Page 73 of Protect My Heart
I take a moment to think. ‘We could tell them we haven’t told your parents yet. We could say we just got engaged and that you wanted to wait to tell them about the baby.’
‘They might still want to meet them.’
‘Then we’ll say they’re sick and aren’t up to entertaining.’
‘This is never going to work.’
‘My parents aren’t going to be here that long. Their hotel is here, but during the day they’ll be driving to other small towns. They’re only planning to spend a day here. And on Friday, they’re going to Madison. They sent me their itinerary. They’ve got every day already planned. There’s very little chance they’ll run into your parents.’
He checks his watch. ‘I need to clean up. I’ll meet youthere.’
‘Really? You’ll really do this?’
He shrugs. ‘I owe you. I have to pay you back.’
‘Thank you!’ I hug him, then get in the car. ‘I’ll see you soon!’
Driving there, I get nervous, still not confident in my acting skills. And I’m not sure if Jason’s a good actor. But there’s no turning back now. We’re doing this.
When I get to the restaurant, I wait in the car and get out my phone to text my mom.
Someone taps on my window. ‘Mia!’
I look up and see my mom there, a huge smile on her narrow face. She’s lost weight the past couple years, worrying about my dad. She’s almost too thin now. It makes her look older.
‘Mom!’ I get out of the car and give her a hug. ‘Where’s Dad?’
‘In the restaurant. He thought you might be waiting in there.’
My mom looks me up and down. ‘You look good, honey.’
‘Thanks! Let’s go find Dad.’
We go into the restaurant and I see my dad sitting at one of the tables. He waves us over as he slowly gets up from his chair. He looks the same as he did at Christmas, which is good. I thought he might’ve lost weight after the hip surgery.
‘Hey, Dad.’ I give him a hug. ‘How’s the new hip?’
‘Good enough that I walked in here without a cane.’
My mom huffs. ‘I told him to use it, but you know how your father is. He never listens to me.’
The waitress comes by as we take our seats. ‘Can I get you some coffee? Juice?’
Wegive her our drink order.
‘Oh, and one more person is coming,’ I say.
She nods and walks off.
‘Someone’s joining us?’ my mom asks.
‘Yes.’ I smile. ‘I’ll explain when he gets here.’
‘He?’ My mom looks at my dad. ‘I think Mia might be courting someone.’
Courting.If Jason heard that, he’d get what I mean when I say they’re old-fashioned.
‘The boy lives here?’ my dad says in a loud voice. ‘Why would you be seeing someone who lives an hour away?’
