26. Chapter Twenty-Six ~ Emma
Chapter Twenty-Six ~ Emma
“I want to meet them.”
“What?” I sit up a little straighter in the bed, confused at his sudden outburst.
“Your family. I want to meet them.”
“Oh. I … I think they would really like to meet you,” I admit with a nervous smile.
It’s not that I’m afraid my family will embarrass me, at least, not any more than any family would embarrass their loved one when meeting a new partner. But I’m nervous about whether they will like each other.
Coming from two totally different worlds it’s entirely possible that Chris won’t really like my mother and Leann. And what would I do if that happened? Or what if Mom and Leann don’t like Chris?
Could I really be with him, and continue on with all of this, if the three most important people in my life don’t like each other?
A part of me says maybe this is what I was really hiding all along. That if they don’t like each other, it could mean the end of everything.
“They’re obviously important to you,” he tells me, “and I want to let them know that I plan to take care of you.”
I can’t help but smile at that, leaning closer to him and reveling in the way that his arms wrap around me. Just being here, held by him, feels perfect. But what is it really? Is it really everything that I hope it is?
With a soft sigh I shove the intrusive thoughts away. There’s no need to worry about any of it. Instead, I’m going to focus on just enjoying this moment. And figuring out just how I’m going to introduce the man I’m falling in love with to my mother and my sister, who don’t yet know the whole story of it.
In the end, it winds up being a lot easier than I thought it would. Because Chris wants to have them over for dinner so everyone can get to know each other in a comfortable place instead of at a restaurant. So the next time I go to visit I promise I’m going to invite them.
Which happens to be that very weekend.
Leann has been feeling better. And in fact she’s been back at school all week. So when I walk in the door, it’s an hour before I can even get a word in edgewise, but finally she takes a breath and Mom uses that as an opportunity to speak.
“No bag of gifts this week?” The comment is a slight dig but she’s been grumpy about not knowing what’s really going on so I don’t take it too hard. Instead I give a small smile and shake my head.
“No, but … about that … I … I’m in love with someone.”
“In love with someone?” Leann practically squeals because the last time I was with someone was well, a long time ago.
Mom also looks intrigued though also somewhat suspicious. “Is that where all the gifts came from? This new guy of yours thought he could buy us off before he met us?”
“No, Mom. That’s not it. He didn’t … he didn’t know I was bringing that stuff to you. It’s just … look, it’s all very complicated. But I want you to know that I’m with someone and he’d like to meet you. Both of you.”
Again Leann squeals and Mom actually looks somewhat pleased. The fact that a guy I’m dating would like to meet my mother obviously sits well with her.
“All right. He can come over for dinner.”
“Actually, we’d like you to come over for dinner at our place.”
Now she openly gapes at me and Leann’s mouth drops open in surprise as she glances from me to Mom.
“Your place? Emma Randolph, you mean to tell me that you are living with this man and you’ve never so much as introduced him to me before?”
“It’s been kind of a whirlwind.”
“Well …” She seems like she’s at a loss for what to say but Leann still looks excited about the entire thing.
“When do we get to come over?”
“How about Sunday?” I ask. “I’ll come get you and bring you over.” I don’t want to give them the address of the house because I don’t want Mom to know just how rich Chris is until we’re actually there for dinner. Giving her too long to think about it will only make her more nervous. Or suspicious. Or … well, I don’t really know what but I’m sure it’s not going to be good.
“All right,” they both agree and Mom actually gives me a small smile. “Sunday.”
With that I breathe a sigh of relief and get out of there before I say something that sets off her suspicions again. This is going to be interesting enough without giving her any ammo before we get started.
Chris, on the other hand, is excited about meeting them and spends all day Saturday grilling me about what they like to eat and making sure that the chef is going to prepare it. All of it. From fried fish and potatoes to baked mostaccioli and garlic bread. He’s determined that we’re going to have a little of everything to make sure they enjoy it.
“One entree and one or two sides is plenty,” I keep insisting but he refuses to listen to reason.
“It’s not any trouble. We can have plenty.”
I can tell by the look on his face that he really believes that. That he thinks it’s best to give them everything he can and I hesitate to say what I’m thinking.
“Chris, look, my family grew up with very little. You making so much food with definitely so much waste … I don’t think it’s going to go over well with my mother.”
