I take a deep breath, trying to calm the anxiety bubbling up as I stare at my reflection in the living room mirror. James’s birthday isn’t just another party—It’s the first event worth celebrating since we got out of our extreme poverty. I can’t help but wonder if inviting Ethan was too impulsive. Maybe a quieter introduction, like a simple dinner, would’ve been better.
My fingers fidget with the hem of my shirt, second-guessing my choice of outfit for the third time. I want to look effortlessly put together, but every option feels like a potential misstep.
Eva strides into the living room, her eyebrow arching. “Everything alright?”
I attempt a nod, falter, and then shake my head, ending with a shrug. My emotions are a tangled mess.
She laughs quietly, her eyes warm. “Words might help, you know. What’s on your mind?”
I lower my voice, almost to a whisper. “Do you think I’m making a mistake? Maybe I should’ve given Mom a heads-up about Ethan.”
Eva leans against the counter, her thoughtful gaze fixed on me. “Maybe,” she concedes, “but seeing you two together will make all the difference. The way you light up around him, the way he looks at you… it’s undeniable. His last name, his background, none of that matters when you see the love between you two.”
I smile weakly, taking comfort in her words. “Thanks, Eva. I… I want everything to go smoothly.”
She steps closer, giving me a reassuring hug. “It will. Just be yourself and let Ethan be himself. The rest will fall into place. Your mother loves you, and all she wants is for you to be happy, and Ethan fits the bill.”
A soft chime from my phone interrupts our conversation. It’s a text from Ethan: Downstairs. Ready when you are.
I grab my purse, taking one last look in the mirror. “Here goes nothing.”
Eva’s fingers press gently into my arm, the warmth of her touch grounding me. The faint scent of her lavender perfume wafts by, calming my nerves. “You got this,” she whispers, her voice a gentle balm to my anxiety.
Stepping outside, the cool air hits me, but it’s Ethan’s nervous form leaning against his car that captures my attention. Our eyes lock, and for a heartbeat, everything else blurs.
I force a smile and walk to him, giving him a brief kiss. He rests his hands on my shoulders and runs them up and down my arms.
“You look beautiful.”
My smile turns a little more relaxed as I dismiss his predictability. “You always say that.”
“It’s because it’s always true, even if I’m partial. I like you best when you wear nothing at all.” He rests his warm hand on my neck, and the contact makes me shiver. Will this feeling ever go away? I’ve always thought that with familiarity, the intense reaction to his touch, his smell, and his beautiful, dimpled smile would lessen, but it seems to be firmly anchored in my body.
“You look extra dashing, too.” I rest my hand on his blue dress shirt that is peeking through his open coat. “Very respectable.”
He chuckles. “That’s the vibe I’m going for. Took me over an hour to find the perfect outfit, and I almost gave myself a nosebleed.”
He moves from his position against the car and opens the door for me before taking my hand and helping me in, my gentleman.
“You’re teasing,” I accuse, watching as he slides into the driver’s seat. Without missing a beat, he cranks up the heat, knowing how easily I get cold.
This simple little gesture shows me how much he cares, how attuned he is to my needs.
“I swear I’m not! I kept interrupting the guys, asking for their opinions with each outfit change. I only stopped when Liam threatened to burn all my clothes.”
“That’s mean,” I say, but I can’t hide the laughter in my voice.
He throws me a fake, annoyed look before concentrating on his driving again. “I don’t need your mother to know I wish to ravish you every hour of the day. I need to make a good first impression.”
I can hear the weight of that statement in his voice, the pressure he’s putting on himself. It’s not only about today; it’s about every moment that will follow, every judgment and expectation. We both know it’s not his first time meeting my mother, but it’s the first time after everything that happened. It’s the first time after the name Hawthorne became a curse in our family, and most importantly, it is the first time as the man I love.
We drive in comfortable silence, the familiar hum of the car and the faint music from the radio filling the space between us. Every so often, his hand brushes against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me.
As the Brenthill signs come into view, he hesitates. “You know, sometimes I overthink, trying to fix things that aren’t broken.”
I turn a little in my seat, throwing him a questioning look.
“I love you, remember that,” he says with a sheepish smile before pointing at the back seat.
I turn around, and my eyes widen in disbelief. The back seat is a sea of colorful packages, bouquets of flowers in various shades, and boxes of chocolates. For a split second, I’m speechless, trying to process the sheer volume of gifts.
“Ethan… what on earth?” I manage to say, my voice a mix of amusement and astonishment. I reach out to touch a bouquet, the delicate petals brushing against my fingers. I had thought the scent of roses, lilies, and other flowers I couldn’t identify in the car was some overpowering new car scent product.
He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, looking almost sheepish.
He rubs his neck, his voice laced with exasperation. “I told you I panicked! I went to the toy store for the game console James wanted, then saw Legos for Billy. It’s not his birthday, so I compensated with more games for James. I might have gone a bit overboard.”
“A bit?” I tease, picking up a box of chocolates and shaking it playfully. “You’ve practically bought out the entire store! And what about the flowers and the chocolate? There must be like ten different kinds in there.”
