“I’m glad you’re here for her.” The words lifted all remaining weights from his shoulder. “And I’ll accept the money, if and only if it’s a gift and not an act of penance.”
“It’s a gift, son. Given freely with no strings attached.” Dad smiled and leaned forward. “Well, maybe one.”
“Oh?” He raised his eyebrows. “Let me guess, I have to invite you to the house from time to time?”
“You’ve got it.”
Landon chuckled, amazed at the difference from last spring to this one. “I think I can handle that.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jessa’s nerves twisted into a million pretzels when the GPS announced they would reach their destination in one mile. She sat in the back seat of her parents’ sedan, clutching the door handle. Phoebe smiled at her and tried to distract her with conversation, but Jessa’s concentration on the upcoming meeting couldn’t be broken. Meeting Landon’s family, seeing where he lived and grew up, felt like the only missing puzzle piece in their relationship.
The implications were huge, life-altering.
She recognized Landon’s truck parked along the curb and pointed to the pastel blue house. “That should be it.”
Dad pulled in and parked in the single spot left in the driveway.
Her stomach coiled. Who else was here? She’d expected only Landon, Gran, and maybe his parents. She wanted to meet his family on a smaller scale and in shifts the first time. She inhaled, only taking in a small amount of air.I can do this.
Climbing out of the car, she felt like a teen girl being dropped off at the mall for a date. The thought made her laugh and lightened the load on her nerves. How many adult women met their boyfriend’s family for the first time by climbing out the backseat of their parents’ car with a younger sister in tow.
She sighed. There were extenuating circumstances in this case. With her mom’s fragile emotional state, Jessa didn’t feel comfortable going out of town, and if she invited her parents, she’d also have to invite Phoebe because Mom wouldn’t have come without her.
Dear Lord, please don’t let it be this way forever.I want to honor my parents, but I want to live my own life as well, especially if—when—I get married.She loved Jasper Lake, but she wanted a honeymoon away from there, somewhere new to her.
And no matter what, she would not invite her parents on a honeymoon.
Normal children didn’t have to think about such things, but her normal went out the window with Hunter’s arrest and Trixie’s disappearance. She could only pray that when the time came for a wedding and honeymoon her mom would be settled enough emotionally to endure her leaving for a week.
Maybe she was jumping too far ahead. She and Landon hadn’t discussed marriage, though he had decided he’d move to Jasper Lake. Then again, why would he move his entire life if marriage to her wasn’t in his plans?
She stopped her worrying. She loved him, and he loved her. That’s all that mattered for this moment.
“Are you coming, sweetheart?” Dad, flanked by mom and Phoebe, stared at her.
How long had she been standing there lost in her thoughts? “Yes. I was trying to collect myself before going in.”
“You’ll be fine. Girlfriends and boyfriends have been doing this for ages.” He smiled at his wife. “Remember when I met your parents?”
Mom’s eyes danced. “Boy, do I remember. You insulted my dad’s haircut.”
“Not on purpose.” Dad rolled his eyes. “All I asked was if he’d had it cut at the new place in town. How was I to know a new women’s salon had also opened that same week?”
Jessa laughed. “I needed that.”
“It can’t get much worse than that and look at your grandfather and me now. We go fishing together every week.” Dad slipped an arm around her. “You have nothing to worry about. Landon loves you and so will his family.”
I hope so. She squared her shoulders, marched to the door with an air of confidence that could have only come from God Himself.
Landon appeared soon after she rang the doorbell and welcomed them inside. He greeted her with a kiss then pressed a finger to his lips. “Caleb is sleeping. He should wake up soon, but it’s better if he does it on his own.”
“Aww.” She couldn’t stop the coo. “I can’t wait to see him and get baby snuggles.”
“You’ll get the chance soon.” He turned to her dad. “How was the drive?”
“Just fine. No troubles at all.” Dad shook hands with him. “Thanks for inviting us.”
