Olivia pulled her father’s car into my parent’s driveway. Both cars were there, I was sure that everyone would be in the house. Everyone would be anxious and waiting curiously to see what was up with the girl I was bringing home.
We sat in the car for a few extra minutes, I was desperately trying to muster the courage to go inside and not to turn and run in the opposite direction.
Olivia placed her hand in mine. “It’s going to be okay. If it goes bad, we could always do your cabin in the woods idea.” She offered.
I laughed. “Okay, lets get this over with. Quick and painless.” I sighed.
I pushed open the passenger’s side door and climbed out onto the just fallen snow.
I met Olivia at the front of the car and picked up her hand. “Do you want me to carry your book?” I asked.
The cookbooks my mom had were all neatly placed on the shelf in the kitchen. Olivia’s cookbook was a huge binder filled with recipes, all of which were magazine cut outs or print outs. Some were on index cards and appeared to be ancient, while others were neatly written in her perfect handwriting. Everything was crazy and chaos inside the book; taped and glued. But somehow it all made perfect sense and it seemed neat and organized.
Olivia smiled. “Thank you.” She mused, surrendering the book to me. I tucked it under my arm and took her hand with my free one.
I helped her up the stairs, and opened the front door. I closed it quietly behind us. I placed her book carefully on the table in the hall and helped her with her coat, hanging mine with hers.
The first sound we could hear from the rest of the house was the two girls screaming, and one of them yelling “Zac, quit it!”
I took Olivia’s hand and led her toward the living room. Zac was sitting on the sofa and shooting nurf darts at the two girls. They were sitting on the floor playing with their dolls.
“Mom? Dad?” I called into the house.
Olivia’s hand squeezed mine worriedly. Suddenly she was getting cold feet, and I needed her to be strong enough to get me through tonight.
We found my parents in the kitchen. “Hi,” I said awkwardly.
Dad looked up from the newspaper and my mom looked up from wiping down the counter.
“Umm… this is Olivia… Olivia, this is my parents.” It seemed like the lamest possible thing I could ever say, but the words came out without a conscious thought.
Mom glanced at my dad, then smiled hugely. She crossed the room with her arms open. “Oh, Olivia!” She beamed. “It is so wonderful to finally meet you!” She cheered, hugging Olivia tightly.
Olivia returned her hug somewhat awkwardly. “It’s nice to meet you too. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Olivia was deliberately leaving out that most of what I’d said was bad.
“Oh, that’s wonderful. We’ve heard so much about you too. Our Isaac never stops talking about you.” She smiled.
“Mom!” I gaped in mortification.
“Di, you’re embarrassing the boy.” Dad laughed. He stood and shook Olivia’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hanson.” Olivia said with perfect sincere politeness.
“Please,” My dad insisted. “Call me Walker. And my wife,” He motioned to my mom. “Diana.”
Olivia smiled. “Okay.”
“Are those your recipes?” Mom asked, pointing toward the binder in my arms.
“Oh, yes. I thought maybe we could swap recipes, if you wanted.”
“Oh, absolutely!” Mom smiled hugely.
Olivia took the book from my hands and followed my mom to the kitchen island. She opened the book and my mom peered eagerly over her shoulder.
“So what do you think we should make for dinner? Isaac told me you were a vegetarian, and I thought it would be an excellent lesson for the kids. Right Walker?”
“Yes, Di.” My dad replied obediently. He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Come on, son. Let’s go and watch a movie or something. I have a feeling we will just be in the way here.”
I shook my head. “I think I’ll just hang out in here and try to help.”
The last thing I wanted to do was to leave Olivia alone with my mom. I definitely didn’t want my mom telling her anything embarrassing, and I didn’t want Olivia to be completely weirded out by my parents.
“Oh, that’s a great idea!” Olivia said, smiling at my mom. “That would be great for dinner tonight. And it’s so easy too.” She mused.
There were both pouring over Olivia’s cook book intently.
I opened the fridge. “Liv? Do you want anything? Water or juice?” I offered. “I could make you some tea or coffee-“ I offered.
Olivia looked up at me long enough to smile sweetly. “No, thank you.” She answered.
“Okay.” I answered. I grabbed a bottle of juice and plopped down at the kitchen table. I flipped through the paper, pretending I was interested in the articles. I was more listening to Olivia and my mother chatter on and plan the things they were going to make.
