Page 64 of Surprised By Love

I nod my head, then turn to her. “Yes, all good. Josh wants us to meet him there since he has to go home first.”

She claps her hands. “Oh, this is great. Is there anything you or Amelia are allergic to or something you don’t like to eat?”

“No, we don’t have any allergies, but Amelia hates broccoli.”

Maureen laughs. “Most kids do. Don’t worry, broccoli isn’t on the menu tonight.”

Josh

I open the door to my parents’ home for another Sunday night family dinner, but this one is different.

So different.

This is the first time one of us has brought a woman home for family dinner. Not since Ethan’s last serious girlfriend three years ago. Although I didn’t technically bring Sam home. Mom did. But I’m sure that doesn’t matter to her. I bet she’s on cloud nine. She’s always outnumbered with Savvy away at school.

She’s been pestering Ethan to settle down, and she knows not to even say that to Lucas. He’ll never settle down the way he’s going. And my brother Ryan, his job is so unpredictable to even think about settling down. Mom won’t pester Savvy until she’s done school. I can’t wait for the day. Savvy will have a lot to say about that. I’m sure.

I take off my shoes and hang up my jacket when I notice Sam’s and Amelia’s jackets hanging in the closet. Knowing they are here, I smile and I’m a little nervous. I’m not sure how Sam will handle my family during dinner. We Prescott’s can be a lot.

Am I ready for this? We’ve only been on one date. Yes, I like Sam and I want to get to know her more, but having dinner with my family?

I guess this is as good a time as any to see if she can hold her own with them. I take in a deep breath and that’s when it hits me… the smell. Breathing in again, I grin. My mom is not holding back, that’s for sure.

I walk past the living room and it’s quiet, so I make my way to the kitchen, breathing in the delicious aroma I would know anywhere. The scent of paprika, onions and peppers. I do a quick fist pump, knowing my gramma’s Hungarian Paprikash dish is on the menu for tonight.

I walk up behind my mom, who is listening to the local country station. I bend down and kiss her cheek. “Hey, Ma. That smells amazing.”

She turns and kisses my cheek. “Hi, sweetie.” She dips the wooden spoon into the sauce, brings it up to her mouth and blows on it before holding it out for me to taste.

I take the spoon into my mouth and let out a quiet moan. “Ma, that’s perfect.”

She smiles and pats my cheek. “Everyone is down in the Den. Go say hello to our guests.”

I make my way downstairs to the den. Dad likes to call it his man cave, but mom and the kids are always down there, so I’m not sure how much of a man cave it is.

Yes, it has a sixty-inch tv mounted on the wall, a leather couch, a love seat and two matching recliners. The part that makes my dad think it’s a man cave is the wet bar along the side wall. That’s my favourite part as well.

I remember once when they went away for the night for their anniversary; we got into the wet bar and had a few drinks each. We would have gotten away with it, but Savanah ratted us out the minute they got home.

Not our fault she was fourteen and didn’t want to try a drink. She was such a baby. I laugh to myself, grinning on my way down the stairs.

That is until I see it.

Lucas. Sitting on the couch right beside Sam. Not on the other side of the couch, but in the middle seat right beside her. He must sense me because he looks up as he puts his arm around the back of the couch behind Sam.

Sam doesn’t see me, not right away. She’s watching the kids playing in the front corner of the room. The spot my dad has designated the kid friendly zone.

I walk towards Sam and Lucas, giving him the harshest evil stare I can muster. He chuckles, and that’s when Sam turns her head and sees me approach. She smiles and I give her a subtle wink.

“Hey son,” dad says when he spots me.

I glance over and see him watching the football game. “Hey dad, how’s the game?”

“I’ve seen better,” he laughs, and I chuckle.

“Daddy!” Emily yells and jumps up from the carpeted floor and makes a run for me.

I pick her up and swing her around. “How’s my princess today?”

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