Chapter 22

“What if next weekend we drive to Tacoma, and you meet my family?”

They had gone to the lake. It’s a beautiful spring day, about seventy degrees outside and the sky was a crystal-clear bountiful blue. Looking out over the water, a breeze caressed her face, and she felt blessed to live in Middletown.

Jenny guessed Liam’s intention. He was trying to reassure her that everything was okay between them after Hurricane Andrew hit them.

The proposal didn’t take Jenny completely by surprise, Liam had mentioned it before, so she answered without hesitation, “Yes, I would love that.”

She was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for what she had and how far she had come.

“Are you sure, Liam? Meeting the family is a big step in any relationship.”

“I am positive. I never felt this for anybody. I don’t care if it’s too soon, I love you.”

“I love you, too. I feel the same way you do. I’d love to meet them. Who are they exactly?”

“My grandparents and my mother. They are very simple and down-to-earth people. They are going to love you.”

“Do they know about...?”

“Yes, Jenny, they know you are in a wheelchair since our first date. Relax.”

“That means you’ll get to know my parents, too? I know they are dying to get to know you.”

“Sounds good to me.”

So the next weekend, Liam parked his grandfather’s car in front of his girlfriend’s parents’ home, rang the bell and waited.

A middle-aged woman opened the door and exclaimed, “Here is the prince who has stolen my daughter’s heart. Welcome, Liam.”

She gave Liam a tight hug. “I’m very happy to meet you and have heard so many great things.”

It was so sudden and so weird that it left Liam speechless.

“He’s quite handsome,” she went, breaking the hug to look at Liam’s face.

“That’s enough, Mom. Let Liam alone before he runs away scared,” Kara protested.

“We are so happy you are here,” Jenny’s mom said with tears in her eyes, kissing Liam’s cheeks.

“I think you made that clear, Mom. “Jenny and my dad are waiting for you in the backyard, Liam. You better go and meet them. I’ll hold my mother while you escape,” Kara half-joked, and put her arms around her mother.

Liam hurried out to the backyard.

A bespectacled, middle-aged man of about fifty, was outside taking care of the BBQ.

Jenny was sitting at his side looking as gorgeous as ever. She waved at Liam.

“Hello, love. Come and meet my father,” she said.

Jenny reached for Liam’s hand. “Dad, I want you to meet the love of my life.”

“Hello,” her father looked surprised, as he squinted at Liam. “You are the music teacher.”

“Liam to my friends,” he reached out, and shook her father’s hand.

“Liam, this is my father, Miles Grant.”

“It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

“Likewise. Please call me Miles. How long have you and Jenny been dating?”

Liam looked at Jenny, and she shrugged slightly. “A few months.” It was his best guess.

At that moment, Jenny’s mother yelled from the kitchen, “Please come and help me with the salads, Jenny.”

Jenny rolled back to the house.

“It is now or never,” Liam thought, considering this would probably be the only time he would be alone with her father today.

“I know I have not known your daughter very long, but in the short time I have, I have fallen in love with her. She means the world to me. We don’t have plans to get married yet, but when the time comes, I’d love to have your blessing to marry your daughter. I can promise you that I’ll do everything I can to protect her and keep her safe.”

“Isn’t it a bit soon to ask for my blessing? Why the rush? Did you knock her up?”

“No, Miles, nothing of the kind. I love Jenny and I can imagine myself spending the rest of my life with her.”

Jenny’s father nodded, studying Liam closer.

“Does she mean that much to you?” he asked Liam.

“She does, Miles. I know I don’t have to tell you how special she is.”

“Jenny, come over here,” Mr. Grant yelled across the yard.

Jenny pushed her wheelchair back to the grill. Liam instantly stood by his girlfriend, protectively placing his arm on her shoulder.

“Jenny, do you love this man?” her father asked her.

“Yes, Dad, I do very much.”

“Do you see yourself marrying him some day?”

“Yes,” Jenny smiled. “Absolutely.”

“Then, when the time comes, I’ll give my blessing for you to marry Liam.”

“Marry Liam?”

Jenny looked at his boyfriend and he explained to her. “I just asked your father for his blessing.”

“Really?”

“Yep. I want him to know I’m serious about us.”

With a shriek of excitement and joy, Jenny stretched her arms to hug her boyfriend.

“I love you,” she said. Then she looked up at her father and said, “Don’t be jealous, I love you, too.”

“I only ever wanted the best for you, Jen.”

