Episode 28
Episode 28
Meet the Parents Part 2
SUMMER
“Eight million dollars,” my father gasped then slumped into one of the open patio chairs between Jack and my sister Autumn. “Well, I’ll be damned. We’ll be able to get that state-of-the-art HVAC system in place for the next growing cycle on the indoor crops.”
I fist pumped the air and wiggled in my seat. “I know, right? It’s going to be amazing. My babies are going to love a perfectly cooled and heated space. Pair that with the hydroponic system we set up last quarter, and we’ll have some incredible new products to offer.”
“Your babies?” Jack leaned over, a hunk of bread dangling between his fingers.
“My plant babies. I’ll introduce you tomorrow.” I grinned and scooped up a spoonful of Dad’s homemade soy and vegetable stew. When the delicious, familiar taste of the broth hit my tastebuds, I sighed dreamily. “Sure is good to be home,” I hummed.
“Okay, about that, when are we going to talk about the ceremony?” Jack announced.
“The ceremony?” I blinked, uncertain of what he was referring to.
“For the wedding. We have a month to get married, or the contract is null and void.” Jack’s tone was all business.
I waved my hand in the air. “Oh, that ceremony. Pish posh. A month is plenty of time. No worries.”
“A month is no time at all,” he countered. “And if it’s okay with you, I’d prefer we plan accordingly. I can have my assistant find us a wedding planner who can handle all the details on our behalf.”
I shrugged. “Cool. Whatever you want works for me.”
Jack reached over and covered my hand with his and squeezed. He was openly smiling from ear to ear, obviously pleased with my carefree approach to our impending nuptials. Which boded well for our future. I often let the chips fall where they may. The universe always provided the best course of action. Most people just ignored the signs.
“Sunny,” Mom cut in, her tone one of concern. “Honey, this may have started as a business transaction, but no daughter of mine is going to have a haphazard wedding. We need to involve the town, the coven, Jack’s family and friends. You can’t start wedded bliss on a ‘whatever works’ mentality,” Mom insisted. “We can have the wedding here on the property. Your sister and I can plan it while you, your father, and Jack evaluate the future of Humble Buds.”
“Humble Buds?” Jack interrupted. “What is that?”
“The name of our company. Isn’t it clever? It’s kind of a play off of humble beginnings, and being humble in life, and of course the plants…buds. Get it?” I bit my bottom lip as Jack chuckled.
“I do. Very clever indeed.” His warm, jovial gaze turned my heart into mush.
As I stared into his handsome face, I realized Jack had a sweet side. I looked forward to bringing that trait out more often. Every interaction with him to date had been so serious. Loosening up my future husband would be one of my goals. Alongside climbing the hunk like a tree. It had been too long since my last sexual encounter. Even though my sister was trying to get under my skin with the “she needs dick” comment, she wasn’t wrong. It has been close to a year since my last romp.
I turned my hand over and interlaced our fingers. I was about to suggest we take this little party to my house when Mom started shuffling her tarot cards again. Once she got the bug to do a reading, there was no stopping her.
Jack’s gaze flitted from me to my mother.
“So Jack, tell me about your family. Big? Small?” Mom asked.
“Uh very small, seeing as I have no biological family to speak of,” he answered briskly.
I immediately lifted his hand up to my face and rubbed my cheek on the back. “What do you mean? Did they pass?” I whispered, my entire focus on him. Even Mom stopped shuffling her cards, and Dad and Autumn put down their spoons to give Jack their attention. The tension swirled in the air around us.
He shook his head. “I was orphaned as a baby. Lived in a variety of foster homes as a small boy. Then was placed in an institution for boys at the age of ten. Which is when I attended the same school as Erik Johansen, my best friend. His family practically took care of me as Erik and I were glued to one another’s side. He owns Johansen Brewing, which is the company I run.”
“Johansen Brewing!” Dad breathed. “That’s the top performing alcoholic beverage company in the world.”
Jack grinned. “I know. We’ve worked hard to make it the success it is today.”
“But, you have no parents? No aunts, uncles, no one to call your own?” My eyes filled with tears as I took in his solemn expression.
“Hey, now. Don’t cry for me, solskinn . I live a very charmed life. My upbringing wasn’t ideal, but I turned all of that around. And the Johansens are the family I chose. And so are you.” He cupped my face and wiped away a tear as it fell down my cheek.
I cupped his jaw and pressed my forehead to his. “I choose you, too,” I whispered and then pecked him on the lips.
His hand tunneled into my hair, and he deepened the kiss. The moment our lips touched, we both forgot the world around us. For a few beautiful seconds, there was only Jack and Summer. Everything and everyone else just slipped away.
“Um, hello? Still eating dinner here,” Autumn teased.
Jack’s fist tightened in my hair when Autumn spoke and then loosened as he gently pulled away. He cleared his throat and adjusted his jacket. “I’m sorry. That was inappropriate.”
