Alyssa squeals as the dog jumps up and licks her face.
“They’re here!” A woman’s voice screeches as she appears in one of the doorways. “Oh, my God. Chewbarka! Get down. No jumping.”
Avery and I exchange glances. “Chewbarka?” he mouths.
Stephen undoubtedly named this poor dog. I’d bet my entire salary on it.
The short, blonde-haired woman shoves Stephen out of the way as he tries to hug her, and she throws her arms around Presley, engulfing her in a bear hug. “It’s so nice to meet you, Presley. I’m Stephen’s mother. You can call me Patty.” She pullsback and widens her eyes. “Or just skip all the pleasantries and call me Mom.”
Stephen barks out a laugh. “Dad, come and get your wife. She’s being weird.”
“Already?” A tall man with copper-colored curls just like Stephen’s enters the room. “Patty, we talked about this.”
Patty pays them no mind as she turns her attention to me. “Hi, my handsome boy. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
I hold out my hand to shake hers, but she smashes into me like a linebacker and wraps her arms around my waist.
My nerves simmer, and I hug Stephen’s mother with as much force as she’s giving me. I haven’t hugged my own mother since the day she died, and the memory of the way it felt has faded with time.
Patty steps back and holds my shoulders at arm’s length. “I’m so happy you’re here. We’ve been rooting for you.”
I let out a nervous chuckle. “I’m happy to be here too.”
She turns to the kids, and makes a fuss over them. She’s elated to have Alyssa call her grandma, of course, and she gets a smile out of Avery—though I’m sure it’s more because he’s laughing at her antics.
Stephen’s father shakes my hand after introducing himself to Presley. Patrick seems laid-back and calm, a stark contrast to his energetic wife. I can see so much of Stephen in his parents, and it’s obvious where he gets his personable nature from. They’re warm and inviting, leaving no room for my insecurities.
“Come, come. Take a seat anywhere at the table.” Patty waves her arm around the dining room. “I hope you all brought your appetites.”
I hang back, letting everyone else pick their seats. It’s a habit, since I got punched in the face after taking my father’s seat at the table when I was eight.
Patrick claps me on the shoulder, and gestures to an empty seat. “Come sit next to me. We can talk hockey.”
Relief floods me.I like this guy.
I tug on Avery’s sleeve and guide him to my left. Knowing how awkward he feels, I want to keep him close to me.
Two women enter the room, carrying bowls of mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables to the table. Stephen introduces them as his sisters, and soon everyone’s sitting at the long table digging into a delicious meal.
I’ve never had a big family dinner like this. The closest I’ve gotten to it has been dinners with my team and their families over the last few years, but that didn’t feel likemine.
Between Stephen, Presley, and the kids, I’ve found this sense of belonging. And something tells me Patty and Patrick are going to become part of that too, that they’ll treat me and Presley like their own.
It doesn’t scare me anymore. Not like it used to. It’s been a journey for me, learning how to accept love...but I refuse to let my father and my past dictate my future. He doesn’t get to ruin the relationships I have with the important people in my life. He doesn’t deserve that satisfaction, and neither do I.
Like Stephen once said: My father isn’t worth it, but I am.
As dinner winds down, each of us beyond stuffed from Patty’s amazing cooking, she pushes her chair back from the table. “Alyssa and Avery, I have a little something for you guys.”
Kathy and Chelsea groan, while Stephen scrubs a hand over his face. “I apologize for what’s about to happen,” he says.
Patty returns from the hall with two blankets in her arms. “I like to crochet in my spare time, and it’s tradition that I make a blanket for each of my grandchildren.” She holds up each of them respectively, beaming with pride. “I hope you like them.”
Alyssa snatches it from her hands, excitement all over her face as she wraps the orange blanket around herself. “I love it! And it’s my favorite color.”
Patty smiles. “Stephen said that was your favorite. Good thing too, because I would’ve gone with pink.”
Alyssa scrunches her nose. “Eww, no way.”