Back to the Past

"Here, you hold the pie and I'll hold the wine," I say to my dad as we get out of the car and walk up the entrance to Alex's parents' mansion.

An expression of awe forms on my dad's face. "You told me they had money, but I didn't expect this." It had been just the two of us ever since I can remember and with two people, we didn't need a ton of space. About 10 of our houses could fit into this estate, not including the guest house in the back.

We walk up the stairs together and ring the doorbell. We wait in silence until the door that is bigger than my bedroom wall opens. I can't remember the last time I was this nervous. I've never been with a guy that was worthy of meeting my dad and I want him to like Alex as much as I do. I want him to know that he raised a daughter that can pick a suitable partner. Someone that he can trust and treats me the way any woman deserves to be treated.

"Leah! We've heard so much about you," Diane says as she pulls me in for a hug. "Alex has been dying for us to meet you."

"I've been looking forward to this, too. It's so nice to finally meet you," I say as we pull apart.

"Bill," Alex's dad says as he extends a hand out to my dad.

"David, nice to meet you."

"Don't be shy! Come inside, we have a great dinner prepared for tonight," Diane insists as she ushers us inside.

Alex pulls me aside as his parents and my dad take their seats at the table. "My mom can be a bit, what's the word, nosy. Just be prepared to answer a lot of questions."

"She's so nice. I think I'll be able to handle it, don't worry."

After we dish our dinner onto our plates, the interview commences.

"So David, where is your wife tonight? Will she be joining us at some point? We would love to meet her as well."

Alex immediately looks down. I realize that Alex never told his parents about my mom. I look over to my dad and see him choke on the sip of water he just tried to drink.

I cover for him. As hard as it for me to not have her around, I know it's worse for him. I barely knew her and she was his soulmate. My dad hardly ever talks about her and I'm not going to make him start now.

"Oh um, she actually passed away when I was little."

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know. I'm sorry to hear that," Diane manages to get out. She looks over to Alex, giving him a look signaling that he put her in a tough position.

"It's okay, it was a long time ago, we are getting on just fine, the two of us." I smile at my dad and he returns it back.

Quickly trying to change the subject, Diane moves onto her next question. "Leah, I hear that you recently graduated from University of California, Irvine. What did you major in?"

"I majored in business, just like Alex," I respond.

"Wow that's great! Maybe you can give him a hand with his surfboard business?"

"Mom, I have it under control," Alex chimes in.

"You can never have enough help, right Bill?"

"Yeah, your mother is right, Alex. I'm sure Leah could give some ideas to get your brand out there."

-

"Things started off a bit rough, but I think the night went pretty well for the most part, right?" Alex asks as we clear off the dinner table.

"I don't think it could have ended any better. Who knew both of our dads are major San Francisco 49er fans? I think they are best friends now." I look over and see my dad and Alex's dad watching reruns of the 49ers best plays from last season in the living room.

"Too bad my mom doesn't like sports."

"Don't worry about that. I think I love shopping almost as much as she does. We will be spending a lot of time and money at the mall together."

Alex sits at the table and pulls me onto his lap. "You and my mom are going to be best friends. Now that our families get along so well, there's nothing in our way," he says as he reaches up and I lower my head down to make our lips touch.