Relieved she didn’t over-step, Wyatt’s mother exhales, “Yes. Zoe just texted that their truck is pulling up now.”
“You have made an old woman very happy!” Turning to a kitchen window, she places her hands on the tile and shouts, losing all decorum, “Jason Cocker, you get away from that ginger-ale right this minute!”
We hear a voice raised to argue back, “There are seven pitchers, Mom!”
“I don’t care!” Nancy Cocker shouts. “I don’t trust you around them!”
Wyatt’s mother, Meagan, greets me, “Hi Diana, I’m sorry we didn’t have a chance to talk more at the home.”
He chimes in, “You know how we met, Mom?”
She frowns slightly, searching her memory. “I don’t think anyone told me, no.”
“Washington and I hit her with our patrol car.”
Her eyes light with surprise. “That reminds me of how your dad and I met.”
Wyatt smiles, “Yup.”
She looks at me, her face softening. “I hear you and Grams were very close.”
This tears me up in a way I wasn’t expecting. Maybe it’s the pressure for his mom to like me, and her opening up to me piercing through that, but I can hardly talk over the lump in my throat. “I spent time with her every day I worked, so we became friends.”
“Maybe you’d like to share a story today?”
I gasp, glancing to Wyatt who’s watchful eye is on me. “Can I get back to you on that?”
He chuckles, “Mom, she’s meeting all of this today.” Motioning around us, and then to outside, he forces her to notice what kind of pressure that is.
“Right,” she smiles, a memory in her eyes. “I guess I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be introduced to the Cocker Family — it’s been so long that I’ve been one of them.”
His father walks up, silver dotting his temples, sharp laugh lines around his eyes even when he’s not smiling. But nothing is sharper than his jawline, still perfect after all the years since that Marines photograph was taken. “Meagan, Zoe is out front talking to the caterer with some guy hovering by her.” Seeing me for the first time, he pauses, searching for my name. “Diana, right?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry, a lot is going on today. And then I just saw him. Out there. With my daughter. Good to see you again.” Clasping Wyatt’s shoulder, he asks, “Nathan come with you?”
“He beat me here. Somewhere outside I guess.” Wyatt takes my hand. “Dad, Mom, Diana’s sticking around for a while.”
Their faces stay calm, and his father’s lips form the smirk he passed down to his son. “Kinda figured that out, Wy.”
Wyatt grins. “Okay, fine. I’m just making it official. She’s my girlfriend now. As of five minutes ago.”
His parents are trying not to laugh at him. “Okay, good,” says Mrs. Cocker, before turning to her husband and placing her hand on his black button-up. “Jeremy, did you just say Zoe is dating somebody?”
“That’s what it looks like!”
“Well, I want to meet him.” She excuses herself, leaving Mr. Cocker shoving his hands into his pockets.
Wyatt turns around, both men staring at her exit.
“Want me to beat him up, Dad? I’ll get Nathan. Nicholas is too settled to do it, but me and Nate…”
“I don’t know, maybe. Let’s get to know him first. Oh, you’re messing with me.” His voice lowers. “Almost took you up on it. I don’t care if she’s older than you are, she’s my only daughter. You won’t understand until you have one of your own. If you’re ever that lucky.”
“Hey!”
Mr. Cocker holds his eyes. “You could have all boys.”
“Oh. I thought you were saying I might not be a dad someday.”
To remind him I’m here, I quickly interrupt, “Let’s go see who’s here.”
Wyatt looks at me with questions in his eyes before they dissipate as he realizes, “All this talk about kids worrying you, Beautiful?”
Since we’ve never had sex?
Yeah.
Plus I don’t like how good it sounds.
“No, not worried. Just a little thirsty.”
He chuckles, and waves to his father. “See you out there. I’m going to get Nathan so we can kick that guy’s…butt.”
They share a look I don’t quite understand. As we walk onto a crowded porch, down its steps, and onto a lawn that would feel enormous if it weren’t for all of the people making it appear not-quite-big-enough, Wyatt greets every other person, introducing me to the important ones — his family.
Turns out I know a lot of the other guests. Most of Silver Linings is here, much of our staff and the residents who could make the trip. Since they all can’t, it occurs to me that some staff members had to work today, and I feel bad for them that they had to miss this.
Nathan strolls up, very handsome in a black suit. “Grams would’ve loved this turn-out.”
Wyatt nods, sad eyes scanning conversations. “She would’ve. Let’s go this way.”
He leads us deep into the crowd and I notice several long tables pushed together with food covered by mesh tents. Ginormous pots of chili, platters of corn bread, corn on the cob, BBQ ribs, and huge serving bowls of five different salads, are just the beginning.
“And this is before catering arrived?” I mutter in disbelief.
Wyatt asks, “Did you say something?”
“I hope you don’t expect me to cook like your grandmother.”
He frowns, glances to the food, and grins, “Nobody cooks like Grandma Nance.”
Nathan agrees, “Not even Mom.”
“Yeah, because Mom doesn’t make down-home comfort food.”
“If it doesn’t look like art, Mom won’t serve it.” Nathan nods to a pretty brunette waving at them, a baby on her hip. “Hey Paige! Gabriel around?”
“He’s picking up Elijah from the airport!”
Turning to me, Nathan explains, “That’s his twin. Probably wanted alone time with him.”
Wyatt agrees, “I’m glad Elijah’s coming.”
Up ahead I see the top of a white fin, and soon the dolphin statue comes into view, water cascading into a pond fenced in with mesh so six half-matured ducks can’t escape and wreak havoc. Children are staring at them, poking and talking loudly like kids do when they’re excited.
“Look how big
