KATE
Snow has started to fall on the freeway, making me secretly glad that Michael insisted on driving to my parents’ house. I am already nervous enough as it is. It feels like we haven’t had a second to breathe between important family events. I had no idea that spending a weekend at Michael’s parents’ house would be so… draining. We had spent most of the day yesterday asleep, and we weren’t asleep we were still laying in bed. Still, I don’t feel like even having most of Sunday off was enough to fully recover from everything, and I was tempted to push back our visit at least another day. Michael had shot down that idea, though. I think he is more nervous than he is letting on.
I wish I could say something useful to him, but I know that anything I say will just stress him out. Instead I lean over and rest my head against his arm, focusing on how tightly his hands hold the steering wheel, battling the falling snow.
“Thank you for coming,” I murmur quietly.
“I made a deal,” he sighs, but I can hear the smile in his voice. “I would have come anyway,” he reminds me gently.
“Good,” I mumble. “I’m going to need you there.”
“I’m nervous,” he admits.
“I am too,” I say. “Not about you, though. I know you’ll be fine.”
“What are you nervous about?” He asks.
“I guess… I don’t know. It’s the same as it was with you at your house. I haven’t been back for a while. And like I said, we’ve never seen eye to eye on certain things. I just want to have a nice holiday.”
“We will,” Michael says determinedly. “We will.”
Traffic is heavy and the snow doesn’t help. The one hour drive takes us well over three, and it is dark when I point out my parents’ driveway. Michael and I both draw deep breaths at the same time, and I take his hand in mine. Remembering the strength his small display of affection gave me before I met his parents, I lean over and kiss his lips softly. Michael draws back, his gaze slightly out of focus. He smiles at me, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“Only for you,” he murmurs, unbuckling his seatbelt and climbing out of the car. I take one more deep breath and follow, threading my fingers through his as we walk up the slippery stone steps. My dad has already put out the Christmas lights, the awful blue ones that I’ve hated since I was a child. Even now they make me grimace, but I smile with some sort of regretful nostalgia. Before I have to make the awkward decision of whether or not to knock, the door opens. Michael steps back, literally steps backwards in fear, and I squeeze his hand, willing him to relax. It’s only my cousin, Britt, and seeing her is a relief. She is only a year younger than I am, and any family event is made a thousand times easier when she is here.
“Britt!” I nearly squeal, pulling her into my arms. Her gaze lingers questioningly on Michael after she pulls away, indicating that she was unaware that I was bringing company, but I flash her and I’ll-tell-you-later look as we follow her through the doorway.
My parents stand from the couch immediately upon our entrance, along with my two aunts. There is an eruption of noise and I hate to pull my hand from Michael’s, but I have to. My mom folds me in her arms and for the first time, I realize how much I have missed her. I don’t call enough.
“Daddy,” I whisper, tears in my eyes as he hugs me tightly, too. Maybe this will not be so bad. I quickly hug my aunts, desperate to return to Michael’s side so he is not left stranded.
“And who is this?” My dad asks loudly, casting his eyes towards Michael. I roll my eyes, I told them he was coming and they know exactly who he is.
“This is Michael, my… boyfriend.” The word sounds odd, because we don’t really use it. Michael reaches out his hand for my dad to shake, but their exchange is less than friendly. My dad regards Michael warily, and I realize that his appearance might be a factor which I had overlooked. Indeed, my dad’s eyes linger too long on the piercing in Michael’s eyebrow.
“Mr. Williams,” Michael says. To my surprise, his voice sounds strong and sturdy, not at all like the quivering boy I had expected.
“Michael, it’s nice to meet you,” my dad says. “I would tell you that you can call me Raymond, but… you can’t.” His joke falls terribly flat, but Michael forces a convincing laugh anyway. My mom steps forward and hugs Michael awkwardly, mumbling something about it being an honor. Everyone stands back and the silence is painful.
“So how was the drive?” Britt chimes in, ever coming to the rescue. I give her a grateful glance.
“It wasn’t too bad for me, Michael did the hard part,” I laugh.
“It was awful, actually,” Michael laughs. “But we made it alright.” He is trying so hard, my heart clenches in my chest. I step closer to him and put my arm around his waist, seeming to surprise him a little. He rests his around my shoulders and my dad clears his throat disapprovingly. My mom nudges him in the ribs, and he tries to play it off as a cough.
Could this be any more awkward?
“I’m… I’ll… go get our bags?” Michael suggests. I nod my head, releasing him. I would normally offer to go with him, but I know that he needs a moment to himself.
“He’s… different,” my mom whispers once the door closes behind him.
“You mean he looks different,” I snap.
“Easy, Kate,” my dad warns. “He’s just not what we expected, that’s all.”
“I know, I just… please give him a chance.” I hadn’t meant to turn pleading so quickly, I had meant to demand it of them. But they are parents, and some things can’t be done.
“We will, sweetie,” my mom says, reaching her hand for me. “Of course we will.” My dad just purses his lips.
“I think he’s nice,” Britt chimes in, smiling at me from across the room.
“Yeah, and he’s a good looking fella,” Aunt Emma says.
“Who knew little Katie had a thing for the bad boys?” My other Aunt, Alison chimes in. My face flushes, but I am saved from having to make a response by Michael re-entering the room with our suitcases in tow.
“I’ll show you where,” I mumble, tugging at the handles.
“Um, Kate,” my dad intervenes.
“Yeah?”
“Just… just so you’re aware, Michael will be expected to sleep on the couch.”
“Okay,” I roll my eyes.
“In the basement,” he adds. I glare at him, he is being rude. But I glance at Michael and see that he is fighting a smile, and I am put at ease.
“Okay,” I smile sweetly at my father. “We’re still going to keep our stuff in my room, though,” I tell him. He gives a jerk of his head that I take as assent, and I tug on Michael’s hand, pulling him out of the room. Michael struggles to carry the suitcases up the stairs, but he doesn’t let me help him. I follow behind with my hand on his back, ready to steady him if he overbalances, but he manages fine. I point to the door that houses my room, and he opens it, walking inside and setting our suitcases down. I follow behind him and shut the door, pushing him against it and kissing him deeply, taking him by surprise. I leave my lips pressed to his until he relaxes, his hands resting familiarly on my hips.
“Are you okay?” I breathe when we finally break apart.
“Well I am now,” he says with a smirk. I laugh and kiss his cheek before hugging him close, resting my head on his chest.
“I’m sorry they’re being so weird. I’ve never brought anyone home before,” I confess.
“Never?” He asks.
“No, never.”
“I’m a lucky guy, then,” he says simply. “So who’s who?”
I give him a quick rundown of the family in the house, and he relays the information back to me to make sure that he’s got it all right. I smile at how hard he is trying.
“Kate!” My dad barks up the stairs.
“Yeah?” I call back, opening the door.
“How long does it take to put away a suitcase?” He asks irritably.
“Raymond!” I hear my mother quietly admonish. Michael laughs, kissing my forehead.
“We better go back down there.”
I nod my head, not quite ready to let go of him yet. This is going to be a long week.