“Great idea,” Kate said. “It’s about time your parents knew about you and Sly. As for your cousin, he doesn’t strike me as a man easily swayed by anyone else’s opinion. How will Sly even know you went to bat for him?”
Lana wasn’t about to let that stop her. “I’ll pound on Sly’s door and make him listen. If I want a chance with him, I have to restore his trust in me and prove that I trust him.”
“Wow, lady, you’re on fire.” Kate thought a moment. “I hate to bring this up, but what if it doesn’t work?”
Refusing to consider the possibility, Lana raised her chin. “It will. It has to.” She reached for her purse and stood.
“Now?” Kate frowned. “But what about the pizza?”
“Eat a piece for me. This won’t wait.”
As Lana rode the elevator down from Kate’s fourth-floor apartment, “Mama Knows” sounded from her cell phone.
She picked up right away. “Hi. I’m glad you called.” She could almost hear her mother’s surprise at that. “I’m on my way over to the house. I have something important to tell you and Dad.I’ll be there shortly.” Before her mother had a chance to question her, she disconnected.
She wasn’t going to reveal her pregnancy to her parents yet—one step at a time. Besides, she wanted to tell Liz and Eric first. Tonight was about Sly.
Thanks to the usual Friday rush-hour traffic, she didn’t pull up to her parents’ house for a good twenty minutes. Which gave her way too long to imagine their shocked reactions. A giant mess of nerves, she parked in front of their place. Weeks ago, Sly had pointed out that she was afraid of them. Although Lana had denied it, she was.
Which was embarrassing for a thirty-two-year-old woman to admit, even to herself. She finally had to face those fears and move through them.
Not about to let that stop her, she squared her shoulders and entered the house.
Her parents were seated in the living room, obviously waiting for her. Mustering a smile she didn’t feel, she greeted them. Her mother had set out cookies and lemonade. Having skipped dinner, Lana was famished. She ate a cookie but was so focused on the task at hand she barely tasted it.
“Let me guess why you’re here,” her mother said. “You’ve found a teenage girl with a baby to adopt.”
“Actually, I’ve put the adoption idea on hold,” she said. Now would be a perfect moment to announce that she was pregnant, but first things first.
Her mother looked relieved. “Is that what this visit is about? I’m glad you finally came to your senses. I was beginning to?—”
“Could you save it, Mom? I need to tell you and Dad something important.” Her mother shut her mouth. “I’ve met someone, a man I’ve fallen in love with.”
Her parents shared a knowing glance. “I figured that sooner or later you would,” her dad said. “But this seems a little sudden. I’d hate for you to get hurt again.”
Thanks to her own actions, Lana was already suffering. “Actually, Dad, we’ve known each other several months.”
“You kept something so momentous from your own parents?” Her mother shook her head. “How could you?—”
“Michele,” her father interrupted, placing a warning finger against his own lips.
“I didn’t want to be judged and criticized for my choice,” Lana replied.
The pained expression on her mother’s face revealed that she was well aware of her own behavior. “I realize that occasionally I get on your and your sister’s nerves,” she said. “Surely you know I only want the best for you.”
“I get that, Mom. But I’m an adult, and I have been for a while now. It’s past time you and Dad trusted me to make my own judgments about what’s best for me.”
Lana’s father considered that for a bit, then nodded. “I agree.”
After staring at her hands, her mother raised her head. “From the moment you were born, I’ve guided you toward where I thought you should go. Not that you listen much anymore.” Her attempt at a humorous smile failed, and she gave Lana a pleading look. “You’re my daughter and it’s hard to let go. But you’re right, you’re an adult with a good head on your shoulders.”
Grateful they understood, Lana nodded. “Thank you—both of you.”
“When will your mother and I get a chance to meet this mystery man of yours?” her father asked.
“How about at dinner this Sunday?” Provided she and Sly made up and he agreed to come. Lana wouldn’t let herself worry about that now.
Her parents glanced at each other again and shrugged. “That’d be nice,” her father said before letting her mother take over.
