Angel of Light (A Zak Bagans Story)

Chapter 109: Meeting Mom

She must of sensed she was being watched, because she looked up from her menu and smiled brightly when she saw Zak and I.

"There she is!" Nancy said, as she slid across the booth seat and stood up from the table.

I smiled, feeling the butterflies battling it out in my stomach.

Zak smiled as well as he stepped to stand beside his mother, one hand resting on her back, his other hand motioning toward me in introduction.

"Mom, this is Alicia Wilde," Zak started, looking at his mother and then looked at me. "Ali, this is my mother, Nancy Knapp," Zak finished.

I knew from many talks with Zak about our families – mostly his – that his mother and his father had divorced, and she had since remarried.

Before I could debate whether to hold out my hand to shake Nancy's, or to give her a hug, she made the choice for me.

"It's wonderful to finally meet you sweetie," Nancy said, stepping forward and giving me a firm, but not uncomfortable, hug. I could see Zak smiling over her shoulder.

I smiled as I hugged Nancy back.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Knapp," I said, despite the fact she had told me over the phone once to call her a Nancy.

As we pulled back from our hug, she smiled at me.

"Please, call me Nancy," she said, and I smiled in response.

Suddenly, Zak moved so he was standing slightly behind me.

"Let me take your coat," Zak said, smiling as he reached up and helped me remove my jacket, and he hung it up for me on a nearby hook along with his jacket and his mothers'.

"Thank you," I said, smiling at him and adjusted my shirt once my jacket had been removed.

"Come sit dear," Nancy said, gently leading me to the booth with her hand on my upper back. "Look at you, such a beautiful girl. Much prettier than the show lets us see," she added, as we both we reached the booth.

"Thank you," I said shyly, my face flushing, but I smiled at her as I stepped into the booth and stepped to the far seat, unsure of where Zak would sit.

"Mom..." Zak said in a slight warning tone, chuckling softly as he came back over to the booth.

I assumed by his reaction he had told her about my social anxiety.

"I'm only stating the truth dear!" Nancy replied, smiling at Zak as she returned to her seat across from me.

I chuckled softly and gave Zak a reassuring look as he came over to my side of the table and slid into the booth beside me, which, I had to admit, I was grateful for.

"I know, but still," Zak said, giving his mother the infamous look every child gives their parent when they want them to "behave".

Nancy simply smiled at him in response and picked up her menu again.

I tried my best not to laugh at the slightly annoyed look that came over Zak's face as I picked up my own menu.

As Zak picked up his menu, I saw him smiling at my amusement and I smiled to myself.

So far so good...

~*~*~*~*~*~

After we had ordered our drinks and meals, our waiter brought us our drinks, and then we were left alone.

"I hope you don't mind that I convinced Zak to let me hijack your date," Nancy said, with a sweet smile on her face.

"Not at all," I replied, smiling reassuringly at her.

"I'm glad," Nancy replied. "I was so eager to meet the woman who's been making my son so happy," Nancy added, smiling.

I was momentarily speechless.

"Mom," Zak mumbled in embarrassment, and I couldn't help but smile.

"He makes me very happy too," I said, somewhat shyly, but made eye contact briefly with Nancy, before looking at Zak.

Zak looked at me with a smile on his face and then reached over with one hand and gently took one of my hands in his.

I smiled and turned my hand in order to hold his.

"Oh goodness, you're both so cute," Nancy said, smiling and almost looked teary eyed. "I've been so worried about him. He hasn't dated for a long time. I've been telling him for years he would make someone happy, because he's so special," Nancy said, causing me to smile.

"Oh jeez...mom," Zak muttered in embarrassment, his cheeks flushing. "Please stop," he nearly begged.

I managed not to laugh and leaned over and gently kissed his cheek.

"He is special," I said softly, keeping my eyes on Zak.

Zak turned his gaze to me and smiled, but his eyes looked like he wanted to ravage me with kisses.

I must have been right about my assumption, because he suddenly cleared his throat and looked across the table at Nancy.

"So, how's work going mom?" Zak asked.

I took a sip of my water as I gathered my composure from his intense gaze while Nancy answered him.

"Very well," Nancy replied, smiling. "But I was wondering about something," Nancy added.

"What about?" Zak questioned.

"Well, you mentioned to me you're looking for a new house, and that you wanted a change. Maybe I could decorate the house for you," Nancy suggested.

I couldn't help butting in.

"You're an interior designer?" I asked.

"I am," Nancy replied, smiling at me.

"Wow, small world," I said. "My best friend and roommate is an interior designer as well," I added, seeing her confused look.

"Really? We'll have to meet sometime," Nancy said, excitedly, and I smiled.

"She'd like that," I replied.

Nancy smiled in response and then looked at Zak again.

"So, what do you think Zak?" Nancy said. "I already have ideas in mind for a more mature look, like you mentioned," Nancy added.

"Sure, if you have time in your schedule," Zak said, before taking a sip of his water.

"Of course, anything for my Zachary," Nancy said with a smile.

Zak made a "mom!" face, and I couldn't help but chuckle and squeezed his hand, which caused him to look at me and smile.

"Here come our appetizers," Nancy said, clearly not caring that she had embarrassed her son again.

I smiled to myself as we made room for our food and then began eating it. I was so thankful everything was going well so far.

Hopefully, the rest of the meal would go off without a hitch.

Author's Note: Hope you guys enjoyed these two chapters. Really, really hoping to update a lot sooner next time.

Please keep up with the comments and votes, you guys are awesome!