Page 60 of More Than Anything

* * *

As soon asdinner was over, Avery announced that they had an errand to run. They climbed in his truck and set out, Lydia asking the whole time where they were going and what they were going to do.

But when they pulled up in front of her parents’ house, she turned and stared at him. “What are we doing here?”

“I think we should tell them we’re a couple, don’t you?”

“Are you serious?” Lydia shrieked, her eyes dancing with delight.

“Yes. I’m dead serious. Come on.” He opened the door and got out, rounded the truck and opened her door, and held her hand to help her down, then pulled her with him to the front door.

She opened the front door and called out, “Mom? Dad?”

“Back here, baby!” her mother called back. The sound of feet coming toward them rang through the house and there stood her mother in a pair of sweatpants and a tee shirt. “Oh! I didn’t know you had company with you! Hello, Avery!”

“Hi, Mrs.Kinsey. Nice to see you again,” he said, holding out a hand.

“It’s Belinda. Rodney, we’ve got company!” she sang out as she shook his hand, and in seconds, Lydia’s dad appeared in the hallway.

“Avery! Nice to see you!” Rodney announced and reached for Avery’s hand.

“Great to see you again. We only need a minute of your time. Could we sit down somewhere?” Avery asked, and he watched with amusement as Rodney noticed their clasped hands.

“Sure, sure. Come on in here. Have a seat,” he said, pointing to the sofa in the den. “Now what’s going on?” Rodney asked.

“Dad,” Lydia started, then looked to Avery. He hoped his smile gave her courage. “Mom, Dad, Avery and I… we’re a couple.”

Her dad slapped his leg and started to laugh. “Well, I wondered how long it was gonna take the two of you to figure that out!”

Lydia’s eyes went wide, but so did her smile. “You knew?”

“Young lady, I knew the first time I saw how worked up you were over him taking Sirus’ farm that you were head over heels in love with him. And I saw how pained you were when you sent her down to the sheriff’s department,” Rodney said, pointing at Avery. “You hated that, I could tell. And that house? You fixed that up for her. I knew that the minute I saw it!” he laughed.

“Rodney, you never said a word to me!” Belinda barked, looking a little incensed. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“Because I didn’t know how long it would take them to get it straightened out, and I didn’t want you playing matchmaker or some fool thing like that. And look?they did it on their own!” he said, still crowing with laughter. “Well, welcome to the family, son!”

“Thanks,” Avery said, his grin sheepish but bright. “I think I’m gonna like it.”

“I hope so! Belinda, crack open a bottle of that homemade wine! I think this calls for a toast!” Rodney announced, still cackling. Belinda grabbed party cups for all four of them and poured some of the homemade wine in each one. With a smile a mile wide, Rodney cleared his throat and raised his glass. “To my lovely daughter and this fine young man who’s caught her eye. May they find the kind of happiness together that her mother and I have!”

“Hear, hear!” Belinda sang out.

Avery bumped his cup up against everyone else’s and smiled. Her parents liked him. And he loved her. What could possibly go wrong?

Avery cleaned out his closet so there was room for Lydia’s things. She didn’t want to officially move in until they’d decided exactly where the relationship was going. Avery, on the other hand, had decided he’d give her an especially nice birthday in a couple of months and set about trying to find the perfect engagement ring. That was his goal?to make that tiny blond bombshell his and never let her go.

Thursday night was their favorite night of the week. They’d made a pact that they’d reserve one night every week to spend the evening talking about anything and everything going on in their individual lives and the one they were building together, and every week during those conversations there was a growing surety that they and their relationship were going in the right direction. Lydia seemed happy and secure, and Avery could honestly say it was the healthiest adult relationship he’d ever had with anyone.

They were looking forward to that particular Thursday?Avery had picked up a brochure for an upcoming livestock auction and it looked promising?and Lydia had three houses on the hook for quick sales. She was more than excited about that. It meant she could pay off her car and buy some things she’d been wanting.

And then there was a knock at the door. Avery hopped up, sauntered over, and opened it, but he sure as hell didn’t expect what he found outside that door. “Davidson? What the hell are you doing here?”

Jason stood there on the porch, a gym bag in his hands. “Hey! How’s it going?”

“Uh, good.” Avery was confused. Jason just showing up out of the blue? What the hell? “How’s it going with you?”

“Can I come in?” he said, not really answering the question.

---