His cheeks taint pink, and my heart melts in my chest. I can’t resist him when he is self-conscious.
He grimaces, rubbing the back of his neck. “I… I wanted to make a good impression. I went out to get your mom flowers, but I wasn’t sure which kind she’d like. The florist suggested a bunch, and I ended up buying them all. Then, on the way to your place, it hit me—what if she prefers chocolates? So I stopped at Teuscher’s and…” He throws his hands up in exasperation. “I just couldn’t make up my mind, and one thing led to another…”
“This is madness…” I whisper, still in awe.
“I know,” he groans, resting his forehead on the steering wheel.
The view of my six-foot-one man like that is more than endearing, and my heart expands so much in my chest it’s almost painful.
I can’t help but laugh. The sound light and genuine. “You’re unbelievable,” I say, but there’s warmth in my voice. “But it’s one of the things I love about you. Your heart is always in the right place, even if you do tend to go over the top sometimes.”
He grins, looking relieved. “You’re not mad?”
I caress his hair. “It’s adorable. Insane, but adorable.”
He keeps his forehead on the steering wheel but turns a little to look at me.
“Really?”
I smile, and this time, there’s no apprehension. “Really. I love you, Ethan, truly. You don’t need all of this. I don’t want my brothers to like you for your money.”
He gives me his rueful grin that makes my heart beat a little faster. “As long as you don’t like me for it, I don’t care.”
I lean in and kiss his cheek. “No, I love you in spite of it,” I huff. “Come on, I see my mother looking at us from the kitchen window. Time to go.”
Ethan straightens and looks at the window, directly at my mother, who I’m not sure can see him with the way the sun is hitting the car.
Draped across the front door is a bright banner that reads, “Happy Birthday, James!” in bold, colorful letters. Balloons in various shades of blue, presumably James’s favorite color, are tied to the fence posts, bobbing in the breeze.
The pathway leading to the front door is lined with potted plants, their vibrant hues adding to the festive atmosphere. I can hear faint laughter and chatter from inside, indicating that the guests have already started to arrive.
He whistles beside me, clearly impressed. “Your mom’s gone all out, hasn’t she?”
I nod, a smile playing on my lips. “She always does when it comes to family. It’s her way of showing love.”
He glances at the house, a thoughtful frown on his face. “What if she rejects me? What does it mean for us?”
Ah, he asked the million-dollar question. The one I am dreading to have to answer, but I know the answer.
He turns toward me when I remain silent.
“It means that it will be us against the world because she will need to get used to you. You’re not going anywhere.”
He jerks in surprise, and his frown morphs into an expression of such joy. Damn, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ethan this happy… ever!
He grabs my face in his hands and kisses me hard. “You and me against the world.”
“You and me against the world,” I affirm, pausing to gather my thoughts. “Come on. Time to go.”
I tell Ethan to settle for the bouquet of pink, white, and yellow roses, hydrangeas, gerbera daisies, carnations, a medium box of chocolate, and, of course, the game console for James.
“But what about everything else?” he asks urgently as he closes the car.
“We’ll take the flowers to the retirement home down the street, and chocolate lasts a long time. As for the Legos, you can give them to Billy for Christmas or whenever.”
Ethan grins and grabs my hand. I think he really likes when I include him in future plans, and honestly, so do I.
I grip Ethan’s hand, and by the time we reach the door, my anxiety is so high I can’t seem to breathe quite right.
I hesitate for a second in front of the door.
“Pop—” Ethan starts, but he’s interrupted by the door opening.
“Poppy, Ethan, here you are!” My mother’s eyes light up as she sees us, her arms opening wide in a welcoming gesture. She quickly pulls us into a warm embrace, her concern evident. “Come on, quick, it’s too cold out there!” She hurries us inside, her fingers brushing against my cheek in a motherly manner as she closes the door behind us.
I follow her lead, still processing her warm reception of Ethan. It has to be a dream; Mom wouldn’t react like that in Ethan’s presence.
“Look at you!” Mom says, staring at Ethan, her smile still on her face and the joy seemingly genuine. “You’re a man now.”
“I… well, yes. Thank you, Mrs. Donovan. You look wonderful.”
She waves him off, but she really does, though. The few weeks in this house changed everything. She has stable hours and a stable salary. She’s putting weight on like I am; her dark circles are gone, and her skin is no longer gray.
“These are for you,” he stammers, probably as taken aback as I am, as he extends the flowers and the chocolate toward her.
“Oh, these are stunning!” She brings the flowers to her nose and inhales their fragrance. “Take off your coats and come with me to the kitchen. I need to put them in water.”
Ethan throws me a confused look as we take off our coats, and I shrug.
“I don’t know,” I mouth to him.
We follow her into the kitchen, which smells of freshly baked cookies.
“Sit down, please. Do you want something to drink?”
“No, I’m fine, Mrs. Donovan.”
“Please, call me Julia.”
What the actual hell?!
“The boys and their friends are in the attic, playing with the old gaming console. But judging by that big package in your hand, I think James might be getting the new one he’s been wanting so badly,” she says with a wink to Ethan.
