“Okay, perfect,” he says. “Guess the sleepover is going to happen tonight and tomorrow,” he says, and I just hang up the phone. Luckily, I ordered the bouquet this morning, and it’s ready when I walk in. It’s right next to a bakery, so I swing in quickly and pick up a chocolate cake.
When I pull up to the house, my stomach starts to flip and flop, making me feel like I’m going to vomit. I’m about to open the door when it’s swung open, and I look up to see Manning. He bends down, coming into the car. “Hi,” he says, and his head comes closer to me. “I figured you wouldn’t let me kiss you in front of my mother.” He kisses my lips.
“You would be right,” I say, giving him one more kiss. He moves out of the way, and I step out of the car and open the back door, grabbing the massive bouquet of wildflowers. “That box is a chocolate cake,” I tell him, and he leans in and grabs it along with my purse.
“Are you ready?” He looks at me, and I shake my head. “Good, let's go.”
He slips his hand into mine, and I walk up the pathway. “This house is nice,” I tell him as he opens the door, and I step in, smelling the home cooking right away. “Mom.” He shouts for his mother, and I exhale a big breath, and then she comes into the room.
“Well, hello there,” she says. She looks a lot like Manning. They have the same eyes. “I’m Rachel.”
“I’m Evelyn,” I tell her. “I didn’t know what flowers you liked, so I decided you can’t go wrong with colorful,” I say, handing her the bouquet and her whole face lights up.
“That is the sweetest,” she says, bringing it to her nose. “Manning, take her jacket and bring her in.” She turns and walks out of the room. I turn to shrug my jacket off, and once it’s off, he wraps an arm around me.
“I missed you,” he says, and I don’t move in his arms. “A lot.” He bends to place a soft kiss on my lips.
“Manning.” His mother says his name as she walks back into the room, and I want the earth to open up and swallow me. “Would you let the woman be.” She shakes her head.
“Nope,” Manning says, moving his hand from around my waist up to my shoulder and then kissing my head. “I didn’t see her for four days.”
“Oh my god.” His mother puts her hand on her chest. “I don’t know how you survived,” she mocks him. “I haven’t seen Dad in two weeks. I survived. Him not so much.”
I laugh. “It smells wonderful,” I say as we walk from the front door to the kitchen.
“I’m making my famous pot roast.” My eyes light up.
“That’s one of my favorites,” I say, and Jaxon looks up from the couch.
“Hi, Evelyn,” he says, getting off the couch. “Nana has been cooking all day for you,” he says.
“Hey there,” I say, not sure what else to say. What does one say when meeting your boyfriend's child? “How are you doing?”
“Good,” he says. That is the end of that conversation because he turns around and watches the television.
“Do you want a glass of wine?” Rachel asks me, and I nod.
“Not too much, though, because I have to drive home,” I say, walking to the kitchen as she takes out a wine glass and pours a bit in the glass, and then she takes out a second one, pouring her own.
She hands me a glass and then holds hers up. “To new beginnings.” I smile, clicking my glass with hers and then looking to my side, feeling his hand on my hip.
“What can I do to help?” I ask. She gives me some plates, and I set up the dining room table. We sit down to eat, and the talk is light. Manning talks about being in Philly and seeing the snow.
“How is school?” I ask Jaxon, and he shrugs.
“Good. Today, Caleb and I heard Macy fart, and she said it wasn’t her, but we know it was.” I laugh at him. “I knew girls farted.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “They do,” I say, and his eyes light up. “Not as often as boys but sometimes.”
“I knew it,” he says as if he just found out a national secret. “I told Caleb that.”
The rest of the meal is spent with idle chitchat until Manning looks over at me. “I’m going to drive Jaxon to his mom’s place. Do you want to wait for me here?”
“I’m not going to let your mother clean up this whole mess by herself,” I say, getting up and getting the plates. He just smiles at me.
“Jaxon, go get your bag,” he says, and Jaxon runs up to get his bag. “Okay, I’ll be back in thirty minutes,” he says to me, and I just smile. When he walks toward me, my eyes go big, and I’m mentally yelling at him not to do what I think he’s going to do. He puts his hand on my hip and bends his head, giving me a soft peck. “See you soon.”