AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She smiles at her parents and me as she opens the door and I can see that she’s showered and changed her clothes.
“Ready for the tour?” she asks us as she closes the door behind me.
Her parents nod and I have to wonder what they think of her one-bedroom apartment. I admit, I’m a little surprised that she isn’t in a fancier place, but I get the feeling that she doesn’t want anyone to know who she is, or more accurately, who her parents are.
I can relate to that. I’ve spent most of my life being that orphaned boy, or the scary boy, or the loser and loner. I liked meeting Betty because she didn’t look at me like I was less than her and she didn’t act scared of me. She’s the first person to treat me like that in a long time.
It’s cramped but neat with a small living room that has one love seat, an overstuffed chair in the corner across from the TV stand, and a small desk shoved into the other corner.
The kitchen is just as tiny and I smile when I see that she’s stuffed some dirty dishes into the microwave. I stand in front of it so that her parents can’t see and when I look over to Betty, she gives me a small smile.
“And then there’s the bedroom and bathroom through here,” she says and I peek in, taking in the slightly rumpled bed and dresser.
“It looks nice, dear,” Emma says, and her husband nods.
I give her a nod too and she smiles, seeming relieved by our reactions to her place.
“Ready for lunch?” Ryan asks and Betty nods, grabbing her shoes and slipping them on as we head back to the front door.
We head around the corner to a local chain restaurant called Woody’s. Her parents don’t seem off-put as we slide into the booth in the back and I start to relax. I was worried that they would be stuffy or treat me like the help but they both seem really down to earth.
Lunch passes in a blur. I mostly sit there, listening and drinking in everything that I can about my girl. I learn that she loves to read, that she tended to wander off on modeling shoots or film sets. Her favorite food is Italian and that was also her favorite vacation that they took when she was a kid.
Her parents are polite and ask me questions about myself, but there’s not much to tell.
“How long have you been in Redwood?” Emma asks as Ryan pays the bill.
“Only about eighteen months,” I tell her as I move to pull Betty’s chair out for her.
“Do you like it?” she asks, her eyes bouncing between Betty and me.
“I do. I can’t stand the traffic in Los Angeles or San Francisco,” I admit, and she grins.
“Me either,” she whispers conspiratorially.
I give her a small smile and walk with them back out to our cars. Betty rode with her parents, but it seems like they’re getting ready to head home.
“I can give you a ride back to your apartment,” I offer. “I’m headed that way anyway.”
She nods, giving me a smile before she turns back to her parents to hug them goodbye.
“I’ll call you later,” she promises them and I watch as Emma hugs Betty for a second time, whispering something in her ear that I don’t catch.
“It was nice to meet you both,” I tell them honestly as I shake both of their hands.
We wave goodbye and I help Betty up into my truck.
“They seemed nice,” I say as I start the truck and head back toward her apartment building.
“Thanks. They are,” she says as she leans her head against the window.
“Tired?” I ask and she nods, her eyes drooping slightly.
I’m quiet for the rest of the short drive and when we pull into her parking lot, she sits up, yawning as she stretches in her seat.
“Thanks for the ride… and for being a buffer between me and my parents today.”
“No problem.”
