Page 252 of We Shouldn't Be Together
Mrs. Jones kisses Tabby’s cheek. “Have fun, sweetheart.”
Tabby smiles at her mom with amazement. “Thanks, Mom. For everything.”
Dr. Jones waves to us all. “Bye everyone. Have a lovely breakfast.”
On our walk back to the car, Mom murmurs to me, “That was strange. I was expecting us to be interrogated.”
“You mean you weren’t?” Tabby pipes up.
Mom clutches her chest, flinching. “Oh, honey, sorry. I didn’t mean for you to hear that.”
Tabby giggles. “Don’t worry. I was expecting a lecture on the way out, too.”
Mom rubs a circle on her back. “Well, there’s no interrogating with our family. Just be prepared for some cheek pinching from Kai’s grandmother, and too many questions from his grandfather.”
Tabby smiles at me, her brown eyes sparkling in the morning sunlight. “Sounds wonderful.”
Mom still takes the front seat on the drive to the cafe, and I listen to Tabby attempting a conversation with Milo behind us. Milo at least gives her one-word answers, opposed to the stony silence Jamie gives her.
I can’t wait to be out of the car so I can hold her hand throughout breakfast.
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Okay,yes.I’mgratefulMom and Dad didn’t give Mrs. Nelson a hard time. The shock of Dad praising Kai left everyone in the car a little stunned. So much so that talking with Milo felt worse than pulling teeth.
When we get to the cafe, Kai holds my hand as we enter behind his mom and brother. The family has a long-stretched table in the middle of the cafe. The interior has a quaint, country aesthetic I wasn’t expecting to like. It’s cozy and inviting, and puts me at ease as I meet Kai’s grandparents.
“Oh, aren’t you a pretty little thing,” Grandma Nelson says, pinching my cheek as predicted. “What on earth are you doing with this rascal?”
Kai huffs. “Grandma.”
I giggle, clutching Kai’s forearm. “I know. I must be crazy.”
Grandma Nelson laughs. “Oh, I like this one. Kai, she’s a keeper.”
“I know, Grandma,” Kai replies. “And her name is Tabitha.”
“What a beautiful name,” she raves. “Hello, Tabitha. Welcome to the family.”
Heat prickles my face. “Oh, I…”
“Grandma,” Kai complains. “This isn’t an engagement.”
“Don’t give your grandma a hard time,” Grandpa Nelson says, standing from his chair. “She’s just excited for you. Hello, dear. Good luck dealing with these knuckleheads.”
I smile at him. “Okay, thank you for the luck.”
Kai’s dad waves at me from his seat. “Hi Tabitha. Nice to see you again.”
“You too,” I reply, and Kai guides me to a seat next to him.
“Are we in Jamie’s section?” Mrs. Nelson asks, taking the seat opposite me.
“Yes,” her husband replies, lifting his coffee mug. “She’s been around already.”
Mrs. Nelson looks around our immediate area, obviously craving a caffeine hit. Before she has to signal for service, Jamie approaches our table. She’s in all black, with a half apron, and staring intently at the pad in her hand.
Jamie pours a fresh cup of black coffee for Mrs. Nelson, and then Kai orders milkshakes for the two of us.
