“Ugh, Mom. I’m right here. You know, your actual son?” Rhodes teases, earning narrowed eyes from his mom.
“I suppose you’re alright,” she adds with a smirk before she wraps him up in a hug. Then she turns that bright smile my way, and I’m suddenly being released by Rhodes and pulled in for my own big welcome. “And you, Dee, you’re as beautiful as Rhodes says. I’m Nora—Rhodes’s mom if you hadn’t guessed.”
My head jerks to my smiling boyfriend. “You talked about me?” I mouth.
His brows bunch together and he tilts his head. “Why wouldn’t I?” he mouths back.
“Don, my husband, told me you made videos on the internet, so when Jake came over, I got him to show me some.” She leans in close. “I hope it’s not weird, but I made a couple of your recipes for tonight.”
My heart swells and this time it’s me pulling her in for another hug. “I love that. It’s very sweet.”
“Would you believe that Jake made some not-so-subtle suggestions about which dishes we should do for the party, then got Don involved, and before I knew it, the two of them had planned the entire menu and written the grocery list for ingredients.”
“You’ve trained them well,” I say with a wink.
Nora turns to Rhodes with a beaming wide grin. “Ah, yes, I totally like her already.”
Her son claims me once again, reaching out to tip my face up to meet his. “That’s good, because I do too,” he murmurs before laying a hard and fast kiss on my lips right there in front of his mom.
“Happy birthday, son,” A deep voice announces. Turning my head, I’m met by identical blue eyes on a handsome, older version of Rhodes. And when he smiles, I swear I’ve fast forwarded into the future and I’m getting a glimpse into what Rhodes will look like in twenty to thirty years. Going by his dad, the future is looking bright for me if we go the distance.
“Damn, son. You do have all the luck, don’t you?” Rhodes’s dad teases, holding his hand out my way. When I slide my palm against his, he leans in and winks. “I’m Don, and I’ve taught my son everything he knows.”
“Grandad, stop,” Jake groans.
“What’s he doing?” Harvey asks.
I press my lips together as my body shakes with silent laughter. Rhodes claims me back. “Stay away, old man. She’s mine.”
“I’ll win her over. You know I will.”
Resting my head against Rhodes’s shoulder, I give up the fight and giggle at him. “He’s totally just like you.”
“Except I’m much more charming and handsome, right?” he asks, quirking a brow.
I nod overenthusiastically. “Oh yes. For sure. Absolutely.”
Nora laughs, the sound as endearing as tinkling bells. She’s totally the kind of mom I imagined would have raised Rhodes. She’s all soft and sweet and full of joy, but you can tell she’s the boss of the family. Just like my mom, and just like me.
There’s another older couple standing off to the side, hand in hand, their curious gazes on us.
“Nana!” Jake calls out, walking toward them hugging them both affectionately.
Rhodes slides his hand into mine and puts his mouth close to my ear. “That’s Connor and Celeste, Lily’s parents. Do you still want to meet them?” He lifts his head, his gaze focused on my face as he waits for my answer.
Therefore, there was never a question for me, not about this. I nod and give his hand a squeeze, lifting up on my toes and lightly kissing his cheek. “No time like the present.”
By the time we reach them, Harvey is beside Jake and telling Lily’s parents all about the firefighter visit to his school and how awesome it was. They both listen to his every word, and it’s only when Harvey looks across the yard and spots Marco that his attention is diverted. And after waving a quick ‘bye,’ he’s tugging Jake’s arm to go join the fire crew. That leaves Rhodes and I standing in front of Connor and Celeste, silence stretching between us.
I smile at Lily’s mom first, then her dad. “Hi. I’m Dee. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Celeste’s mouth drops open before it transforms into the most beautiful smile—the same one I’ve seen in the photos of Lily back at the house. “It’s nice to meet you too. I’m Celeste, and this is my husband, Connor.”
“Hi, Connor.”
“Hey, there yourself, Dee. I must tell you, we went to your restaurant last year. The food was amazing.”
My smile brightens. “Thank you. I must not have been working that night, but I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
Celeste leans in. “Connor is a little bit obsessed with your desserts. When Rhodes told him who he was bringing to meet us, he made me watch your lava cake video and make it for him.”
Upon hearing that, Rhodes throws his head back and bursts out laughing, earning puzzled looks from his in-laws. “Everyone is in love with Dee’s lava cake. Jake even stole my phone before Dee cooked for me for the very first time and requested it in a doggy bag.”
Celeste giggles, and the sound is so mom-like it warms my heart.
“I might have to get some cooking tips off you.”
“You don’t need any help, lovely. You’ve always kept me well fed. I mean, look at this belly.” Connor rubs his stomach and grins over at me. “This is not the body of a man whose wife doesn’t know how to cook.”
While Celeste blushes and moves closer to her husband, Rhodes presses his lips to my temple. “See, what did I tell you? Nothing to worry about. I love you, so they love you.”
He’s right. I don’t even know why I was nervous. Actually, I do, but having met Nora and Don, and now Connor and Celeste, I had nothing to worry about. And with that knowledge, I finally relax completely.
“Mom? Can I sleep in Jake’s room?” Harvey asks once we’re back
