Part 13 (2/2)
Sure, we're not perfect. We have major obstacles to get over. The first being her uncle's ranch. The second is meeting her parents. The third is when I take her home to meet mine. She'll be the first, and I know they'll go a little crazy when it happens. I've already heard enough out of my sister to imply my mother is waiting patiently. I think it's the final step for me in admitting we've become serious.
Much like the ranch in Kentucky, we finally pull down a long windy country road and come upon miles of white picket fencing. While pa.s.sing a few houses Callie names off family members who reside in each one.
I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed. There are plenty of reasons why they're going to attack me at all corners. Callie told me the reason she left home. I know about her feelings for her sister's husband. It really hasn't sunk in until we're on the dirt road heading up the driveway.
They live in a large cape cod shaped house with a wrap around porch, equipped with two wooden swings at either side. There's even a large oak tree with a handmade tire swing hanging from it. In the background are farm fields as far as the eyes can see, and the wheat that's growing is blowing with the gentle breeze. This is the kind of scene you find on calendars. I now understand why a place like this would be so dear to Callie's heart.
When the vehicle comes to a halt I see Callie look at me with worry. It's my job to convince her we'll get through this. ”Calm down.”
”There's something I didn't tell you. I sort of left the part of you out when I told them I was coming to visit.”
If my eyes could pop out of my head it would be happening. ”What?”
I'm not angry with Callie, but more freaked out. ”Why would you do that?”
”Because, they wouldn't have wanted you to come.”
”Why? You're a grown woman. Aren't you allowed to make your own decisions?”
She shrugs. ”Sort of. I mean, in theory.”
I run my hand through my hair. It's hard to come to terms with the shock of this. I can understand her concerns, but she's left me in a horrible position. ”So you'd rather me walk in their house with no knowledge of me and expect them to be okay with it?”
”They'll be nice to you. I promise.”
I'm not confident she knows. I take her hand and squeeze it. ”Whatever happens, we're a team. I'm still going to want to see you even if your overprotective father doesn't approve. It's our life. I don't know what the future holds for us, but we're off to a great start. We've got something good going. Keep that in mind while we're here.”
She nods. ”Okay.”
”Let's get this show on the road, beautiful.”
We make it up the front steps before a female with red hair comes outside to greet us. I recognize the face, and can make out that this is probably Callie's mother. I put on my best smile, though I'm feeling a bit nervous. As I extend my hand for her to shake while I introduce who I am, I hear Callie speaking. ”Mom.” She puts her arms around her and hugs her tightly. Aside from myself, I've never seen her affectionate with another person. I can tell she loves this woman deeply. ”It's good to be home.”
”Let me look at you,” her mother says as she steps back and takes her daughter in. Then she smiles and turns all of her attention on me. ”And who do we have here?”
”This is Cob, Jacob, actually. He's my boyfriend.”
She finally shakes my hand as she gives me a once over. I'm in a pair of jeans and a tight T-s.h.i.+rt with a pair of dock shoes. It's casual, but looks nice for any occasion. I see her mother studying me while I speak. ”It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Healy. Callie has told me all about you.”
”That's funny. She never mentioned a boyfriend.”
”I've been keeping him to myself for the past couple of months.”
”Months. So you began dating as soon as you moved?” Her question is for Callie.
She nods. ”Sort of. I met Cob in Pennsylvania when I went to visit Lys. When we ran into each other in Kentucky we hit it off.”
I put my arm around Callie's ”We've been tied at the hip ever since.”
I can tell her mother is unsure of me. It's going to take a while before she can accept that her daughter had a secret relations.h.i.+p without her knowledge. ”Mom, I told you I was happy. Cob is the reason.”
”Why the secret?”
Callie looks to me before replying. ”I didn't want people thinking I hooked up with the first man to come into my life because of Wes and Cammie. Cob knows what happened. I told him everything. Our relations.h.i.+p has nothing to do with them, and I wanted it to stay that way. I didn't want people talking behind my back, and before you say you wouldn't, remember I worked at the same salon as you. We all gossip, and then gossip turns to drama. Stories are misconstrued, and I wasn't going to have Cob introduced to a bunch of skeptics. He's my boyfriend. We're together. I hope you can accept him for being good to me these past couple months.”
”You're still living at the ranch, right?”
Callie nods and lightly nudges her mother. ”Mom, seriously. It's been months. I wouldn't dare move in with a man so soon.”
I'm sort of disappointed she's say that. In a way I'm relived, but a small part of me wishes she could be with me every night. ”Ma'am, with all due respect, Callie and I are still in the new stages of our relations.h.i.+p. We're taking our time,” I lie. ”There's no rush.”
I can tell it's what her mother needs to hear. At this point I'll say whatever necessary to ensure they accept me.
”I'm sorry. Where are my manners? It's great to meet you. Would you like me to call you Jacob or Cob?” She conjures up a smile and leads us inside the home. ”Either is fine. My family calls me Cob. Long story short, I enjoyed corn entirely too much as a kid.”
”He still does,” Callie adds.
”My mom and dad started calling me that when I played little league and there were a couple Jacobs. It stuck.”
Every wall contains photographs of memories. While she tells Callie her father is on his way home, I start looking at each of them, trying to figure out which one is my beautiful girlfriend.
Callie comes up behind me. ”That's me and my sisters. Ca.s.sie has brown hair, and that's Cammie.”
”You look identical.”
”Yeah, we get that a lot. I promise we're very different.”
”When will I get to meet everyone?” I ask.
Her mom answers for her. ”Tonight. Everyone is coming over for dinner. I hope you like venison. It's Callie's favorite.”
I nod. ”I do. Thanks for asking.” I hear a rumble and see a man coming down the stairs. I'd say he's about my age or maybe several years younger. He's wearing ripped jeans, no s.h.i.+rt, and a backwards baseball cap. He quickly pulls Callie into his arms and spins her around. ”There's my favorite sister.”
She hugs him back and turns to address me. ”Josh, this is my boyfriend, Cob.”
He studies me for a few seconds, then finally shakes my hand with more muscle than needed. I'm certain it's to silently threaten me to treat his sister with respect. I can appreciate that. ”Good to meet ya. I haven't heard s.h.i.+t about ya, but since I know how this family likes to gab I can understand why.”
Their mom seems embarra.s.sed. ”You two make me sound horrible. What else is there to do at the shop all day?”
I let out an air-filled laugh. ”It's fine. I think my mother enjoys going to chat with all the women more than having her hair done. I guess it's something woman like to do from time to time.”
Callie is impressed with me. When we're alone tonight she'll probably reward me with something s.e.xual. I can hardly contain the excitement.
Just then the porch door squeaks open and a tall muscular middle aged man steps through the door. He takes one look at his daughter before giving all of his attention to me. He's wiping his greasy hands on a red shop rag. ”Who are you?”
<script>