Page 53 of Where Sea Meets Sky

“As pretty as a princess,” he said.

She groaned. “That’s the last thing I want to look like right now.”

“What? Why?” He frowned in confusion for a second, and then his mouth popped open in realization. “You’re not still worried that my parents aren’t going to like you, are you?”

Julia made a face, showing him that she was definitely still worried.

“Hey.” He brushed a strand of hair back from her face. “They’re going to love you, okay? You have absolutely nothing to worry about.”

She groaned again and laid her forehead against his shoulder. “I know—or, at least I know you believe that—I mean, I want to believe that too, but?—”

He laughed and gave her another hug, squeezing her tightly. “Deep breaths. Let’s go get a table and then I’ll quiz you about the history of the American frontier while we wait.”

“But I don’t know that much about the history of the American frontier,” she said weakly as he started to lead her across the dining room by the hand.

“I know, but I do. And it’ll keep your mind occupied, trying to guess the answers to questions you don’t know.”

She had an alarming thought. “Are your parents going to expect me to know about the history of the American frontier? Is that something you guys talk about a lot?”

He burst out laughing. “Absolutely not. We talk about what goes on in our personal lives like everyone else.” He placed a finger against her lips and then took her by the shoulders and set her down gently in a chair. “They are going to love you just as you are. Stop worrying.”

True to his word, Cooper quizzed her for the next few minutes. Julia was pleased with herself for getting a few of the answers right, but for the most part, she had no idea what he was talking about. Even though he did his best to distract her, she kept glancing toward the front doors of the pub, wondering when his parents were going to show up.

“Is that them?” she asked, feeling a jolt of nerves as an older couple stepped inside The Lighthouse Grill. The couple was wearing blue jeans and flannel shirts, and they were frowning somewhat irritably.

“No,” Cooper said. “It’s not—hey! There they are.”

Another older couple stepped into the pub behind the people wearing flannels. Both of them were smiling warmly, looking around the room with excitement. The man was wearing a well-worn brown leather jacket, but the woman was wearing a black dress paired with pink loafers and a matching sweater.

“Mom, Dad!” Cooper stood up and hurried across the room toward his parents.

Julia held back for a moment, still feeling nervous but also a little stunned. Those were Cooper’s parents? They looked so kind—and his mother was wearing a dress and girly shoes, just like she was.

She watched as they gave Cooper a huge hug. His mother appeared to be crying a little. Finally, she realized she needed to go over to them, and she hurried across the room.

“And this is your beautiful fiancée,” Cooper’s mother gushed, turning to Julia with a radiant smile.

“Yes. Mom and Dad, this is Julia.” Cooper looked like the proudest man in the world.

“Julia, these are my parents, Donna and Leonel.”

“So nice to meet you, Julia,” Leonel said, offering her a firm handshake.

“Come here,” Donna said, and pulled Julia into a warm hug.

Julia’s heart beat faster as she smiled at Cooper’s parents. She felt disarmed by how kind and welcoming they were being, especially Donna.

“Cooper, you told us that Julia is beautiful, but you didn’t do her justice,” Donna said. “She’s even more lovely than you described. We’re so pleased to meet you, Julia.”

Julia felt herself flush with happiness. “I’m so pleased to meet you as well.”

“You’re clearly a brave woman as well,” Leonel replied.

“Why is that?” Julia asked, wondering if they somehow knew how nervous she’d been to meet them.

“Well, you’ve got quite a task on your hands here,” Leonel said, pointing to Cooper with his thumb. “You’ve agreed to take on our son for the rest of your life.”

Cooper grinned, clearly amused by the teasing, and Donna laughed.

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