“I just thought it was time to grow up. I’m almost done with college and I’m about to become a doctor. It was just time,” I repeated lamely.
“Well, if that’s what you feel is right. We love you and stand by you. We stand next to all three of you girls.” My mom looked around, noticing Renee was missing.
“Where’s your mom?” my dad asked, noticing my mom searching around.
“She’s out with Brian,” Norah supplied the answer.
“Brian Wright, as in the catcher for the Pappies?” My dad leaned over so he could look at Norah.
“Yes, that Brian,” my mom answered.
I looked at her, surprised, and she smiled at me.
“Don’t give me that look, McKenna. I talk to Renee more than I talk to you lately. She told me Brian’s been coming around and wanted to get my opinion.”
“And why is this the first time I’ve heard of this?” My dad sulked.
I grinned and went over to kiss the top of his thinning hair. He always wanted to be in the know with what we were doing and he hated when my mom knew something before he did.
“Because she wanted to keep it a secret until she knew where it was going. She’s scared, Michael. This is the first guy she’s had serious feelings for and she was afraid to jinx it.”
My dad’s face softened as he took in my mom’s words. “Well, he better treat her right, or he’ll have to answer to me.”
“He’s really nice, Pop,” Norah said. “He talks to Mommy every night and then he gets on the phone with me and lets me tell him all about my day. He even told Mommy he doesn’t want to date anyone else.”
“Ahh.” My mom smiled as she patted Norah’s newly braided hair.
“Well, what are you two up to?” my dad questioned, glancing at the paused movie.
“We have a date. Aunt Kenna’s sore from pitching an awesome game today and we planned to veg out.”
“Do you want more visitors?” my mom asked, already settling in on the recliner.
“Yay! It’s going to be an even better date.” Norah grinned widely.
“Sounds like a plan.” I snuggled close to Norah as my dad moved over to my mom and she sat on his lap.
“I still want to know about this Trip situation,” my dad said firmly before I grabbed the remote to unpause the movie.
My mom winked at me as the movie started. We didn’t get far until we were interrupted by the doorbell again.
“Who’s that?” My dad moved my mom off him so he could go check.
“I don’t know,” I answered his back, smiling at him still going into protective mode.
“Hello, sir,” a deep southern drawl spoke from outside.
“Trip.” My dad moved aside to reveal Trip standing in my doorway with a white bag in his hand.
“You must be Kenna’s father,” Trip said when my dad continued to stare at him.
“Oh, yes. I’m Michael and this is Grace, my wife.”
My mom shook Trip’s hand. They both stood in front of him, kind of starstruck, and I couldn’t stop giggling.
“Hi, Trip.” Norah pulled on Trip’s free hand and brought him into the room. “We were just about to start a movie. What do you have in the bag?”
My parents finally snapped out of their frozen state and followed Trip and Norah.
