Page 75 of All That Glitters
“I don’t recognize them,” I say as a way to distract from my nerves. Jameson’s words helped, but there’s still a tornado of butterflies in my stomach.
“My parents said a lot of new families have been moving in lately. Some of the retired older couples have decided to become snowbirds. I asked if they were going to move to Florida too, but they said they bought their house with forever in mind and didn’t have plans on changing that.”
I smile at the answer. If there’s one thing Jameson’s parents are, it's stable. Constant. Not in a way that seems rote, but in a way that makes you feel safe. My muscles relax when I see the familiar red door.
They’re not like my family. They don’t shift with the wind. They’ve got roots.
Jameson parks behind his mom’s SUV that she’s had since we were in middle school. My smile widens as I recall all of the late-night ice cream runs and weekend road trips we went on in that car.
“You look like you’re doing better,” Jameson says softly.
I turn my smile on him. His expression is warm and open. I unbuckle my seatbelt and shift toward him. He does the same.
“It’s hard not to feel a little nervous, but you’re right, they aren’t the type to change their mind about loving me.”
He places a hand on my cheek.
“No, they aren’t. I don’t see how anyone could, seeing as you’re easy to love.”
Tears prick the backs of my eyes, threatening to make an appearance.
“If you make me cry, your mom is going to think you did something wrong,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.
He smiles and brushes my cheek with his thumb. “Then I suppose we should go inside, because I could spend hours right here telling you how much I love you and how you’re deserving of all that love and more.”
I close my eyes against the tears.
“It’s like you’re trying to make me fall in love with you or something.”
He hums. “You’re only just now catching on?”
I open my eyes, and he swipes away a tear that falls.
“You’re going to get me in trouble,” he whispers, but he’s still smiling.
He leans forward and presses a soft kiss to my lips that sends my stomach swooping. It’s been a week since we started dating, and I’m still not used to this. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.
“Come on, let’s get inside before they come out to find us,” he says, and I nod.
He turns to get out of his truck. I take a deep breath and pat my face dry with the sleeves of my cardigan, then join him in the driveway. We walk to the door hand in hand. It opens right as we step onto the porch. Jameson’s mom, Rose, is grinning from ear to ear in her apron.
“My little flower is finally visiting!” Rose exclaims, and throws her arms around me in a hug. I drop Jameson’s hand and hug her back.
Rose has called me her little flower for as long as I can remember. Whenever we get together, she doesn’t call it a girls’ day; instead, she calls it tending the garden. Guilt gnaws at my insides over having missed out on those days for so many months. I know I’m not the only one to blame, that Jameson had a part to play, but I still hate that it took us so long to repair what was broken.
That’s another reason I thought his parents might not receive me well. I’ve been avoiding them for some time now.
“I missed you,” I tell her, my tears returning.
She frowns when she pulls back and looks at me.
“Jameson, why is she crying? Do we need to have a talk?”
“How could I have made her cry? You’re the one hugging her!” He laughs, and I join in when Rose sticks her tongue out at him.
She turns her attention back to me and gives me a warm smile.
“I’ve missed you too, sweetheart. Jameson has told us how hard you’ve been working, though. It sounds like we need to have a gardening day soon.” She winks and I grin.
