“You look beautiful by the way,” Avery said. “Youalways do, but I really like that color on you.”
Hailey smiled as she looked down at her turquoise blouse and jeans. She was always a little nervous to see her mom and she had to mentally prepare herself for the jabs at her appearance that usually accompanied their meetups.
“Thanks, handsome. Hopefully, she approves. At least this ring on my finger will be a distraction from my outfit.”
He laughed as she peered down at the rock on her hand and felt some of the tension ease out of her. It was a platinum band with a rock bigger than she imagined ever getting and two smaller rocks on either side. Avery told her the band was actually his grandmother’s engagement ring, passed down from her own mother. It was a family heirloom that he had sized to Hailey’s fingers and then added the two smaller diamond on either side.
She was absolutely honored to have it, although it felt weird having it on her hand. She wasn’t a big jewelry person, but she could get used to this.
They pulled into her parents’ driveway and Avery reached for her hand after turning off the car.
“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you,” he said, his eyes showing the truth in his words.How could I not see him this whole time?
Hailey took a deep breath and released it before leaning over to give Avery a quick kiss.
“Me, too. Let’s do this.”
They exited the car and made their way up the driveway and entered the front door without knocking. She had given her parents a heads up they were stopping by.
“Mom? Dad?” Hailey called out.
“In the kitchen!” they heard from deeper in the house.
Her parents were seated at their kitchen table drinking tea. As Hailey and Avery approached, they both got up to say hello.
Her mom was definitely less excited to see Avery than she used to be when she saw Gage, but she seemed content enough.
Hailey hugged her mom and dad hello while Avery shook her dad’s hand and hugged her mom.
“Good to see you Mr. and Mrs. Williams. My mom said to say hello, too.”
Hailey’s mom used to sit with Avery’s during their soccer games in high school whenever there were double header night games. The parents section was always crazy (soccer parents are the worst, after all), but the two of them always got along. Avery’s mom was an absolute sweetheart, so she pretty much got along with everyone.
Her mom softened at that and her dad smiled before saying, “Please, call us Barbara and Bruce. You’ve known us long enough.”
“Do you two want anything to eat or drink?” her mom asked.
Hailey shared a glance with Avery before turning back to her parents.
“Well, actually, we have some news we’d like to share first.”
Barbara looked nervous while a smile grew on Bruce’s face.
Hailey steeled herself, squeezing Avery’s hand with her right hand before holding up her left so the engagement ring was facing out.
There was a tense moment where no one said anything and Hailey’s stomach began to sink so she broke the silence.
“We’re engaged!”
A shriek came out of Barbara’s mouth, forcing both Hailey and Avery to jump back in surprise. At first, Hailey didn’t know if it was a good shriek or a bad shriek.Are there good shrieks?
She got her answer a second later as her mom enveloped her in a giant bear hug and she saw over her mom’s shoulder her dad shaking Avery’s hand.
“Congratulations, Avery. I knew she’d say yes.”
Hailey and Barbara separated at that comment and looked between Avery and Bruce.
“D-did you know he was asking?” Hailey stuttered.
