What was it about this man that made her feel so comfortable? Dare she say…protected. As if everything was going to be fine.
But she knew better.
"We can do this," he said quietly. "We can handle whatever they throw at us. We’ve got each other’s backs. We’re a team today."
Kelly looked at him then, really looked at him. His confidence wasn't just for show. It emanated from him like a physical force. He truly believed he could manage her family. But then, he hadn't met them yet.
"You don't know them," she warned, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No," he agreed. "But I know you. And if you're their daughter, there must be something good in them, somewhere."
The words landed softly, a kindness Kelly hadn't expected. She felt something shift inside of her. If he could be this confident, she had to try, too.
"That's a nice thought," she said. "Wrong, but nice."
"Only one way to find out which of us is right."
Kelly nodded, drawing in another deep and steadying breath. She could do this. For Lori. For herself. And maybe a little bit for Ben, who had volunteered for a weekend of family dysfunction with a woman he barely knew.
The front door of the house opened before they could exit the car, and Kelly's heart sank as she saw her mother step onto the porch, wearing her Sunday best on a weekday afternoon. Because of course she was. Jenny Bateman would never greet a guest, even her own daughter, in anything less than perfect attire.
"Ready?" Ben asked, his hand still covering hers on the door handle.
"No," Kelly admitted honestly. "But let's do it anyway."
The front door flung open, and the Bateman family emerged, all lining up in a row at the top of the driveway. Ben expected them to be smiling, throwing their arms open for their middle child, but none of that happened. They simply stood there, their arms at their sides, with sober but pleasant expressions.
Frankly, he’d seen pizza delivery guys given more of a warm welcome.
Her father, David, led the way, his silver hair catching the afternoon light, his posture ramrod straight as if he were still in the military rather than the banking profession.
Behind him came her mother, Jenny, impeccable in a pale blue dress and her brown hair streaked with gray, styled in a chic short bob.
Celia followed, looking both excited and nervous, her hand clasped tightly in her fiancé Trevor’s, the two of them presenting the picture-perfect image of a young couple on the brink of matrimonial bliss.
Quickly, he mentally ran through all that Kelly had told him about her family, especially their interests, jobs, and hobbies. He would need all the information he could gather to survive the weekend.
"Showtime," he whispered before taking her hand. Her skin was freezing cold to the touch, but he wasn’t shocked. The frosty demeanor emanating from her parents would have made penguins ecstatic. “We got this.”
"Kelly!" Celia broke ranks, rushing forward to envelop her in a hug that appeared genuinely warm, especially in comparison to the parents. "I'm so glad you're here!"
Kelly returned the embrace, an authentic smile breaking through her anxiety.
"Hi, Cel. You look great. You’re going to be a gorgeous bride on Sunday."
"You look good, too," Celia replied, pulling back to examine her. "New York agrees with you."
Before Kelly could respond, her mother stepped forward, arms extended for a much more restrained hug. The older woman looked like she’d just bit into a lemon.
"Kelly, dear. We were beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten your way home.”
Ah, a dig. Kelly had warned him about this. He looked forward to the passive-aggressive barbs from David and Jenny. He had a feeling they were masters at it by virtue of plenty of practice.
“I’m afraid we ran into some traffic,” Ben replied before Kelly had a chance. “I do apologize.”
He was there as a human shield, so he might as well take the first few arrows thrown.
Giving him a grateful smile, Kelly turned slightly, drawing Ben into the circle, only for her parents to take a step back.
