“Don’t worry. They’re going to love you.”
He smiled back and squeezed her hand.
“But I should warn you.” She wrinkled her nose. “My dad is the typical ‘Bad Dad Joke’ dad.”
“Got it.” He winked at her, and together they walked hand in hand to the smiling couple, who stood waiting in front of Holden’s front porch.
She released him to kiss her father’s cheek and then her mother’s but then returned right back to his side.
“Amanda, who is this fine young man who has put such a beautiful smile on your face?” her mother asked.
“This is Dante Williams,” she replied. “Dante, these are my parents, Urban and Izabelle Harrison.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Harrison,” he said, kissing her mother’s hand before shaking her father’s. “Mr. Harrison.”
“Dante?” The man released him and scratched his jaw. “You’re Holden’s buddy from Phoenix. The policeman.”
He nodded. “Yes, sir. Although, I’m no longer on the force. I work at ESI.”
“For Mac.” Mrs. Harrison smiled. “His mother and I went to college together.”
Amanda slid her palm across his and entwined their fingers. “My mom is a middle school English teacher, and my dad is a high school math teacher.”
“Yes,” her father said. “Do you know the difference between a numerator and a denominator is a short line?”
Dante smiled and nodded.
“Good for you,” the man said. “Only a fraction of people get it.”
He snickered. “Ha! Good one.”
“Oh, no. Don’t encourage him, Dante.” Mrs. Harrison winced.
Mr. Harrison waved a hand at his wife. “Don’t pay any mind to her, Dante. Why did the farmer decide to try a career in music after an unsuccessful harvest? Because he had a ton of sick beets.”
He laughed while both women groaned.
“Speaking of sick,” Mr. Harrison said, continued, “I only seem to get sick on weekdays. I must have a weekend immune system.”
Amanda inhaled. “Dad!”
“Well, which days are the strongest?” her father asked.
“Saturday and Sunday,” Dante replied, completely getting into thesick beet. “Because the rest are weekdays.”
“Yes!” The man smiled. “See? At least someone here has a sense of humor.”
“Hey, I have one too, Dad,” Emily said, and Dante turned to see the woman walking hand-in-hand with Holden while he carried a smiling Noah.
“Daddy! Miss Amanda!” He squirmed out of Holden’s arms and rushed toward them.
Amanda released Dante’s hand, and he gathered his son into his arms.
“Hey, Noah,” he said. “Say hi to Miss Amanda’s mother and father.”
“Hi to Miss Amanda’s mother and father,” Noah repeated, waving to the smiling couple.
Holden, Emily, and Amanda chuckled.
