I feel so out of place it’s all I can do to not turn and run in the opposite direction, but Merrick just squeezes my hand and gives me a smile.
“They’re going to love you.” Merrick leans down and kisses me, long and slow, and for a moment I believe in everything, and I feel strong.
“I hope so.”
We cross the street, and I’m immediately clutched into embraces and given introductions as everyone smiles and laughs, pulling me into the warm, wonderful energy of people who obviously love and care about each other, with no agenda other than the bonds of family and friendship.
“You’ve been hiding this lovely young woman from us for how long?” Merrick’s father, Merrick Sr., puts his arm around me.
“No interrogations,” Merrick answers, playfully taking his father's arm from me and replacing it with his own.
“Old habits,” his mother says, pulling her husband’s hand into hers. “You take the badge off the man, but some thingsnever change. Don’t make too much of our silliness, Kezia…and by the way, what a beautiful name. Is that a family name?”
“No ma’am. I’m not sure where it came from. I know I was born not far from here, but I was adopted so I don’t know much else.”
The woman to my left, Margaret, suddenly freezes, staring at me, and I lean into Merrick, feeling like I’m under the spotlight. The younger woman more my age to her left, with unicorn rainbow hair, smiles, and her fairy-like look is contrasted with an all-black ensemble and heavy combat boots.
“I know what it’s like to have an unusual name,” she says. “My mom was a bit of a hippie back in the day. And, geez, man, you’re eyes are amazing. I can barely stop looking at them…”
“Thanks.” I leave it at that as we all head into the diner where they have a big table waiting. Turns out, Margaret owns the place and Merrick set it up earlier today just so I could meet the people that are important in his life.
I’m quiet for a bit as we take our seats. They are all so familiar with each other, lovingly joking and chiding each other while we wait for our food, but after a few minutes I start to relax.
His parents are relationship goals. They kiss and can’t stop touching each other and it’s clear they are proud of Merrick. They ask simple, kind questions of me, just enough to show they are interested, but staying far away from the feeling of interrogation.
“Here we go.” An enormous man and two waitresses come over with trays of food, and start to set the family-style meal down the center of the table.
“So, Kezia, what is it you do? Or what would you like to do now that you’re here in Millington?” Merrick’s mom, Belinda asks.
I look at the generous helpings of every sort of comfort food. It’s been so long since I was allowed to eat unsupervised, mymouth is watering while my stomach gnaws on itself, ready for the delicious-smelling meal being laid out.
“Well, I mean, I love to dance. I’ve always wanted to teach. Maybe,” I say, hesitating on a shrug before going on, “like, a little dance school for kids or something? I don’t know, I’ve never really thought of what I would want.”
“Well, you’re going to need to do a lot of that now.” Merrick takes my hand, pulling it to his mouth and kissing my knuckles.
“Man.” Margaret gives him a smile. “You do go from zero to a hundred in the blink of an eye.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” his father chimes in. “I knew the minute I set my eyes on Belinda here she was mine. She was a girl from another town, passing through, but I knew. I knew when I saw her with her parents, having a picnic in the park, when I was a deputy and—”
Merrick’s mom puts her hand over her husband’s, blushing a little. “They’ve all heard this story before, you don’t need to tell it again.”
“Well, Kezia hasn’t heard it. Have you, dear?” He looks at me and I shake my head. His father is just an older version of Merrick. His size is not as thick, but his eyes are the same and the shape of his face is eerily similar.
“I’d love to hear the story.” I answer feeling warm and embraced by it all.
“See?” He smiles at his wife, and for a moment they just stare into each other’s eyes. “Like I was saying, I knew right away. Took her father aside and told him I’d pay for them to spend the weekend right here in town at the Millington Inn which is still just down the street, so long as I could treat them all to dinner that night. I think he was maybe expecting a hamburger and fries or something, on a deputy’s salary, but I made a deal with the best restaurant in town to have a five-star meal. The owner was a friend, gave me a month to pay it off.”
Merrick’s mom laughs. “My dad said he’d never seen so much food in all his life. He didn’t eat again for two days. How many courses was it?”
“Seven. And I spent the whole time trying to catch your eye.”
“You already had it, my love.”
Merrick’s dad nods. “The rest was history. Within a month, we were married, and we’ve barely spent a night away from each other since. If I could have married her that first day, I would have. I just knew.”
“Same here,” Merrick agrees and I’m melting inside. How can this be my life? Family and friends surrounding a table of food, all in my honor? Just to meet me?
“Well, eat up,” Margaret says. “Here, Kezia, these are Rodney’s famous chicken dumplings. They’re a house favorite…”
