Page 111 of One Sweet Day I Found You

“I—uh, I had to make a call—to the office,” Courtney stammered. Nick narrowed his eyes. Courtney almostnevercalled the office.

Nick eyed her. She looked uncomfortable, at best. As gorgeous and sweet as usual, but uncomfortable. He had to do something.

“Wait,” Julia said, circling around to the fact that Nick knew Courtney by name. “You two know each other?” Nick’s mother sat back, removing her arm from her son’s shoulders. “Oh, well, I guess that does make sense, if Courtney lives across the driveway now.”

Nick shot a look of bewilderment to his brother, but Kenny only shrugged.

“Victoria is lucky to have this fine young lady on the premises,” his mother went on. “Courtney, how long will you be staying here? I should hope a very long time.”

“Uh…” Courtney shifted in her seat, “As of right now, through the first of next year. Thank you,” she said politely.

Nick ignored the last subject under discussion and broke in. “Okay, what is going on here?” he asked the room in general, a suspicious look clouding his face. “Will someone please tell me? I feel like I’m getting punked or something.”

Victoria answered. “What do you mean, Nicholas? We’re just so glad you’re finally here.”

Dr. Bingham cleared his throat. “We wanted to see how you both were doing, Nick. We planned to call you until we heard you’d be stopping by. Then, we thought we’d just wait it out until you got here so we could surprise you.”

Nick still looked confused. “Okay. Thanks, Dad,” he said slowly. “But why is Courtney here?” He looked at Courtney, his eyes gentle but baffled.

Courtney opened her mouth to say something.

“Well, why wouldn’t she be here?” Mrs. Bingham spoke first. “She was visiting with Victoria when we arrived. Nicholas, where are your manners?”

Nick didn’t answer his mother, but he looked at her with a slight, if not bewildered, apology.

He finally shot Courtney a look.What’s going on?

She returned his gaze with tightly closed lips. Not talking? Okay, that was also strange.

Did they even know who Courtney was to him? His best guess said they didn’t. Yet, she’d apparently spent some time with them already.

Victoria sipped her lemonade and set it back down quickly. “Oh, my goodness, Julia, Kenneth, I never mentioned it, did I? I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you when I first introduced Courtney—she’s dating your son.” Victoria sounded delighted. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

Nick heard his mother gasp.

The entire room went silent. And then everyone stared at Courtney.

Courtney began to turn pink and plastered a smile across her face.

Okay, now it all made sense. They’d thought she was only a tenant. Nick’s cheeks also felt warm, but he had to save Courtney. Talk about putting her on the spot.

He rose then went and squeezed in next to her on the sofa and grabbed her hand. “Yeah so, Mom, Dad, this is not how I imagined introducing you to my new girlfriend. But here she is. Courtney and I have been dating for a little over a month now.”

His mother sat up.

His father sat back. “Ah-ha.” His expression softened.

Kenny finally spoke up, and his voice was lighthearted. “You’re kidding me? Why have you been holding out on us, man?”

Nick was grateful for the encouragement, or for any comment, at this point, really.

Kenny walked over. “Welcome to the family, Courtney!” Courtney rose and he gave her a bear hug.

“Thank you,” Courtney looked relieved and returned the affection.

Gloria followed and did the same.

Nick laughed, but still, he was nervous. His father came over next to shake Courtney’s hand and voice his approval. Courtney thanked them agreeably.

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