He grins, holding up the package. “Mind if I surprise him?”
“Of course I don’t. That’s very generous of you, Ethan. I bet the boys will be excited.”
“Yes, I would like that.” He looks at me as he stands up, and I smile and understand that he wants us to be alone for a while.
“Just follow the shouting, and you’ll find them,” Mom advises.
Before Ethan can make his way to the attic, Billy, wearing his favorite Batman mask, comes barreling down the stairs. He stops dead in his tracks upon seeing Ethan, pointing dramatically. “Batman!”
Ethan chuckles, bending down. “Hey there, Batman. Keeping the city safe?”
Billy nods vigorously, his eyes wide behind the mask. “But it’s a secret. Don’t tell anyone!”
“Your secret’s safe with me.” Ethan winks, tapping the side of his nose. “I’m coming up to see your brother.”
“Wait, we need food!” Billy runs into the kitchen and grabs a plate full of cookies.
Watching the exchange, warmth spreads through me. Ethan’s effort to connect with my family, especially the younger ones, means the world to me.
After a few minutes, I hear James’s excited shout from the attic, followed by a chorus of cheers. I can’t help but smile, imagining the look on my little brother’s face when he saw the new console.
Mom shakes her head and turns toward me. Once again, I expect her to frown or cry or something, but she keeps her genuine smile on.
She pours the tea, and the familiar aroma of elderflower fills the room, bringing back memories. “I remember how much you love this one,” she says, her voice gentle.
I take a moment, watching her every move, searching for any sign of her true feelings. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“About what?” she asks, walking back to the kitchen island.
“Ethan. You’re not surprised.”
She leans in, her eyes piercing mine with a knowing look. “You’ve been in love with that boy for years!” she declares, her eyebrows raised in a mix of amusement and affirmation.
I straighten up in my chair, my hands gripping the edge of the table. “Absolutely not! I-I hated him.” My voice rises defensively, my eyes darting away from hers, unable to hold her knowing gaze.
She throws me a side look and comes back with a tray of tea. “Nobody talks that much about a boy they hate, Pops. No one.”
“I…” I sigh, leaning back on my chair. “You’re not angry? He’s the son of…” I stop talking as if his name alone would cause her pain.
“Oh, trust me, I know very well who his father is, but that boy is not his father, and…” She taps her finger on the table. “It’s easier to blame it all on Ethan’s father than the man I used to love.” She smiles. “Love is love, Poppy. Never be ashamed of who you love.”
“You knew it was him from the start, didn’t you?”
She nods, sipping her tea.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I should have been honest with you. Why didn’t you say anything?”
She shrugs. “Your brother told me. Billy was too young, but even though we never took James to the parties, he knew what Ethan looked like. And why didn’t I tell you?” She sips her tea. “It was not for me to tell you; you needed to come to it on your own.”
As relief washes over me, I feel my eyes start to prickle with tears. “I was scared, Mom. So scared to let you down, scared to disappoint you, but I love him so much. I tried to stay away. I really did.”
“Oh, my sweet girl! You could never disappoint me. Never!” Her eyes are shining with tears now. “You are my greatest achievement. You are brave and when we lost everything, you could have left us in our mess and found someone to help you, but you stayed, you worked, and you’ve put your life on hold for us, Poppy. It is far more than anyone else would have done.”
I lean to the side and hug her. “Oh, Mom, thank you! It would have broken my heart if I had to choose.”
She strokes my hair, her fingers soothing. “You’ll never have to choose, my love. Family is about understanding and acceptance. We’ve been through hell, and we’ve come out stronger. Ethan is a part of your life, and we’ll embrace him as we do all those who matter to our loved ones.”
The sound of footsteps interrupts our moment. Ethan appears in the doorway, a sheepish grin on his face. “The boys have officially kicked me out. Apparently, I’m not ‘cool’ enough to understand their gaming strategies.”
Mom grins, wiping away a stray tear from her eye. “Well, in that case, you can join us for some tea and cookies.”
Ethan’s eyes light up at the mention of cookies. “I never say no to cookies.”
We all settle around the kitchen table, the aroma of freshly baked cookies filling the air. As we chat and laugh, I can’t help but feel a warmth spread through me. The sight of my mother and Ethan, two of the most important people in my life, getting along so effortlessly is a dream come true.
Ethan reaches over, squeezing my hand under the table. I squeeze back, our fingers intertwining. It’s a simple gesture, but it speaks volumes. We’re in this together, and with the love and support of our newly built family, there’s nothing we can’t overcome.
The rest of the day passes in a blur of laughter, stories, birthday cakes, and presents. As the afternoon draws to a close and guests begin to leave, I feel a profound sense of gratitude. Life has thrown its fair share of challenges our way, but moments like these remind me of the beauty and resilience of love.
As we step outside, Ethan pulls me close, his voice a soft murmur. “Thank you for believing in us and letting me be part of your family.”
I lean into him, our fingers laced. “Always.” Together, I know we’re ready for whatever comes next.