I watched Olivia. She was beautiful, she was adorably focused and looked incredibly happy.
“Whoa!” Taylor said from the door.
I twisted around and saw the shock registered on Taylor’s face. He gaped at me and pointed toward Olivia. “That’s her? That’s your girlfriend?” He asked, far too loudly.
I shot up from my seat and grabbed Taylor by the hood of his shirt and yanked him out of the kitchen.
“Yes!” I hissed. “Can you try for a few hours to not completely embarrass me?” I demanded. “For just one night can you please be a decent human being, and a halfway decent brother and stop being a cocky pain in the ass?” I demanded.
Taylor continued to gape at me. “Yeah, but that’s her? That’s her?” He asked.
“Yeah, why?” I demanded.
“Because she’s hot!” He protested. “Dude, you’re my brother and everything, but holy crap, what is a girl like that doing with a guy like you?” He demanded. “You… you must be good at something.” He mused. “Wow.”
I shook my head and socked Taylor in the arm. “Just behave, alright? I really like this girl. Don’t fuck this up for me.” I said through gritted teeth.
Taylor sighed and nodded. “Deal.”
“Thank you.” I mused. I breathed an internal sigh of relief and followed Taylor into the living room. The girls had found another place to play and my dad now had the nurf gun. He was shooting darts at Zac and demanding how he liked being shot at.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” Taylor asked.
“Uhh…” I glanced toward the kitchen. “Yeah, sure.” I answered.
“Which one?” Taylor asked.
“It doesn’t matter. You choose.” I wasn’t planning on watching the movie for long.
“Okay.” Taylor began sorting through the videos and dad sat down too, putting the nurf gun on the coffee table.
“What are we watching?” Dad asked.
“I don’t know yet,” Taylor replied.
“And you’re going to stay and watch too?” Dad asked.
I nodded. “I’ll be right back.” I said.
I stood and went into the living room. I found my mom pulling ingredients from the cupboard and Olivia reading off what they needed.
“Oh, I have onions in the basement. Hang on, I’ll be right back!” She insisted eagerly. Mom left the kitchen.
I moved toward Olivia. “How are you doing? Are you insane yet?” I asked.
Olivia laughed. “Not at all. I’m having a great time!” She insisted. “Your family seems sweet.”
I gaped at her like she had three heads.
“Your mom is amazing, she’s a cooking genius. I’m having a good time.” She insisted.
Olivia wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly.
I sighed, folding my arms over her. I pressed a kiss against her hair softly.
Olivia laughed softly. “Isaac, you have nothing to worry about.” She insisted. “I’m having a good time. I promise.”
I nodded. “Okay. Let me know if you want to go. We’ll run out of here like the place is on fire.”
Olivia laughed softly. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.” She insisted.
“Alright.” I nodded. “I still have to introduce you to my brothers and sisters, okay?”
Olivia nodded. “Of course”
“Do you want to meet my brothers now? I’m not sure where my sisters are…”
“Oh, sure.” She smiled.
“Okay.” I took her hand and led her into the living room. “Guys? This is Olivia.” I introduced her. “Olivia, this is my brother Taylor, and my brother Zac.” I motioned to each of them.
Olivia smiled sweetly. “Hi.” She said.
“Wow.” Zac glanced toward Taylor. They exchanged looks.
I narrowed my eyes at them, I wasn’t very comfortable with my brother’s ogling my girlfriend.
Dad glanced between Zac and Taylor, frowning.
Mom appeared from the basement. “Okay, I found the onions.” She announced. “Oh, good. You’re meeting everyone.” She smiled.
“Is it true there’s not going to be any meat with dinner tonight?” Zac asked.
“Zac!” I growled.
Olivia began to protest. “We could make a dish with meat in it.” She offered.
“No, no. That’s okay. We’re being cultural tonight.” Mom insisted. “These kids should see what it’s like to have a different, healthier lifestyle.”
Zac still looked worried.
“We’d better get started on dinner,” Mom insisted.
“Okay.” Olivia followed my mom from the living room.
“Zac, if you can get through this dinner with your mouth shut, I will buy you a whole fucking month’s worth of cheeseburgers.”
“Deal!” Zac said quickly.
“Isaac, language. Please.” Dad sighed.
“Sorry.” I replied. I plopped down on the sofa.
Leave a Reply