“Do your parents always hire waiters for Thanksgiving?” I ask.
“Yup,” she says through a sigh.
I take a sip of the cocktail. “Pretty good.”
“Drink up. The best thing you’ll get out of today is free alcohol.”
Another server stops by and gives Poppy a glass of sparkling water and she takes a small sip.
“Poppy, darling. You made it.” I look over and see a woman around Poppy’s height wearing a black dress, walking over to her. She pulls Poppy into a hug.
“Hi, Mom.”
I stand back and let mother and daughter greet each other. I notice Poppy looks a little more relaxed with her mom. She’s actually smiling when she’s talking to her, instead of the way she frowned at her dad.
After a second, Poppy turns to me. “Mom, this is my boyfriend, Nick. Nick, this is my mother, Marla.”
I shake her hand and smile. “Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Wylder.”
“Oh, I insist that you call me Marla. Mrs. Wylder makes me feel a hundred years old.”
“Well, you certainly don’t look a hundred years old,” I smile at her. “If I saw you and Poppy walking down the street together, I’d think you were her older sister.”
She beams at me and pats my arm. “Oh, you’re a charmer.”
Poppy smiles and flashes me a thumbs up. I’m not even lying. Poppy’s mom is really pretty. And she has the same long, sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes, just like Poppy.
“Nick is my best friend Anna’s twin brother,” Poppy says.
Marla’s face lights up. “Oh, how wonderful! Your sister Anna is quite impressive. Incredibly intelligent. Last time I saw her, she said she was planning to attend medical school.”
“She definitely got the brains for the two of us.”
Marla chuckles.
“Nick is an incredible hockey player. He’s the star of the Hollis University men’s team.”
Marla smiles. “Oh, well done!” She chuckles. “You’ll have to forgive me, Nick. I’m not much of a hockey fan. Or sports in general.”
“It’s okay. Not everyone is into watching a bunch of guys slide around on ice while they chase around a rubber disc.”
Marla’s head falls back as she laughs. She pats my arm again, then turns to Poppy. “Darling, your boyfriend is a riot,” she says. “I have to check on the turkey, but you kids help yourself to drinks and appetizers.”
She walks off and Poppy lets out a breath.
“That went a lot better than when I met your dad,” I say.
Poppy smiles, but a second later, it fades when she looks past my shoulder.
“Dad. Hi.”
He steps over and gives her a quick hug.
“Poppy, darling. So glad you’re here.” He turns to me. “Nick. Likewise.”
I nod at him. “Thank you for having me.”
He gives a tight, unimpressed smile when he looks at the dress shirt, tie, and trousers I’m wearing. I hold in a laugh at how obvious his dislike for me is. This guy is pathetic.
