I’d tell Jake after Christmas, once he had time to meet my family and settle in. Then I’d sit him down and give him the truth he deserved. It was going to be hard, and I was terrified of losing him, but I’d meant what I’d told him earlier: No matter what happened between us, I’d always be his friend.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
JAKE
I rocked on my feet in front of Maria’s door. I could hear the kids laughing and Maria telling Manny to help his grandmother with the tamales they were making while Jazmine talked about princesses. They were a real family and my heart squeezed that I couldn’t be a part of it.
Gabriel had been a wonderful distraction, but I couldn’t put off being honest with Maria forever. Christmas was not the day to have a breakdown, however, so I left the kids’ meager presents in front of their door. I knocked and rushed downstairs before anyone could answer.
The ground was drab and crunchy from dirty ice and salt, so I huddled against the building with my duffle bag. I was nervous about meeting Gabriel’s parents today. I wanted them to approve but was terrified they wouldn’t. A chill crawled across my body that had nothing to do with winter. My anxiety was abrading my nerves and I started thinking about things I didn’t like.
Gabriel pulled up five minutes later and jumped out of his Jeep. He looked amazing in a casual red sweater vest and khakis. The Santa hat on his head was an adorable touch and his bright smile tied the whole ensemble together.
“Hello, sexy. Give Santa a kiss.”
I accepted his quick smooch, the gesture feeling natural as if we’d been together for years.
When we were in his car, he took my hand. “I can tell you’re stressing out. Everything is going to be great.”
“I’m trying to remain calm,” I said, focusing on our linked palms, our fingers fitting together like they were made for each other. “It’s just, I’ve never done this.”
“They’re going to love you, I promise,” he said as he pulled into traffic. “My family is going to see what I do.”
I fisted my duffle, hoping he was right. Because his parents’ house was in an affluent suburb west of the city, we’d planned to stay the night. The idea of sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings was probably aggravating my anxiety.Think of all the sexy things you’ve done with him. Meeting the parents is cake.
“Did you bring the gift?” I asked.
“It’s in the back, wrapped to perfection.”
As he entered the expressway, I chewed on my lip, my stomach knotting. I couldn’t show up and eat their food without giving them a gift. And because I couldn’t afford an expensive bottle of wine, I’d made a colored picture of his family's first dog from when his parents had married. Gabriel had provided the only picture they had of their pet—a torn and dirty photograph. He’d said his mother had loved that mutt, so I’d spent the last few days working on a Bristol board, carefully recreating every detail in the destroyed photo. I’d ‘borrowed’ a hundred bucks from him for a nice frame.
The skyscrapers of downtown Chicago faded behind us, Christmas music blaring over the radio. Gabriel was all smiles and hummed along to “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”. He was so happy bringing me to meet his family and I prayed I didn’t disappoint him.
It took about an hour to get to Hinsdale and as we passed through the town square, all the buildings and trees lined in white lights and red velvet bows captured my attention. There was a park with an ice-skating rink, several people gliding over the surface. It was the kind of scene you put on a holiday card.
We turned down a side street and I wished I had my sketch pad or a camera because the houses were huge and beautiful, all decorated for the holidays. This was the kind ofneighborhood where doctors and lawyers lived, with modern, stone houses and manicured evergreens lining the properties. The neighborhood’s idea of streetlights were old-fashioned black iron lamps that made it feel as if we’d just wandered into 1920s middle America.
My heart beat against my ribcage as he pulled into a U-shaped driveway and parked in front of a mini-mansion that reminded me of theHome Alonehouse.
I wanted to hide and melt into the car seat. Maybe if I weren’t noticed, I’d be forgotten. But he held the door open for me like a gentleman. I shuffled out and he kissed me chastely then retrieved his overnight bag and some gifts from the back. I grabbed Pixel’s carrier from the back seat and held him close, the cat meowing to be let out.
The moment I stepped past the polished wooden door and onto the immaculate tiles of the foyer, I felt as if I were soiling the place with my thrift-store loafers.
A little girl came screaming and crashed into Gabriel. He barely had time to set everything down before scooping her into his arms and spinning her around, her giggles filling the house. A black Scottie dog dressed in a plaid sweater pawed at his legs, a stubby tail wagging.
“I missed my little seelie!” Gabriel said and hugged her closely.
“Santa came last night, Unky Gabe! Look!” She said, pointing to the living room where a huge, glittering tree sat surrounded with presents.
“Wow! Someone must have been a good girl this year,” he said, setting her down. “Why don’t you put the gifts I brought by the tree for me, okay?”
As she started arranging our gifts with the rest, Gabriel pulled me in and whispered against my forehead, “It’s okay, you’re going to do great.”
His affection and confidence in me went miles. The girl raced back to us and smiled up at me, curling her hair around her finger as if she were meek about meeting me.
“Amelia, this is Jake. He’s shy so we have to make him feel welcome.”
I kneeled to her level and fingered the fairy wings at her back. I’ve always been more comfortable with children. “These are really neat. Super colorful.”
