Page 54 of Black Bay Defender
Not that she intended to hide them from his parents. Eventually, they’d have to deal with them, with what she was, and she’d rather get that out of the way the soonest. Better to find out now if they could accept her for who and what she was. But that didn’t mean she wanted to announce it to the general public or deal with their stares. This hotel was ocean-front and it was still tourist season. Just walking in from the parking lot she encountered numerous people, mostly family groups, heading out to the shops and restaurants that were in abundance on this side of town.
She raised her hand to knock but froze before she made contact. She’d never thought to find herself in this position. The only point of reference she had was similar situations played out in TV shows or movies. But none of those prepared her for a parent’s reaction to meeting their son’s hybrid snake girlfriend. What if they were afraid of her?
She squelched that thought. As concerned as Grady was about not blindsiding his parents with his own appearance he would have been sure to prepare them. She could do this…
And yet, here she was, her loosely clenched fist still hovering in front of the door, not making contact. What she wouldn’t give for a shot of liquid courage right now.
Should she have brought a bottle of wine? No, that was for dinner parties… Right?
Oh, God. She was going to blow it. This was so far out of her wheelhouse that it wasn’t even funny. Covering her face with her hands, she tried to breathe. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her stomach felt queasy, making her wish she hadn’t eaten all those tacos Matt had gotten for their lunch. Was this what a panic attack felt like? If so, it sucked donkey balls.
Breathe, she mentally repeated. Just breathe. She could do this. Before her mind could conjure up yet another thing to worry about, she knocked rapidly.Here we go.
Grady opened the door and she was so relieved to see his familiar, beloved face that her knees almost buckled. Taking her hands in his, he stared deeply into her eyes in silent communication, asking without words if she was all right.
Lark smiled weakly in response, reminding herself that what she was about to face was nothing in comparison to what she’d been up against in the past. This was nothing… And oh, so incredibly important.
As if knowing she needed the extra support, Grady kept hold of her hand, but he didn’t tug her inside or try to lead her in before she was ready. He just held on, letting her know he was there for her if she needed him. And it was exactly what she needed.
She took a deep breath in and released it with a slow exhale. She was ready. With a nod, she stepped through the door.
Grady’s parents were both standing up and by the looks of them, they were just as nervous as she was. That knowledge helped her relax, her tense muscles loosening bit by bit as Grady made the introductions.
Penny Carter was a handsome older woman who stood a good foot shorter than her son. Her golden blonde hair was cut in an efficient bob and yet untouched by gray. She’d paired a sleeveless blue blouse with khaki walking shorts and brown leather sandals. She was wringing her hands and shifting her weight from foot to foot, but the smile on her face was so eager and hopeful, that Lark couldn’t help but smile at the woman.
Garrett Carter reminded Lark immediately of the General. Not so much in appearance, though like the General, he wore his graying hair buzzed high and tight, but in his stance. He might be wearing casual chinos with a short-sleeved button-down shirt instead of fatigues, but this was a military man. There was not a single doubt in her mind. His face though. It made the breath lodge in her throat. This man was Grady with more years on him. It was like having a glimpse into the future.
While the older man didn’t openly display his nervousness with movement like his wife, Lark could see it in those hazel-green eyes that were so like his son’s. These people were worried she might not like them. How crazy was that? The realization was so unexpected she almost needed to sit down in her relief.
But that relief might be premature. Her sunglasses were still on and her hood was still up. Offering a closed-lip smile, she nodded to each of them. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
Looking over at Grady, she raised a brow, somehow knowing he’d understand what she was asking. Had he warned them? Were they ready? When he nodded, she took another deep breath and raised her hands to remove her sunglasses and push back the concealment of the hood.
His mother gasped, her hands flying to cover her mouth, but it wasn’t horror on the woman’s face. It was wonder.
Stretching out her hands, Penny Carter moved forward as if she would embrace Lark. “You are so beautiful,” she said, and there was such awe in that tone, Lark couldn’t help but believe her.
Lark swallowed hard and the back of her eyes burned as the woman reached up to cup Lark’s cheeks.
“And you love my son.”
It wasn’t a question, but Lark chose to answer anyway. “I do, more than anything.”
The woman’s eyes flooded with tears and her chin began to quiver as she nodded repeatedly.
Lark looked to Paige who had stepped up to her father’s side and then to Grady, uncertain what to do. Should she hug the woman? This kind of felt like a hugging moment but they’d just met.
Penny Carter decided for her as the woman practically collapsed against her with a keening cry, hugging her tightly. Lark gently returned the embrace.
Looking down at the top of that blonde head, Lark felt a bloom of peace. Acceptance. Her eyes met Grady’s fondly amused gaze. Love. She looked at Paige who wore a similar expression as her brother. Friendship. Finally, her eyes landed on Garrett Carter, who, unlike the others, wasn’t looking at his wife, but was looking directly at Lark with a warm, fatherly smile as he dipped his chin. Family.
That bloom of peace grew and spread, suffusing her with so much happiness, that she could barely contain it.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
OvertheweekGrady’sparents were visiting, Lark and Jace both got to know them pretty well, spending plenty of time in the company of their future in-laws. The Carters also got to know them – though both she and Jace delivered a greatly watered-down version of their pasts.
While she’d been right in her initial impression that Garrett Carter was just like the General – the strong, stoic type whose love and affection were a quiet thing – Penny Carter was a whirlwind of chaotic emotion. One minute she’d be all business, making lists and grand plans for her daughter’s wedding, and the next, she’d be crying, hugging whoever was closest to her at the time, and declaring herself the luckiest mother who ever lived.
