Jack nodded.
“And Cliff’s here,” I added. “Just in case, you know, if Mom or Nigel…”
Jack’s mouth kicked up in a smile. He put his hand on my back. “I think it will be all right. You’re not on your own any longer, you have me now.”
Yes, I did. Jack always had my back, he was my everything.
As we stepped out onto the terrace, a smile started at seeing my parents so at ease with Nigel. They stood near the balustrade, looking out at the beach.
“Mom, Dad. You made it. And you didn’t get lost.”
They turned. “Mom made sure of that,” Dad drawled, the sun glinting off his brown hair, his hazel eyes twinkling.
“He listened this time, which helped,” Mom said dryly, the slur in her speech not so noticeable—a good sign.
Laughing, I hugged her, used to their tormenting of each other. Then I dropped my hand, keeping my ring out of sight for now.
“This…” Mom said, waving to the beach, “is beautiful. I’m so pleased Nigel invited us. Now I get to see where you live and work. I know you and Jack are dating, but still…”
Man, I prayed the excitement wouldn’t prove too much for her when I revealed the truth. But they were my parents, and I didn’t want to keep them in the dark any longer than necessary.
Marcy brought coffee and snacks. Once she served everyone and left, Jack sat next to me on the wicker couch. Dad and Mom, adjacent to us, and Nigel opposite.
“There’s something I wanted to say, Mr. and Mrs. Logan,” Jack said, lightly rubbing my clenched hands. “And the wedding wasn’t the place.”
Nigel lifted a graying eyebrow. Mom frowned, and Dad stared, nothing showed on his stern features.
Jack drew my clammy hand to his lap. “As you must have guessed, Ray and I are, er,weredating—”
“Only a blind and deaf cat wouldn’t know that,” Nigel muttered. “Even then, it’s doubtful. I knew from the start.”
I bit back my smile. Jack just shook his head and continued. “But there’s more. My maternal grandmother, unfortunately, is too set in her ways. She expects everyone to bend to her will.”
“But you didn’t,” my father said quietly.
“No.” Jack’s features hardened. “I love Ray, and no one will dictate my life, especially who I can be with.”
“She tried to break us up,” I said, “and I’m ashamed to say, she almost won.”
“Why?” Mom asked, her soft gaze skimming my face. “What did she have against you, Ray?”
I knew then that I couldn’t hide this any longer. I had to tell them. “I did something stupid a while ago, and she used it against me.”
The nerve near Dad’s right eye twitched. I knew his tells. He was furious that anyone would dare threaten his daughter. No, he didn’t believe I’d done anything wrong, and this was why I prayed I didn’t disappoint them.
“What was it?” my father asked quietly.
“A friend needed help. She was sick, and she’s a single parent. She couldn’t afford to lose the job, so I helped her out…” I chewed my lip as Jack stroked my hand in reassurance.
“Doing what?” Mom asked, her smile encouraging.
“As an escort. It was just a date with a businessman in town for some work function.”
Mom’s mouth opened in a small O, appearing a little shaken. Then her gaze rushed to Jack. “And you’re okay with this?”
He shrugged. “It was before me. Besides, I know Ray. I trust her.”
“So, she used that against you?” both Nigel and Dad demanded in unison.