“I know, Dad. But you and Mom were holding on too tight. I was suffocating. That’s why I chose to move out and live with Kara,” Jenny said, with tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, baby. It’s hard for a parent to let go of his child. There are not many things that I know for sure but I know that as long as you and Kara are both alive, you will be my single-most-important thing.”

“I know, Dad. Thank you. You and Mom helped me a lot. I love you both.”

Mr. Grant shook Liam’s hand and said, “Take good care of my girl, Liam.”

Without hesitation, Liam said, “I will, Miles. I promise.”

“What’s going on?” Mrs. Grant asked, approaching the group with a bowl of salad.

“Nothing is wrong, dear,” Mr. Grant winked at his daughter, and she mouthed ‘thank you’ to him.

They all sat down and had lunch.

Jenny’s parents fell in love with Liam. He was his usual charming self, the perfect gentleman.

At some point, Jenny’s mother took her daughter aside. “He is a keeper, baby. Does he love you, wheelchair and all?”

“Yes, Mom, wheelchair and all.”

“I give him my stamp of approval. Don’t let him skip away. I’ve been praying for you and God has answered my prayers.”

“Don’t worry; I won’t let Liam get away. I’m going to hold on real tight to him!”

Then, Liam and Jenny said their goodbyes and left for Tacoma.

Of course, Mrs. Grant packed some goodies for them to take on their trip. As they drove away from Middletown, Jenny thought to herself, “I’d love to spend the rest of my life with Liam.”

They relished Mrs. Grant’s homemade cookies on their hour-and-a-half drive to Northeast Tacoma. They were careful to save most of Jenny’s mom’s delicacies to share with Liam’s family. They talked about many things along the way, and

“Why did you ask for my father’s permission?” Jenny asked.

Liam shrugged. “It seemed the right thing to do. You know what I mean?”

Jenny shook her head, “No, not really.”

Liam took his eyes off the road for a second to look at Jenny. “I’m twenty-seven. You are twenty-six. You love me, I love you. Being away from you is hard. You have become part of me.”

Jenny’s heart soared. “I was hollow inside before I met you. You’ve filled me, Liam.”

“In more ways than one,” he joked.

Jenny slapped his arms, “Oh, you!”

The rest of the trip they talked as if they were planning a future together, and they both went right along with it. It simply felt right.

“When we get to your grandparents’, where will I sleep? Who will take care of me?”

“I have it all set up,” comforted Liam. “I’ll carry you to bed, and my mom will take care of your personal needs. Nana can take care of you if you prefer, but Mom is younger and stronger. They also made some changes in the house for your benefit.”

“Liam! They shouldn’t have.”

“That’s what I told them, but they didn’t listen to me.”

“How is your Mom doing at present?”

“She is doing fine. She is taking her meds and seeing a professional therapist.”

“I’m glad she is okay. I was depressed too, you know?” Jenny said shakily. “I even took medications for a while.”

Liam took one hand off the wheel to squeeze Jenny’s hand. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you. What I mean is that I know how being depressed feels,” Jenny gulped. “You need a lot of support from your loved ones.”

Liam felt a familiar pang of guilt. “I could have done more for my mom.”

They finally arrived at Liam’s grandparents’ house. The house was timeless, graceful, and probably a hundred years old. It was painted a soft, faded white, two stories tall, rectangular, and well-proportioned.

“Do you like it?”

“I do. It has a certain charm.”

They have built a ramp to give easy access to the house.

“Aww, how sweet of them! I already like them,” Jenny exclaimed.

Liam took the wheelchair out of the trunk, unfolded it, helped Jenny to sit on it, and pushed her up the path to the front door.

“Ready?” he asked Jenny, knocking on the front door.

“Not even a little bit, but let’s do it,” Jenny tried to laugh, but it seemed to get stuck in her throat. She smoothed her dress nervously.

“You look lovely,” Liam took his girlfriend’s hand and squeezed it gently.

“Liam! So glad you could make it!” Nana cried, opening the door before they could knock.

She sounded and looked genuinely happy.

Liam’s mother, was behind her, and she was smiling, too.

“You must be Jenny,” Nada said, taking both of the young girl’s hands in hers. “You are so beautiful. Please, call me Nana.”

Jenny nodded, broadening her smile. “I’m so glad to finally meet you, Nana.”

“I’m glad to meet you, too,” Nana said, leaning down to hug Jenny. She was the warm and fuzzy kind of woman.

“I’m Stella, Liam’s mother,” she said, kissing Jenny’s cheeks.

“Nice to meet you, Stella. You have raised a wonderful son.”

“Thank you. Please, come on in”

Liam looked behind and saw Jenny hesitating at the entrance.

“What’s wrong?” he asked her.