eye, even as a little one."
"She really is. I love seeing these glimpses of her growing up."
Linda came over with the hot cocoa and stood beside Camilla, pointing out a few photos. "This one's from her first school play. She was so nervous but ended up stealing the show. And here's Jade winning the county fair pie contest - she was so proud of that ribbon."
Jade and Frank came in, stamping snow from their boots. "Luggage is all inside," Frank announced. "Now, where's that cocoa you promised, Lin?"
They settled around the table with steaming mugs, and Camilla felt some of her nervousness begin to fade. There was something so genuine about Jade's parents, a down-to-earth quality that put her at ease. They asked about her flight, her first impressions of Ohio, whether she was warm enough.
"So, Camilla," Frank said, leaning back in his chair. "Jade tells us you run a pretty successful business. What exactly do you do?"
Camilla hesitated, suddenly aware of how frivolous her company's focus might sound to these practical, hardworking people. "Well, it’s not my business. It was my father’s company.
I just head up the marketing department.
But we specialize in romantic gifts and experiences.
Things like customized jewelry, elaborate date planning, over-the-top wedding proposals, that sort of thing. "
Linda's eyes lit up. "Oh, you must be such a romantic then!"
Camilla smiled sheepishly. "Honestly, I wasn't really until I met Jade.
But now I understand why people want to make those grand gestures.
She's opened my eyes to so much." She paused, then added sincerely, "I hope you don't blame me for stealing Jade away over Christmas. I feel terrible about that."
Frank waved his hand. "Oh, don't worry about that. We're just happy Jade's found someone special. She takes jobs when she can get them, and we support her career. We had her sister and her husband over for Christmas, unfortunately, they couldn’t make it tonight as they’re at a friend’s wedding."
"Though we do wish we saw more of Jade," Linda added with a wistful smile. "We've visited LA a couple times, but it's just not really our scene and it’s hard to get away from the farm."
Jade reached over and squeezed her mother's hand. "I know, Mom. I'll try to visit more often, I promise."
“I hope you both will,” she said, turning to Camilla. “And that this visit is just the first of many.”