Page 79 of Loving Violet
Adrian, looking around with wide eyes, seems impressed. “This place is cool,” he says, nodding appreciatively.
“Come on in, let’s get you all settled,” Dad says, ushering us deeper into the house like we’re long-lost royalty.
As we move, I can feel Violet slowly unwinding. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze, and she glances up at me with a mix of nerves and excitement that makes me want to kiss her right there in front of my parents.
“So, Violet, how are you liking Honey Springs so far?” Mom asks once we’re all tucked into the cozy living room.
“We love it here! Everyone’s so welcoming, and we already feel at home,” Violet says with a bright smile.
“Austin mentioned he designed your house,” Dad says, leaning forward with a twinkle of curiosity in his eye. “Is that how you two met?”
“Not exactly,” Violet replies. “He’s designing the house, yes, but we actually met before that.”
I can’t resist jumping in. “Mom, Dad, did I ever tell you the first time I saw Violet, she dumped hot coffee on me?”
“You don’t say,” Mom replies, raising an eyebrow with an amused smirk.
“It wasn’texactlylike that,” Violet interjects, her cheeks flushing. “It was my first day working at the coffee shop. I was nervous and clumsy, and, well, Austin happened to be in the line of fire...or coffee.”
“And my chest suffered the consequences,” I add, pretending to look wounded. “It still stings when I think about it.”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” Violet says, rolling her eyes but laughing.
“What happened next?” Mom asks, fully leaning into the story now.
“Well,” I say, sitting up straighter, “for me, it was love at first sight. When I saw her, I thought, ‘This is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.’ Besides you, Mom, of course.”
Dad snorts. “Smooth, son. Real smooth.”
“But the worst part?” I continue, “I don’t think she even noticed me.”
Violet laughs, shaking her head. “That’s true. I was too busy freaking out about possibly losing my job. Josy had sent me to take a break because I was terrible at everything. Baking, making coffee, you name it. And then, boom, coffee explosion. I was so mortified, I barely looked at him.”
Everyone bursts out laughing, including Adrian, who had been suspiciously quiet until now.
“Well,” Dad says, wiping a tear from his eye, “it sounds like a pretty memorable first meeting. Sometimes the best beginnings are a little messy.”
“That’s right,” Mom agrees, beaming at us. “And now look at you two. It’s wonderful to see how far you’ve come.”
Adrian finally chimes in, grinning. “Yeah, and now we go fishing and hang out. It’s awesome.”
I reach over and ruffle his hair. “That’s right, buddy. We’re building something special here, messy beginnings and all.”
My mom keeps peppering Violet and Adrian with questions, and to my surprise, they both seem to be enjoying it. Adrian’s answering like a pro, and Violet’s holding her own, her smile never faltering. Mom’s practically taking notes, I wouldn’t be shocked if she whips out a clipboard next.
By the time we finally move to the dining table for dinner, I can tell Violet’s shoulders have relaxed a little. The spread on the table is classic of my Mom. Roasted meat, mashed potatoes, a fresh salad, and a cheesecake that’s practically glowing under the dining room light.
As we dig in, the conversation flows naturally, though Mom doesn’t let up. “So, Violet, what are your plans for the future?” she asks, passing the mashed potatoes like she’s passing a mic.
Violet pauses thoughtfully, then smiles. “I’m planning to study online to finish my marketing degree. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and now feels like the right time.”
My mom beams. “It sounds like you’ve got a lot of ambition, Violet. That’s wonderful. And what about you, Adrian? What do you like to do?”
Adrian lights up at the attention. “I love fishing, playing soccer, and video games. Austin and I have been fishing a lot, and it’s awesome. My first soccer game is Friday, and I can’t wait!”
Dad leans in, intrigued. “Fishing, huh? Maybe you can teach me a thing or two.”
Adrian grins proudly. “Sure! I caught four trout today and released them back into the river.”
