Page 27 of As I Am
CHAPTER TWELVE
Ky fought back the nervousness, reminding himself that it really didn't matter if Carson's parents liked him or not. He was just doing a job. They were only here for a few hours and then they'd fly off to California and be on their own again. He could be polite for a few hours. If he could fool Carson's parents into thinking they were a couple, he shouldn't have any problem doing it while Carson was on tour. This was nothing more than a dress rehearsal.
As they walked through the side door from the garage into the house, the first thing Ky noticed was the smell of spaghetti sauce and garlic. The whole house smelled of it and it made his stomach growl in hunger. He had skipped breakfast because he'd been too nervous to eat, but now, with the scent of a home cooked meal around him, he'd wished he had something small to tide him over.
Carson's fingers tightened around his. "Mom?" He walked through the living room and into the kitchen. "Are you making my favorite?"
An older woman turned from where she was at the stove and smiled. "Of course, I am. Who knows when you'll be back. I need to send you off with a full stomach. Besides, I had all those tomatoes I needed to use." She set a spoon down beside the stove and looked at Ky. "You must be Ky."
Ky smiled and pulled his hand from Carson's so he could step forward and shake the woman's hand. "Yes, Ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you." His heart pounded, but despite the nervousness of having her look him over, he forced himself to remain calm as if he was totally at ease.
"We are delighted to meet you as well." She ignored his hand and hugged him instead. "I was so happy to hear that Carson finally found someone." She pulled back. "Carson, grab Ky a drink and sit down. We can talk while I make the garlic butter."
Carson glanced at Ky with an apologetic expression. "Soda, water or sweet tea?"
"Water is fine." Ky took a seat at the kitchen table, praying that whatever Carson's mom asked wouldn't be too personal.
"Here." Carson set a bottle of water down on the table before sitting beside him with his own. "Where's Dad?"
"Out back. He's cutting some rhubarb so I can make him a pie later today." She glanced over her shoulder at them.
Carson made a face.
"That's why we waited until you were leaving. We know you don't like it. No need to go making faces." His mom rolled her eyes. "What about you, Ky? Do you like rhubarb pie?"
"Honestly, I've never tried it." Ky smiled as Carson stuck out his tongue and made another face.
"Well, when you boys get back into town, I'll make one so you can."
"I'd like that, Ma'am." Ky grinned at Carson shaking his head. It wouldn't matter anyway. It wasn't like he'd be coming by to visit Carson's parents once they were back.
"Carson, behave, and Ky, don't call me ma'am. You can call me Mom or Gladius. The choice is yours." She smiled at him.
There was no way he was going to call her Mom, but he would use Gladius.
"So, are you from around here, Ky?"
"Idaho originally. A small town just north of Malad, but I've been in Salt Lake for about five years now."
"Idaho is a lovely place. Wish we got up there more often." She set the butter mixture aside. "What do you do for a living?"
Carson set his hand on Ky's thigh as if offering support.
"I actually am starting a new job when I get back from being on tour with Carson. There is a new bakery open downtown and my friend owns it. I'll be working with him. He's going to teach me how to bake so I can come in early and get things started before he opens each day."
"That sounds like a lovely job. I wish Carson had taken more time to learn to cook and bake. God knows I tried, but I couldn't pull him away from working on those old cars out in the garage. I swear he enjoys having grease under his nails more than dough."
Ky raised a brow at Carson.
"Before all this music stuff happened, I wanted to be a mechanic. I love working on older model cars and rebuilding them. My dad and I used to spend hours out there working on one thing or another." Carson smiled. "I miss it a lot."
"I told you that you could get something to work on when you come to visit." An older man walked into the kitchen carrying several rhubarb stalks. He set them on the counter and turned to Ky. "Hi, I'm Carson's father, Richard. I'd shake your hand, but I'm covered in dirt."
Ky grinned, instantly liking the man. "Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"I know you offered, Dad, but I'm not here enough to work on it. I'd just fill the garage up with something I can't do anything with," Carson said.
"Well, you have a big enough place there in California. Find yourself something." Richard washed his hands before sitting down across from them.