I grinned stupidly. “I like that you forget where you are when you kiss me.” I admitted, not giving two figs that my parents and sister were present.
“Me too.” Mom sighed, her tarot cards held to her heart, a big silly grin plastered to her face. “All right, Jack, let’s see what the Universe wants you to know today.”
“I’m not sure I’m following,” he said.
“She’s going to do your tarot cards, just go with it.” I placed my hand to his thigh, instantly appreciating the hard quad as I did. “Damn, baby, you work out?”
He smirked. “Every day. You?”
I snorted. “Have you seen this body?” I gestured up and down my frame.
His gaze heated once more as he leaned over until he could whisper in my ear. “Not nearly enough of it, no.”
I shivered and my mouth went dry. “Uh, well, I didn’t get these curves by hitting the gym on the regular. That’s more my sister’s speed.”
“Ew. Gyms, no thank you. Yoga, Pilates, hiking, walking, yes. Gyms are icky and stinky. All that clanging of weights against one another messes with my Zen space. No thank you,” Autumn scrunched up her nose.
I sighed. “True. I meant that you exercise regularly. Must you be so literal?”
“Yes, actually, I must, and you know that,” Autumn bit out.
“Girls,” Mom warned.
We both clamped our mouths shut.
“Okay, Jack, pick a card,” Mom instructed.
He picked one off the table where she’d spread them out then flipped it over. It was the Five of Wands.
“Oh, fives are teaching cards. They are meant to teach us lessons about ourselves that the Universe would like us to put more focus and attention on. The image on this particular card is a clash of the fairy folk…”
“I don’t believe in fairies.”
The three women at the table gasped simultaneously. Dad, on the other hand, started laughing out loud while I reached over and put my hand over Jack’s mouth. “He didn’t mean it!” I announced, looking around the garden. “Don’t pull any shenanigans to prove your existence. Pretty please. The rest of us will educate him,” I assured the fairies, lest they strike out.
“What did I say?”
Mom shook her head. “Don’t repeat it. Summer will explain later. Let me finish your reading.” Her attention returned to the cards. “Oddly enough this card tends to appear when there is conflict, confusion about moving forward, lively debate, and combustible energy. All of which you will certainly experience being a part of this family. But don’t fret, the card also shows passion and action. You seem very much to be a man of action, and my daughter has more passion in her pinky toe than most people have in their entire bodies. Together, you’ll balance one another out.”
“Except for when I mention my disbelief in the fairies.” Jack snickered.
“No!” Mom, Autumn, and I shouted at the same time. He was so fucked and didn’t even know it. The fairies could be ruthless but mostly they were tricksters. He had no idea what was coming.
Dad continued to laugh and shake his head. He’d learned all of this when he started dating my mother thirty years ago. It was probably like watching himself from the past.
“Now you’ve done it. Once can be considered an accident…twice a challenge. Good luck, son.” Mom picked up his card and put it back into the deck.
Jack smiled and reached for his water glass. Just as his fingers barely touched it, the entire glass tipped over. Water sloshed straight into his lap, soaking him from the waist down.
“ Faen !” he cried out as he stood abruptly, wiping the ice and chilly water from his lap. His thighs and groin were fully covered, looking exactly like he’d peed himself.
“And that, my friend, is why you don’t fuck with the fairy folk,” my sister tutted arrogantly.
I glared in her direction. “He doesn’t know any better,” I snapped. “Give him a break.”
“This was not the fairy folk. It was me being an idiot and not gripping the glass properly. The condensation from the ice made the glass slippery, and I knocked it over. Simple science.”
“Whatever you say,” Autumn cackled.
I lashed out. “Shut up, Autumn!”
My father handed Jack the towel he still had hanging over his shoulder from when he was cooking. “Here, son.”
Jack wiped at the worst of it. “Sorry everyone. I guess I’m a bit off kilter. It’s been a long day.” He shifted the chair, turned around, and moved to sit back down. Somehow he missed the mark, and the chair fell backward as he hit the floor.
Well, he’d been warned.
“ Helvete , what in the world is happening?” He barked what I believed was another curse word. I’d ask him later what those words meant in Norwegian.
Autumn went into full belly laughter. Through her giggles, she panted, “Like I said…don’t fuck with the fairies.” She burst into another round of laughter as I got up to help Jack. This time, I put the chair in the right place and held it there while he took a seat.
“Autumn, I swear if you don’t shush up, I will summon Hecate so I can spite your ass myself.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” she growled.
“Try me!” I gave her my patented big sister, don’t mess with me look.
She rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair and, blessedly, kept her big mouth closed.
“You okay?” I ran my hand up and down Jack’s arm. “That had to hurt your tailbone.”
He firmed his jaw and gave me a fake smile. “I’m fine. Are you about ready to head out? I wasn’t kidding about it being a long day.”
