think I’m going to be sick. I don’t think I’ve been this nervous in my entire life. I am about to meet the most important people in Jeremy’s life, his parents. I know they have to be great—they raised Jeremy and Kaye—but will they like me?
Jeremy asks me if I’m nervous. I have to tell him the truth—he’ll be able to see it even if I try to fake my way through. He knows me better than anyone. He’s trying to reassure me the best he can. He even tells me he’s nervous. I don’t think I could love him any more in this moment. He always has the right thing to say to make me feel better.
We pull up to the gate. My stomach sinks. This can’t be his parents’ house! It looks like something Bill Gates would own. I want him to turn the car around. I wonder if it’s too late to get the flu.
I look over at Jeremy; he’s smiling happily, oblivious to my turmoil. He’s accustomed to this; I most certainly am not. I’ve got the sweaty hands, racing-heart thing going on as Jeremy grabs my handand leads me to the front door. He grins over at me, takes the flowers out of my hand, and wraps me up in his arms for a passionate kiss.
What is he doing? Just as I’m about to give him a good, hard shove, I hear the front door opening. No, this can’t be happening. Maybe it’s the butler or something. I pray it’s the butler as I look up at the doorway. It looks like I’m out of luck, because staring back at us are Jeremy’s parents. Both of them. They stand together, smiling. I’ve seen his parents’ pictures on display at Jeremy’s house, so my last hope of a stranger watching us kiss evaporates. He is in so much trouble.
Jeremy hands the flowers back to me so I can give them to his mom. He still has that grin on his face. He formally introduces us, and we head out to the backyard.
I immediately relax when I see Jeremy’s sister, Kaye, and her family goofing off at the pool. Kaye and I have become good friends in the past six months; it’s wonderful to see her friendly face. Her husband, Nick, is also a great guy.
Jeremy steers me around to avoid all the splashing going on at the pool, and we settle at a table with a little shade. I look around at the beautiful surroundings. The entire backyard is covered in a beautifulgray cobblestone. There is a citrus grove and a potting shed over to the side. The pool is huge and takes up much of the space, with lush plants and flowers surrounding it.
Jeremy scoots his chair over next to mine and holds my hand. I relax a little more and smile back at him. I can’t stay mad at him for long.
Just as I am starting to wonder where Jeremy’s mom has gone, she comes out and sets a large box on the table. She’s brought pictures of Jeremy when he was young. I am so excited, I can barely contain myself. Jeremy looks uncomfortable. I wonder if he ever wore braces. This will be so much fun!
Cindy looks at me with a smile. “If you think Jeremy is handsome now, you should see him when he was five!” She starts rifling through the pictures.
Jeremy gets up from the table. “I think I’m going to join Dad and the boys; I brought my swim trunks.” I laugh. I don’t think he was expecting this. It looks like the tables have been turned.
I settle in and enjoy a nice long chat with Cindy. I feel nostalgic because she reminds me of my mother. She’s warm andnurturing, kindhearted and funny. I knew I would like her, but I didn’t know that I would start to love her.
When I tell her that she reminds me of my mom, she gets tears in her eyes, gives me a hug, and says, “Mattie, I consider you my daughter already. My son has never been happier. I don’t think his life had purpose until he met you. I am so happy you are in his life.”
I tell her, “What a relief! I was so worried.”
She shakes her head and places her hands on my cheeks. “Mattie, I love you already. I loved you before you even walked in the door. You’ve changed Jeremy’s life; he loves you so
Jeremy asks me if I’m nervous. I have to tell him the truth—he’ll be able to see it even if I try to fake my way through. He knows me better than anyone. He’s trying to reassure me the best he can. He even tells me he’s nervous. I don’t think I could love him any more in this moment. He always has the right thing to say to make me feel better.
We pull up to the gate. My stomach sinks. This can’t be his parents’ house! It looks like something Bill Gates would own. I want him to turn the car around. I wonder if it’s too late to get the flu.
I look over at Jeremy; he’s smiling happily, oblivious to my turmoil. He’s accustomed to this; I most certainly am not. I’ve got the sweaty hands, racing-heart thing going on as Jeremy grabs my handand leads me to the front door. He grins over at me, takes the flowers out of my hand, and wraps me up in his arms for a passionate kiss.
What is he doing? Just as I’m about to give him a good, hard shove, I hear the front door opening. No, this can’t be happening. Maybe it’s the butler or something. I pray it’s the butler as I look up at the doorway. It looks like I’m out of luck, because staring back at us are Jeremy’s parents. Both of them. They stand together, smiling. I’ve seen his parents’ pictures on display at Jeremy’s house, so my last hope of a stranger watching us kiss evaporates. He is in so much trouble.
Jeremy hands the flowers back to me so I can give them to his mom. He still has that grin on his face. He formally introduces us, and we head out to the backyard.
I immediately relax when I see Jeremy’s sister, Kaye, and her family goofing off at the pool. Kaye and I have become good friends in the past six months; it’s wonderful to see her friendly face. Her husband, Nick, is also a great guy.
Jeremy steers me around to avoid all the splashing going on at the pool, and we settle at a table with a little shade. I look around at the beautiful surroundings. The entire backyard is covered in a beautifulgray cobblestone. There is a citrus grove and a potting shed over to the side. The pool is huge and takes up much of the space, with lush plants and flowers surrounding it.
Jeremy scoots his chair over next to mine and holds my hand. I relax a little more and smile back at him. I can’t stay mad at him for long.
Just as I am starting to wonder where Jeremy’s mom has gone, she comes out and sets a large box on the table. She’s brought pictures of Jeremy when he was young. I am so excited, I can barely contain myself. Jeremy looks uncomfortable. I wonder if he ever wore braces. This will be so much fun!
Cindy looks at me with a smile. “If you think Jeremy is handsome now, you should see him when he was five!” She starts rifling through the pictures.
Jeremy gets up from the table. “I think I’m going to join Dad and the boys; I brought my swim trunks.” I laugh. I don’t think he was expecting this. It looks like the tables have been turned.
I settle in and enjoy a nice long chat with Cindy. I feel nostalgic because she reminds me of my mother. She’s warm andnurturing, kindhearted and funny. I knew I would like her, but I didn’t know that I would start to love her.
When I tell her that she reminds me of my mom, she gets tears in her eyes, gives me a hug, and says, “Mattie, I consider you my daughter already. My son has never been happier. I don’t think his life had purpose until he met you. I am so happy you are in his life.”
I tell her, “What a relief! I was so worried.”
She shakes her head and places her hands on my cheeks. “Mattie, I love you already. I loved you before you even walked in the door. You’ve changed Jeremy’s life; he loves you so
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