Chapter 81

I was worried about them judging me. Was I worthy of their daughter? I had steeled myself for every evil mother-in-law scenario I could dream up and the last few nights had been restless for me.

My pregnancy was four months along and things were going well. I was going to the doctor's regularly and once I dropped the news to my boss, they were very accommodating at work to fit doctor's appointments and anything else in to my schedule. That was a welcome relief and the inventory manager had joked to me that since I had gotten pregnant, liquor had stopped "disappearing."

Some of the guys suspected that I was also living with another woman, but no one (including my boss) came out and said anything to me. It seemed that the people I worked with were happy with "don't ask, don't tell" for me.

I tried to straighten up a few things around the house when McKayla told me to stop. I couldn't help but fidget.

"Don't worry," she chided me again. "They're going to love you. And if they don't, they can go to Hell."

I smiled, but I don't think I convinced her that I wasn't nervous.

A few minutes later, I heard a car pull in to the driveway. I took in a deep breath. McKayla winked and gave me one more kiss.

"Stop worrying, love," she whispered.

Then she pulled me out of the chair and led me out through the garage.

Her parents were getting out of their car. Both looked active and fit. McKayla's father—actually, he was her stepfather—was a well-built, handsome man in his early fifties. He had salt and pepper hair and a warm smile.

They say that you can tell how a woman will look in twenty years by seeing her mother. If that's true, McKayla will never grow old. Her mother was also in her early 50s and looked great for someone who was in their late 30s. She had the same raven-black hair as McKayla and a slim build. Like her husband, she had a wide smile and a friendly demeanor.

The two of them had lines around their eyes which showed they were accustomed to smiling and laughing. McKayla gave each of her parents a hug. "These are my parents, Don and Suzie. Mom, Dad, this is Paige."

"It's so nice to meet you." Her father gave me a big, warm embrace. Her mother did the same.

"We've heard so much about you." Suzie said. Then she winked at me. "McKayla must really like you. She never lets us meet any of her girlfriends."

I could only smile nervously. "Can we help you with anything?"

"We'll get it later," her father said. "We want to know all about you."

The pair was easy-going and pleasantly informal. Her mother still had her arm around my shoulder and was quick to engage me in a variety of small talk. She complimented the house and said she liked many of the small things I had done to the place.

In truth, I hadn't changed much around the house, but it seemed she was going out of her way to be nice. If she was trying to put me at ease, she did a pretty good job but I couldn't shake that feeling in the pit of my gut.

We took them out on the back deck. McKayla poured everyone some iced tea. I fidgeted some more. Before they arrived, we had decided to break the news to them early in the visit because I didn't think my nerves could make it through a meal or an afternoon. I really needed a margarita.

The four of us sat around the table under the shade of a giant umbrella.

"We've got some news for you," McKayla said.

I saw her parents share a half-amused look and a mischievous smile.

"Paige and I have been together for four months," she continued. I looked over at my lover. She reached over and took my hand. It was trembling. I nodded. That was her signal to keep going. "We want to get married."

Don was the first to speak. He sounded as if he expected to hear those very words. "That's great, girls. Congratulations!"

"Oh, that's wonderful!" her mother said, getting up to give us both hugs. "Are you going to go to one of the states where you can get a civil union or to Canada?"

"We thought we'd just have a commitment ceremony," McKayla said. "Even if we went to Massachusetts or New Jersey, their civil unions aren't valid here."

"Fair enough," her father said, giving us each another hug. "We could all fly out to Vegas tonight and you girls could tie the knot there."

"We thought about that," McKayla said. "But we have some other news for you, too."

Both Don and Suzie's eyebrows shot up. This was the part I was dreading