“Oh, that. No, Zoe can’t fit into her jeans,” answered Max.
“I think a shopping trip to Adelaide is in order,” replied Kate, her face lighting with the idea.
“Good idea. We can all go down together, and Zoe? What about if we arrange to have lunch with your parents? We can stay overnight at the Stamford Grand Hotel, it will be nice to be by the beach for a change.”
Zoe swallowed hard. Her heartbeat went a little wild with the prospect of each side of the family meeting. Her parents were good about her move to see if things would work with Max. But still, was she ready for this part in a relationship—the parents meeting each other? She knew Max was sad that his father had passed, and wouldn’t get to meet her or his grandchild.
“Sure.” She found herself answering despite the opposing thoughts in her mind.
“Great. How about Wednesday? Don’t want to leave it too late with Christmas around the corner.”
“I will get back to you Mom and sort out Christmas,” interjected Max. “And, I can’t go on a trip like this right now. I’ve got things to sort on the farm.”
“That’s okay, it’ll be a girl’s trip, just what we need to get to know each other.”
Zoe’s heart sank knowing that Max wouldn’t be coming with her. She’d been with him for nearly a month now, and it was going to be weird to spend the night away from him. That and she didn’t really know about spending so much time with Kate and Helen without knowing them.
“I’ll check with Mom and Dad, but it should be all right.” She couldn’t believe she was agreeing to this meetup. Her parents, Robert and Leanne, owned their own business. They sold pharmaceutics and were usually flexible with their hours. Zoe knew they’d jump at the chance to meet Max’s mom and sister. They’d already driven to Burra for a lunch with Max just after she’d moved here. To her relief it had gone well. But did she want to sit in the car for a six-hour round trip with Kate and Helen. Plus, overnight with them in a hotel.
Her stomach churned, tightly, and she put her hand on her belly.
“Are you all right dear?” asked Helen, concern thick in her voice. She was in the passenger’s seat and partly leaning over Kate.
“Yes, I’m just hungry.”
It was a partial lie.
She was hungry, but the pain in her belly was more to do with the prospect of having to spend so much time with Kate and Helen when she didn’t know them, and to introduce them to her parents. She knew it was going to happen eventually, it was just that she’d been hoping to orchestrate when that would happen, and not be thrown into it all because she couldn’t fit into her jeans anymore. She mused at blaming her jeans for this all happening.
“I better get home then.”
“I’ll ring you in an hour to make sure we can go Wednesday,” said Helen.
Zoe had partly hoped that she might at least delay this until after Christmas. But that was just it. Her parents had been busy, so they hadn’t said anything about a Christmas catch up. She figured that they didn’t want her traveling in her ‘condition.’ She managed to stop herself from sighing. One thing was certain, she wasn’t going to get out of this one, and it was going to be best to face it all head-on now. Otherwise, it could happen on Christmas Day and she didn’t want the added pressure of that. Christmas had a habit of bringing up family emotion, troubles, hurts and problems. Her being unexpectedly pregnant meant that this was a potential minefield.
Her stomach lurched. Zoe moved her hand to her mouth and held her breath, hoping the nauseousness would ease. It did slowly.
“Zoe,” said Max. “Don’t hurl in my ute.”
Of course, that’s what Max was more concerned about. She glared at him. Her stomach settling slightly.
“Max, don’t talk to her like that,” chastised his mom.
“Sorry, it’s not what I meant.” Max did at least look concerned for her wellbeing.
“Just need some food. It’s worse when I haven’t eaten, I tend to feel really sick then.” She didn’t want to tell him that this was nerves about their families meeting, and about spending time with his family. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she didn’t want anything to do with his family.
“Go, get her home. You need to get better at looking after Zoe, and my potential grandchild.”
Max rolled his eyes, dramatically. “I am, Mom.”
“Bye,” said Kate.
Max lifted his hand and put his foot from the brake to the accelerator.
“I’ll ring in an hour, Zoe,” yelled Helen, as the ute pulled away from their car.
“Just as well your mom doesn’t know how well you really have been looking after me,” said Zoe, trying to lighten the mood.
