Preston looked back at me with wide eyes as Nicole led him to the door. I took the bag from him and followed them into the kitchen, where my mom stood guard over a huge turkey. When she looked up, her face did that mom thing like she was going to cry because her precious baby was in love.
“Hey, mom,” I said as I placed the bag on the counter. I pulled her into my arms for a big hug.
“Hey, sweetheart,” she cooed excitedly as she hugged me back. “He’s so handsome,” she whispered in my ear.
I laughed and let her go. She looked at me with so much love. “Yeah, he is. Inside and out.”
Reaching my hand out for Preston, I pulled him closer to me. I wrapped my arm around his waist as he draped his over my shoulder. “Everyone, this is Preston James. Babe, this is my mom, Michelle, and my dad, Brian.”
Preston smiled and shook hands with my dad, then leaned in to kiss my mother on the cheek. “It’s great to meet you all. Thank you for having me.”
“We’re glad you could make it, Preston. Nick says you’re a chef?”
He smiled. “Yes, I own Bernardo’s in town.” Preston gestured to the bag. “I brought some wine from my personal collection for you.”
My mother’s eyes lit up. “Thank you so much. I can’t wait to try it.”
Even though he appeared as cool as a cucumber, I saw the relief wash over him when his shoulders relaxed.
“Would you like me to open it?”
“Oh, yes, please,” my mother replied. “The glasses are in the far cabinet by the refrigerator.”
Preston didn’t give me a second look as he followed my mother’s directions for retrieving her wine glasses.
My mom looked over at me. After a moment, tears formed in her eyes.
“Mom, stop,” I moaned quietly.
She cupped my cheeks in her hands. “Nicholas, don’t deny me my happiness at your happiness.”
Chuckling, I kissed her cheek, and moved on to my dad.
“Hey, Dad. How’s it going?”
“Good,” he said, meeting me for a hug.
I took a step back next to my sister as our mother engaged Preston about wine and his specialty dish. My dad contributed to the conversation by asking Preston if he was a Pirates fan.
Nicole leaned in to me. “Looks like you found a winner, big brother.”
I wrapped my arm around her. “You have no idea, Nic.”
She hugged me. “They like him. Think it’s because he’s closer to their age?”
I pinched her with my free hand, making her yelp. “Be nice. He’s only forty-five.”
When I looked back around, Preston approached with a knowing smile and two wine glasses of his favorite Sauvignon Blanc. “Here you go,” he murmured to me, then extended the first glass to Nicole, then handed me the other one.
I took the glass and tapped mine into my sisters. “Cheers baby sis.”
Nicole rolled her eyes. “He’s only four minutes older than me.”
Preston grinned and listened as she shared memories from our childhood. I wrapped my arm around his waist when his arm found its familiar place over my shoulders.
“There are snacks in the den. Go watch football and leave me to it,” my mother directed.
Preston looked over at my mother. “Can I help, Michelle? I’m a pretty good sous-chef.”
