I stareup at Fenicci’s, willing my feet to move. The restaurant is a cozy Italian place with a red and white awning and the old-world charm you rarely see these days.
If you don’t get your ass in gear, you’re going to be late.
Not a good look for meeting the parents.
Or, rather, the mom and grandmother.
It’s Senior Day for the football team and Waverly defeated Maryland, finishing the regular season 11-1. Before the game, all the seniors were escorted onto the field by their families and recognized for their contributions to the team. Brady’s mom and grandmother escorted him and they insisted I join them for dinner, but I don’t know how I’m supposed to eat when my stomach is tangled in knots.
Not eating won’t look half as bad as showing up late…
What about vomiting in my purse? How will that look?
I shudder. I’ve never had a meet the parents moment in my life and I’m woefully unprepared. Growing up with Nora, I didn’t exactly get an education in manners.
Just do the damn thing.
I open the door and the scent of garlic and fresh bread wafts out, instantly putting me at ease.
The hostess greets me with a wide smile and when I give her Brady’s name, she leads me to a table in the back.
I spot Brady first, and the sight of him soothes my frazzled nerves. He’s sitting in a booth with his arm draped over the back. The top button of his shirt is undone and his sleeves are rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms. He’s chatting animatedly with his family, but when his eyes meet mine, his entire face lights up.
My heart skips a beat and I nearly trip over a wayward purse strap that’s laying in the aisle.
Real smooth, Piper.
He stands to greet me and drops a kiss on my forehead before he turns to the two women sitting on the other side of the booth.
“Piper, this is my mom, Molly Vaughn, and this is my gran, Janice Vaughn.”
Brady warned me ahead of time that since his mother and father never married, they all bear his grandmother’s last name, which works well for the family business.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” I offer my hand to his mother and grandmother in turn. “Brady’s told me so much about you both.”
“Then I assume he told you about our care packages?” Gran asks, smiling broadly as we slide into the booth.
Brady stiffens beside me and when I glance over, his eyes are about to bug out of his head.
“He did, and he even shared the contents with me once or twice.”
Gran chuckles, accentuating the laugh lines around her eyes and mouth. “I’ll bet he did.”
Brady makes a choking noise and I can’t help but feel like I’m on the wrong side of a joke, but Molly looks as confused as I feel.
“The pumpkin chocolate chip cookies were wonderful,” I add. “I’d love to learn how to bake like that someday.”
His mother smiles warmly. “Thank you. It’s one of my favorite recipes.”
The server comes over to take our drink orders and then we spend a few minutes scanning the menu. Everything sounds delicious and even though my nerves are fading, I still opt for soup and salad, just to be on the safe side. The server returns with our drinks and we place our order.
“So, Piper.” Molly swirls her wine as she studies me, and I do the same. Brady is the spitting image of his mother, though she’s far more petite and doesn’t have a beard. “Brady tells us you’re an education major. What age group do you hope to teach?”
It’s a simple question and I’m grateful for it. I could talk about education all day, and if we’re talking about my major, we’re not talking about my family or my crappy upbringing.
“My specialty is elementary education. I love working with children and I feel like that’s where I can make the greatest impact.”
The conversation is easy and there’s never an awkward lapse, even when our food arrives. Brady’s mom and grandmother are warm and welcoming. I can see why they remain such a close-knit family and the familiar sense of envy creeps in as my phone rings.