“Totally. Let’s get you home and into bed.” I waggled my eyebrows playfully and started to pick up our bowls and silverware.
“No, no, you both go on ahead. Dad and I will take care of the dishes. Go get some rest. We’ll see you tomorrow.” My mom ushered us away from the table.
“It was really nice meeting all of you. The stew was delicious. Thank you.” Jack shook my father’s hand.
Dad clapped Jack on the shoulder. “Our family can be a lot on a new person, but I promise you’ll never meet a more devoted group of people. We back one another up in all things and share our woes and successes. It’s my honor to welcome you to the family.”
“Thank you, Bernie. I look forward to getting to know all of you better in the coming weeks.” He went over to Mom and leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for the hospitality and the…interesting card reading.”
“You’re welcome, son.” She smiled as she pulled him into a hug and winked at me, then fanned her face.
I grinned and shook my head as Jack shook my sister’s hand. “Until next time.”
“What do you mean next time? I need a ride home.”
“Autumn, no. Stay here,” I attempted.
“Sunny, I have to open the store in the morning. Come on, I’ll be quiet.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. “Let’s go.” I took Jack’s hand and led him back through the house. “Autumn lives in the connected guest house and storefront. Don’t worry, there’s a long breezeway to the main house, which will be bolted and chained,” I said louder than necessary so she could hear.
“Like I want to catch you and your new beau walking naked around the house, banging on every surface.” Then she glanced over her shoulder at Jack. “Actually, he is pretty hot…”
“Autumn… Hecate … Remember?” I warned for the second time.
She made the gesture of tying her lips into a knot, basically promising to keep silent. I doubted that promise, but she actually came through because the car ride home was uneventful.
Jack pulled up in front of my house, and squinted at the rather large Victorian home. It had been built on a corner lot and faced the ocean in the distance. The guest house and storefront were on the corner part where Autumn headed immediately. She waved over her shoulder. “Night-night. Glad you’re home and scored yourself a hot fiancé.”
I stood at Jack’s side and cuddled under his arm. He was staring at my house. “Is it my eyes, or is the entire house pink?”
I snickered. “It is pink. It’s called The Pink Lady, and I’ve been in love with her since I was a small child. The very second our business became successful and I could afford to buy her, I made the owners an offer. It’s been the love of my life ever since.”
“Guess I’ve got some serious competition for your affections then.” He rubbed my arm and stared at my home.
“Guess you do. Let’s head in.” I let him go and raced up the steps like I did every day. Jack got our bags out of the trunk and carried them up the stairs and followed me inside.
I flicked on the lights, and the crystal chandelier in the entryway reflected sparkles of light all over the space, making it seem even more inviting.
“Come, let me show you our room. Unless you want a tour now.”
“I’m beat, Summer. Sleep first. Tour tomorrow.”
“You got it. Though it’s three flights up, which should be nothing on those firm quads.” I teased.
“ Touché .” He murmured and followed me up the three flights to the master bedroom.
“Go ahead and use the bathroom first, and I’ll get everything situated,” I offered, pointing to the bathroom door.
He nodded, and his shoulders seemed to slump as the lines around his eyes deepened. He really was beat. He took his suitcase into the bathroom while I grabbed mine and tossed the entire thing in the closet. I’d deal with unpacking later, or in a week or two, depending on my mood.
I turned on the end table lights and pulled back the coverlet to make my queen-sized bed seem more inviting. I wanted him to feel comfortable here. Then maybe he’d want to stay in Eureka for a while instead of carting me off to his homeland. Not that I didn’t want to see Oslo, that would be awesome. I just wanted to share more of my home with him while we got to know one another better.
Jack exited the bathroom, wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of loose burgundy sleep pants. “It’s free. Which side do you sleep on?”
“I usually sleep in the middle so pick a side.” I offered then skittered into the bathroom. Once inside, I brushed my teeth, peed, washed my face, brushed my hair and removed all my clothing before putting on my black silk robe with the badass peacock on the back; its feathers even fanned out and trailed across the arms.
I exited the bathroom to find Jack already in bed, the covers up to his waist. His shirt still on. Weird.
His gaze fell to my bare legs and then up to my face. “You’re one beautiful woman, Summer.”
“Thank you,” I said while untying my robe. I let the satin drop, revealing my naked body.
Jack made a choking sound as he sat straight up in bed. “ You’re naked ,” he breathed, his eyes tracing all over my bare curves like a caress.
“Yes, I know. That’s how I sleep.”
“ Helvete! ”
“What’s that mean?” I yawned, pulled the covers back and then slipped underneath.
He swallowed, closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. “It…uh…means fucking hell. ”
“Nice. Goodnight, Jack. Sleep well.” I tucked my hands into prayer position under my cheek and immediately fell asleep.