AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And I thought that maybe I had.
West put his hands on my shoulders and spun my body around until I was facing away from him. Then he steered me toward my bedroom. “Babe. I think you need a bath. Go relax and get cleaned up and dressed, and I’ll vacuum and finish things in the kitchen.”
“What? No. I can’t do that. You don’t know what’s going to be done when or how long to put stuff in the oven for,” I argued as he pushed me into my room and then my bathroom.
“I can figure it out. Bath. Now. Take a fucking chill pill.” And like that he was gone, the bathroom door closed behind him.
I got in the bath like he said and tried to calm myself down, even though I was supremely annoyed with him. I knew Weston’s folks were nice, so I just needed to chill the fuck out, like he said.
And yes, I was nervous for them to meet Parker. But I knew it was more than that. It was me and Parker both. We’d never had a family other than Andy. And for some crazy reason, I wanted Bev and Alan to love us. I wanted us all to be close.
I was so damn scared of this being our one and only holiday together. I was making mountains out of molehills. The crazy was strong tonight.
When I’d finally chilled a bit, I got out and slipped on a casual orange cotton dress and did my makeup and hair.
By the time I made it back into the kitchen, everything was done, and Parker and Weston were standing there picking at the turkey that was sitting on the counter ready to be carved.
Parker was wearing a black cotton dress with big pockets on each side and her hair down around her face. And Weston looked better than the food if you asked me.
He had on a button-up navy shirt with the top unbuttoned and a pair of slim-fitting jeans.
I’d never seen him dressed nicely and it did good things to me.
“All better?” he asked, just as the doorbell rang.
“Yep,” I said, lying because at the sound of that doorbell my pulse kicked up a notch.
“It’s all good, baby,” Weston said, his arm around my waist as we all made our way to the front door.
Weston pulled open the door and there stood Bev and Alan, big smiles on their mouths and desserts in their hands.
“Hey, y’all! Come on in,” I said when I really wanted to run the hell out the door. Still, I plastered on a nervous smile and they hugged us hello and set the pies on the pretty dining table I’d set for Thanksgiving.
“Ms. Beverly, this is Parker, my daughter. And, Parker, this is Weston’s mom, Ms. Beverly,” I said, introducing the two as we stood in the dining room while Weston and Alan headed to the fridge to grab some beers.
Bev’s eyes scanned Parker from head to fishnet stockings and black combat boots before she broke out in a smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Parker. You’re as cute as a button. You look just like your momma,” she finished, making me grin, too.
As I walked to the kitchen, I heard Bev whisper, “Except you got style, kid. Love those stockings.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from giggling, but it didn’t matter because I heard Parker crack up in the other room.
Once we finished setting the delicious food on the table, we all sat down and dug right in.
“Ms. Beverly, can you pass me those sweet potatoes?” Parker asked.
Bev passed them down, saying, “Oh, honey, you don’t gotta call me Ms. Bev. G-ma will be just fine. We’re practically family now.”
I almost choked on some turkey while Weston said, “Come on, Mom. You’re too much.”
And Alan did his usual, “Bev!” like he couldn’t believe the shit that came out of this woman’s mouth.
But Parker only laughed. “Okay, G-ma,” she said through her smile and I couldn’t help but laugh, too.
“See, Scoots. Lighten up. The girls don’t mind. Don’t be a buzzkill. G-ma has to live a little.” She took a bite of mac and cheese and moaned around it, completely unbothered by the boys.
The woman was insane. I loved her to death.
“Scoots,” Parker said, giggling uncontrollably like it was the best thing in the world before shoving more food in her face.
