Page 35 of Accidental Orc Daddy

Speaking of, it doesn’t take much longer for our parents and my siblings to show up. Meiko, warming up to her rambunctious almost-in laws, greets them with open armed hugs. My mother compliments the glow of her skin, causing her to blush.

"This is a good house," Dad exclaims, pulling me into a bear hug. "Meiko did a fine job picking it out."

My siblings all follow suit, hugging us and offering their congratulations.

Meanwhile, Meiko's parents have also arrived, and they greet us with more reserved smiles. They're clearly trying to make an effort, but I can tell they're still a bit uncomfortable around my family though their smiles are a bit more genuine than they once were.

As if on cue, our mothers head straight for the kitchen, chatting animatedly as they start unpacking the dishes and utensils. I can hear them talking about recipes and comparing notes on their favorite cooking techniques. Much like the last time they were together, it’s more of a competition than the friendly exchange of information.

Meiko stands off to the side, chewing on her lip as she watches our parents interact. Unable to keep myself away, I walk up behind her and wrap her in my arms. She relaxes into my chest with a sigh, the movement as natural as if we weren’t a facade. I even plant a kiss in her hair.

"Everything okay?" I ask, nuzzling into her.

"Yeah, just feeling a bit overwhelmed," she admits. "It's a lot to take in, you know?"

"I know," I say, squeezing her tighter. "But we've got this. Like I said,we'll figure it all out together."

Meiko turns in my arms and gives me a small smile. "I know we will. It's just… I didn’t realize how different our families are."

"I get it," I say, nodding. "But that's what makes us who we are. And I think our families are more alike than you realize."

As we resume unpacking boxes in the living room, Meiko pulls out a small, ornate box and hands it to me.

"What's this?" I ask, curious.

"It's a family heirloom," she explains. "Grandma passed it down to me before she got sick."

I open the box to find a delicate silver necklace with a small, intricately carved pendant. "It's beautiful," I say, admiring the craftsmanship.

Meiko smiles. "Thank you. She always wore it, and she told me it was good luck."

As I hand the necklace back to her, I notice that she's looking at it with a wistful expression. "What's wrong?" I ask, concerned.

"It's just… I wish she was doing better," she says softly. "She’s so wise and kind. I want her to be here to see us start our family. Not in a hospital bed."

I pull her into a tight hug. "I know, sweetness. But she’ll be okay.”

We come across more and more of each other's treasured possessions, sparking moments of laughter and understanding. I learn that Meiko has a secret love for cheesy romance novels, while she discovers my embarrassing collection of air guitar trophies from high school.

“This is great, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she giggles, trying to evade my attempts at taking one of the trophies out of her hands.

Hiding it behind her back, she expects that to be the end of it. Rather than giving up, I wrap both arms around her and grab hold of it. Our faces are a mere breath away, and I can feel the pounding of her heart as it beats against my chest. She takes her bottom lip into her mouth as her gaze drops to my lips.

Everything around us fades. I take all of her in – the sharp line along her jaw, the curve of her cheeks, the crow’s feet at her eyes when she smiles. It’s me, her, and our child. The thought fills me with ecstasy, love, and… belonging.

What if this was real?

Just as we're about to share a tender moment, the sound of clanging pots and pans coming from the kitchen interrupts us. We exchange a confused look before heading towards the source of the commotion.

As we enter the kitchen, we find our mothers standing on opposite sides of the island, each brandishing a spatula like a weapon. Meiko's mother is trying to teach my mother how to make her famous teriyaki chicken, but it's clear that my mother is having trouble following the instructions.

"No, no, no, Elora!" Meiko's mother exclaims, waving her spatula in the air. "You must let the sauce reduce for at least ten minutes before adding the chicken!"

"But I don't want to burn the sauce," my mother protests. “This is why we should just toss this out and cook what I brought.”

Meiko and I exchange an amused glance before the sound of our fathers’ conversation floats into the mix.

"So, erm, Alton, how’s the golfing been?" my father asks, clearly trying to make small talk.

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