Chapter Eighteen
Oh, shit, they were coming down the walkway together! Beth looked out the window in Suzy’s foyer and saw her parents walking alongside another couple that she assumed were Gray and Nick’s parents. She felt butterflies in her stomach as she realized the time of reckoning was close. Despite all her protests, Suzy was still determined that Beth should announce her pregnancy while the parents were here tonight. Nick thought it was a good idea as well. He told her that his parents would be thrilled. She wished that she could say the same about hers.
Gray and Nick came over to her looking unruffled and relaxed. Nick put his hand on the small of her back, offering her a quiet show of support. Suzy flung open the door before the bell rang and she put on her best game face. Her mother and father walked stiffly into the foyer followed by the Merimons.
Beth could see why Suzy liked Gray’s mother so much. She was probably a carbon copy of what Suzy would be like in twenty years. They both had the same sense of style and flair. Suzy greeted their own parents with a simple, “Mom, Dad, good to see you.” She then turned to Gray’s parents and hugged them both with obvious affection. “John and Vicky, I would like for you to meet our parents, Linda and Harris Denton. Mom, Dad, these are Gray and Nick’s parents, John and Victoria Merimon.”
Her parents extended their hands for a formal handshake from the Merimons. Gray stepped forward next and made the introductions of Nick and himself to Beth and Suzy’s parents. Suzy then pulled Beth forward to stand in front of John and Vicky, saying, “I don’t believe you have met my sister.”
Vicky stepped forward and engulfed Beth into a hug, just as she had Suzy, and John gave her a warm kiss on the cheek. “Beth, we have heard so much about you. It’s great to finally meet you in person.” Then, turning to Beth’s parents, Vicky added, “You must be so proud to have these two lovely young women as daughters.” Other than another tight smile, Beth’s parents didn’t comment on Vicky’s statement. All too soon, Beth moved to stand in front of her parents.
Instead of a warm hug from them, her mother asked, “Have there been any new developments in your job search, Beth?”
Why did she always feel like a small child when talking with her parents? She flushed when she noticed all eyes in the room were on her. “Um . . . no. Mom, I’m really not looking for a teaching job right now. I’m enjoying my work at Danvers with Suzy.”
Her mother wrinkled her nose in confusion. “Beth, you have a teaching degree. Why would you want to be your sister’s secretary? You should at least take this time to continue your education and possibly get your credentials to teach at a higher level. Your goal should be a position where you could achieve academic tenure.”
Beth saw Suzy grimace over her mother’s shoulder and mouth, “WTF.” She was extremely grateful when Suzy followed that by saying loudly, “Dinnertime.”
Grateful for the distraction, Beth gave her mother a tight smile and turned to follow her sister to the dining room. Nick leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Damn, you weren’t kidding about them were you?”
She nudged him with her elbow, muttering, “Be quiet before they hear you. This can only get worse. Try to stay off their radar or you’ll be next.”
Gray pulled out a chair for Suzy beside him and then took the seat at the head of the table. Beth and Nick took the seats beside Suzy and their parents. Beth knew that the only thing worse than sitting next to her mother was sitting across from her.
Gray and Suzy had hired a catering company to prepare the meal. The table was laden with smoked turkey and ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and golden rolls. Beth felt her stomach rumble in appreciation; she didn’t often have meals like this outside of Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Nick’s mother clapped her hands in delight. “This looks great, I’m starving. Did you two cook this on your own?”
Suzy snorted. “You know me better than that. Your son may be talented in the kitchen, but that’s about as far as it goes here. He did make dessert though and I licked the bowl afterward.”
Beth braced as she saw her mother shaking her head before adding, “Suzanna has never been a cook so I hope you aren’t marrying her expecting that, Grayson. She has always had a whimsical nature as is evidenced by her choice of professions.” Beth could see her father nodding his agreement. Her mother might be the more vocal of the two, but her father always agreed with whatever she said.