Chapter 60 Meet The Parents
Beth was obviously scared for nothing. I don’t understand why she stressed herself out so severely when her parents are so kind. And they love and care for her so much. They’ve been boasting about her to us the whole time until her mother asks us to change the subject from how great Beth is.
“Where are your parents?”
“I don’t know mine should be here soon.”
I look back at the entrance, but I don't see them still. She looks at Alec for his answer.
“Oh, mine aren’t able to make it. They had an event out of town that they couldn’t miss.”
She gives him a sympathetic look.
“Well, that sucks. I’m sorry to hear that.” He goes to say something more to her, but I block it out.
There are my parents. I spot them as soon as they walk into the entrance. My mom has a wide, cheerful smile, while my father looks like his usual self, with the same scowl that always adorns his face.
“My parents are here.” Everyone looks to the entrance, seeing my mom waving at us as she gets closer. I step down the porch to greet them, allowing more space around us.
“Anna, my sweet baby, you look so good.” My mom’s happy voice is gentle to my ears.
“Hi, Mom.” She hugs me tightly against her while my father pats my back softly. She pulls away from me, looking me up and down, taking in everything about me. “How have you been?”
“I’m good, Mom, how are you guys?”
She looks at him to answer. “We’ve been good as well.” He’s always straight to the point.
“And who are these lovely people?” She gestures to everyone behind us.
Beth and her family step off the porch and introduce themselves. Alec comes to stand next to me.
“I’m your daughter's best friend here.” Beth introduces herself.
My mom looks beyond happy to hear I have a best friend. “That’s wonderful to hear. And you are?” She looks to Alec next to me.
“I’m Alec, it’s nice to meet both of you.”
She looks to me.
“He’s my boyfriend.”
The shocked looks on their faces are so comical. I wish I could’ve set up a video to remember this forever.
“Your boyfriend.” Father reiterates.
“Yes, I was lucky she gave me a chance,” Alec adds.
“Well, isn’t that quite the thing. I wouldn’t have expected a boyfriend. But it’s very nice to meet you, Alec. I can tell you’ve made my daughter very happy.”
I grasp Alec’s warm hand back in mine, already feeling like I’ve gotten her approval. It’s a relief to feel like she already approves of us being together. All I want is for him to like my parents, and for my parents to like him.
“Where are your parents?” My father’s gruffness slightly kills the mood.
“They aren’t able to make it today; they already had another event they couldn’t miss.” He seems to accept his answer.
“It was nice meeting you all. I hope we can get together again, but we’re gonna steal Beth away to tell us all about her summer so far.” Beth’s dad interrupts whatever else my father might have asked. I look to Beth, but she looks very happy and okay with this, so I don’t even try to stop them.
“Sounds good, we’ll talk again before the day’s over.” I wave goodbye to them as the three of them walk towards the cleared area down the path.
“So I’m guessing you’ll be hanging with us today, Alec?” My mom asks him with a warm smile.
“If it is okay with you guys, then yes, I’d like to.” He’s so well spoken to them that it makes me feel good to see him treat my parents kindly.
“Of course we won’t mind, right, honey?” She nudges Father. “You can come along.”
I feel like the weight of the whole day has been lifted off my shoulders. I was worried for nothing.
\~~~
“So what do you guys do for fun around here?”
“We have group activities a few times a week. Sometimes they have bonfires too, and you can do some individual activities depending on what it is.” I explain it all to her while she shuffles the food around her plate.
Of course, a lot of these activities I’m not regularly a part of, considering I don’t spend all my time here.
“What have you guys been up to?”
“Just getting ready for work to start picking up again.”
“What do you guys do for work again?” Alec asks.
“We’re private investigators,” Father answers.
“Oh wow, how’d you guys get started in that?”
“It’s a family business.”
“That I want no part of,” I add in a joking manner.
Mom rolls her eyes, giving Alec a look. “Ignore her, she hasn’t made up her mind yet. She’s always been a bit of a free-thinking type of kid.”
“Being free-thinking means not wanting to move around every month? And not being a part of some family business?”
“Enough. Not now.” Father’s voice is short and clipped; although he’s not very loud, it’s enough to shut me up. Alec puts his hand on my thigh in an attempt to comfort me.
“Anyways, what is the agenda after this lunch?” She changes the subject.
We finish the rest of lunch pretty quickly, the mood still sour from the earlier outburst. We quickly go outside, trying to find something else to do to fill the time. Unfortunately, I’m reminded why I was so nervous about them coming. My mom’s an angel, but my father is not so much. And even she and I don’t always mesh well. Alec is the perfect boyfriend, doing nothing but providing me comfort.
Once we get to the main firepit, I notice all the dads standing around getting the wood ready for the fire tonight.
“Why don’t you go help them, honey?” She tells Father.
He grumbles under his breath but listens. He grabs an axe, carrying it one-handed to the area they’ve designated for cutting wood. We watch him, silence filling the air around us.
Until Alec squeezes my hand tighter, inhaling a sharp breath.