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“Did you bring me here to meet your parents, Noah?”
Noah looked down at his now-empty coffee cup.
“Not unless you want to. I haven't called ahead to tell them that we were coming, and I'm happy to take you up to Mount Tamborine and show you around up there without even going past their place. But if you want to meet them, I'm happy to introduce you.”
Thinking over what Noah was offering, part of her had been curious, but another was terrified. What if they didn’t think she was good enough for Noah? In the end, she had responded the only way she felt that she could.
“It's up to you. If you think that it'd be okay to take that step, then I trust you.”
So, they had left the township and headed southwest, turning off a couple of kilometres down the road, before pulling up at the end of a long driveway, in front of a single-story brick house set in among trees and shrubs. Noah had got out of the car first, walking around to Allee's door. At the same time, an older couple had walked out to greet them. Allee's heart had been in her throat, and she'd gripped Noah's hand in hers as he had turned to introduce her to his parents.
Driving back later that afternoon, Noah turned and looked at Allee briefly, his smile flashing.
“Did you enjoy yourself today? I didn't spring my parents on you too soon, did I?”
Allee rested her head back on the headrest, a smile playing over her lips.
“Yes, I enjoyed myself today, and no, you didn't spring your parents on me too soon, although I was surprised to meet them. They were charming, and I'm glad I met them.”
Noah grinned. His happiness and relief were evident.
“Y'know, they've been wondering about you. I hadn't really said much, just that there was a new woman at work, and how you were interesting and into games and science-fiction. They knew I'd helped you move as well.”
A flicker of unease slid into Allee's belly. She'd hated the fact that Stuart had often discussed her weight, hair, clothing, and taste in books, music, and movies with his parents, especially his mother, as if Allee wasn't sitting right there beside him.
“It sounds like you've spoken a lot about me,” she began nervously, “do you often talk to your parents about day-to-day stuff like that?”
“They knew that our last office manager had made work difficult, so when I found out we were getting a new one, I told them about it.” Noah glanced at Allee, a frown creasing his brow. “After a couple of weeks, they asked how things were going and invited me up for dinner. They asked what you were like, as they knew I wouldn't do all that if you were horrible, so I told them that you were pretty cool and interesting, that you had Space Invaders stickers on your wall, and that you were a massive Whovian.” Noah grinned and Allee chuckled, remembering how she had to correct his terminology when they'd first met.
“Sweetheart, despite what you might think, I'm a grown man, and I keep my private life private. My parents are great, and they like to be involved in my life, as well as both sisters', but I don't tell them everything that happens. We're close, but we aren't that close.”
Realising she'd insulted him with her lack of faith, Allee apologised.
“I'm sorry if I’ve upset you. It's just that I've had to fight so hard to keep my privacy intact, especially over the last year. I guess I'm still sensitive about it. I don't like to find out that people have been discussing me.”
Noah gripped the steering wheel for a moment before relaxing his hands again. Allee could sense his frustration, but she couldn't help how she felt.
“Okay, so there are a few things we still need to work on. But that's what being in an adult relationship is all about. Give and take, and keeping in mind each other's comfort zones and preferences.” Allee nodded, hoping she hadn't ruined the entire day.
“I know you're better than that. I guess I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop, for something to go wrong.”
“Well, I think that we both deserve this, so stop looking for the clouds and bask in the silver lining,” he laughed, and Allee felt relief washing away her tension.
“You know, Piddle is going to be very put out with us, as we've left her alone all day.”
“Oh, we can't have that. I might just have to bribe her with some of the cat treats I bought the other day.”
Allee laughed, knowing that Piddle adored Noah and that he was wrapped around Piddle's paw.
“We'll make it up to her tomorrow, perhaps letting her into the enclosure? She hasn't really been outside that much, but I think she'd find it interesting.”
“Done. Now, shall we grab something for dinner on the way home, or just order in?”
“Can we get something delivered?”
Dinner decided, they made their way back to Noah's and the impatiently waiting cat.
Noah lay in the darkness, Allee nuzzled into his side, Piddle curled up at their feet. He had woken, still unused to having someone else in his bed, and had lain there, watching as Allee had slept. She looked so peaceful, so innocent, it was hard to believe that she had experienced such horror. He wanted to protect her, and his heart swelled with emotion as he shifted slightly, gathering her even closer to him. It was like being an adolescent again, unable to control his own body and its reactions, and had mentally likened himself to a walking hard-on whenever Allee was close.