He frowns at that and I can tell he hadn’t really thought of it that way.
“I’m sorry. I don’t … I don’t want you to feel weird about it. It’s a nice gesture. It really is. I just don’t want you to go overboard on things. They’ll be happy with a normal dinner. You don’t have to push it so hard.”
“Right. Sure.” But I can tell he’s very much in his head right now. And he’s thinking hard about what he’s going to do.
“Maybe just the mostaccioli, for your sister.”
I smile at that. Mom will be happy if he does something nice for Leann. More so even than she would be if he made her favorite dish.
Somehow he seems to recognize that fact as well, and I gradually start to think that he’s coming to terms with this meal we have coming up.
But it doesn’t appear to be the case. Because when we’re getting ready for dinner, he’s spending an inordinate amount of time getting dressed and making sure that everything is ready.
For someone who always comes across so confident, something about this meal has definitely thrown him and I start to wonder if … just maybe … he thinks this meal is as important as I do.
Does he really care that much what my family thinks of him? Is it that important that my mother and my sister like him?
“I’ve got to go and get them,” I say finally, watching him go back and forth from the dining room to the kitchen yet again. “Everything is great. The food looks great and the table is fine. Just relax, okay?” I set my hand on his arm and smile, though inside I’m feeling nervous as well.
“Right, of course,” he agrees with a smile of his own, but I can tell he’s distracted and I hesitate before leaning forward to press my lips to his, the kiss turning heated in practically an instant. “Mmm, I thought you said you needed to go?” he murmurs as his hands move to my hips and his mouth attaches itself back to mine again.
“I do,” I reply, but I’m helpless against the feel of him against my body, every inch of my body. I just want … more. So much more.
Finally, reluctantly, he steps back and I sigh, not really wanting to leave this moment either, but at least one of us has some willpower. “You should go get them. We don’t want you to be late.”
“No?” I answer, with a slightly breathless, wry laugh. “Are you sure?”
“No, I’m not sure,” is his response, his fingers curling slightly at my hip before he grumbles and releases me. “Go, before I drag you back upstairs and have my way with you.”
“Is that supposed to convince me to go?”
Now it’s his turn to give a wry expression but I know that I really should get going. Knowing my sister, Leann has probably been ready to go for ages and now she’s driving Mom crazy by staring at the clock. And with Mom already being judgy sometimes, getting there late won’t be a good start.
Though it’s not like she can blame Chris for me being late to pick her up; or rather, she could but she doesn’t know that. And I’m not going to tell her.
I hurry out the door before I can get distracted yet again, seeing Chris make his way to the living room this time instead of back to the kitchen. So at least one of us is now calmer.
As for myself, my heart is racing at least as much now as it was before, and it’s the same all the way to the house where, sure enough, Leann and Mom are waiting.
“There you are! I was starting to think you forgot about us!” Leann exclaims, practically running to the car and throwing herself in the front seat. “Let’s go. I’m ready.”
I can’t help but laugh at her infectious energy. And I’m more than happy with how healthy she looks.
From the soft smile on Mom’s face, I know that she’s pleased about Leann as well. And that’s actually countering some of whatever judgment she would be passing on me.
“All right, let’s go.” As we drive through the neighborhood I can see Mom watching out the window, wondering just where we’re going. And as the neighborhoods start getting nicer and nicer, Leann is staring excitedly out the window, exclaiming over backyards and nice cars, while Mom seems to be pulling herself up straighter and straighter, her lips thinning out into that line I recognize well.
It’s the same look she used to have in the hospital, when Leann was younger and the nurses would offer us pretty much anything for free. She hated that we had to take charity. Would try to stave off whatever she could but … well … there wasn’t much she could refuse in those days.
And driving through these neighborhoods to see what these people have is bringing all of that back. I can tell.
Which only gets worse when we pull into Chris’s actual neighborhood, and then stop in front of the house.
“Wow! Your new boyfriend lives here?” Leann asks in a shocked but extremely excited tone.
“Yes, Chris lives here,” I reply, trying for the same light and easy tone as hers. But I’m not so sure that I actually succeeded.
Well, here goes nothing. I take a quick moment to draw in a breath and then lead both of them into the house to meet the father of my child … and just maybe, something more.