Page 52 of Forever Fickle

She couldn’t believe her mother asked about her birth control – and then asked Jace how many kids he wanted! She also couldn’t believe that ‘Hot Cakes’ Sorensen didn’t run out of there screaming in fear at how assumptive some of the questions were.

I mean, asking if she was moving to Massachusetts?

That implied they were making a huge commitment to each other… and they were barely dating and had just recently labeled each other as boyfriend/girlfriend as of this morning.

“It is,” Jace said supporting her fully, taking Karen’s hand in his. “Beautiful, smart, and caring… thank you for reminding us all why we are here.”

“That – and it’s not necessary to pry any further because this is all kinda new and when we know something?” Karen said candidly, looking at her family members. “You’ll know something… I promise.”

Karen went to make a pot of coffee for Jace, something a little stronger than what they’d made earlier, knowing how he preferred it. As she stepped in the kitchen, she saw her father and brother speaking with Jace as her mother appeared in the kitchen.

“I really like him,” her mom smiled approvingly. “He’s like a big, sweet boy scout that looks like a super model.”

“Mom…”

“What? I’m not blind – and I like the fact that he’s very polite and seems grounded. Why is he still single? Does he have some weird tic or a bunch of skeletons in his closet?”

“Mom, seriously,” Karen sighed, starting the coffee pot. “Why does he have to have something wrong with him, to be dating me?”

“Honey, I don’t mean it like that but…”

“But what?” Karen interrupted, feeling a little taken aback. “Is there something wrong with me? I mean, I know that I don’t get out much, but I do have something to offer a guy and I’m not bad looking… I don’t think…”

“You’re breathtaking,” Jace interrupted, walking in and looking over her mother’s head, meeting her eyes. He walked over to Karen’s side, put his arm around her waist, and glanced between the two women.

“I feel like I won the jackpot the moment you said ‘hello’… why is this coming up, Mrs. Marks?”

“Oh, we were just talking,” her mother said nervously, glancing at Karen.

“Mom’s just a little surprised that we are dating.”

“Why?” Jace asked, looking confused and then frowning. “I’d have to be blind to pass up saying hello to you … and a fool to let you slip away. I can assure you that I’m neither.”

“I don’t think anyone is implying any of that,” Karen said quietly, feeling embarrassed at the attention.

“Then don’t ever think it or let anyone tell you different, my sweet Tink,” Jace said tenderly, leaning down to kiss her forehead unexpectedly. “I see you made some real coffee?” he whispered playfully to Karen in a loud voice before throwing a smile at her mother.

“My girl knows that I love my sludge-like coffee a little too much,” he grinned. “She keeps me spoiled like that.”

Jace gave her waist a tiny squeeze, almost like a hug, before speaking again.

“I thought I’d help you bring out a few cups of coffee. Your dad mentioned he would love a cup with his slice of birthday cake.”

“I made a full pot,” Karen said quietly, feeling very much torn. She was relieved that Jace was so open with her in front of her parents, but it was also a little heartbreaking realizing that her family thought perhaps that Jace was too good for her.

Was it so hard to believe that someone like Jace could be interested in her? All those old insecurities, those doubts and fears that maybe it wasn’t her turn to fall in love… or that perhaps she would end up hurt after all because this couldn’t be true?

Those insidious doubts were there in full force and the glaring monsters were chipping away at any confidence she felt in their budding relationship.

“Hey…” Jace whispered, taking a seat opposite of her. “Relax.”

“I’m relaxed,” she replied immediately, only to see his eyebrow lift warily as he watched her. “I am.”

He reached across the picnic table to take her hand in his, ignoring everything else going on around them. Johnny was blowing out the candles and her brother was getting ready to cut the cake for his son, while they were lost in their own little world.

“I’m so glad I met you,” he said gently, picking up her hand and kissing her knuckles tenderly. “Never looked back once.”

“Jace…”

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