Chapter 2 – Family Ties
Beca can't remember the last time she had a family dinner, much less such a large one. Beca has dinner with Chloe's family and the redhead finally meets her mom.
"So are the rest of your family members the interrogation type or the cool stare her down until she breaks type like your dad?" Beca joked as the two women got dressed for dinner.
"I would say prepare for interrogation," Chloe started, "but they'll be nice, my brothers are all kind of softies, at least when it comes to me."
Now dressed in her version of her Sunday best Beca followed Chloe down the stairs. They could hear the racket downstairs as Chloe's brothers and all their kids had arrived; Chloe figured they'd all be settled in the dining room by now. She figured it would be less overwhelming if they were sitting down, rather than coming down into the chaos that the front porch would have been.
"Hey, carrot top!"
Chloe's brother's nickname for her amused Beca considering the entire family shared the same flaming locks. I guess that was just one of the things about being the baby in the family, a cute nickname.
"Well I guess that's my cue to introduce you, everybody this is my fiancée Beca. Beca, this is my family."
"Let's see if she can name everybody at the table," Chloe's brother David suggested.
"Geez Dave; way to put your little sister on the spot. Okay Beca, this is my brother David, his wife Anna and their kids; David, Hannah and Kacey, my brother Jared, his girlfriend Alison and his kids Beau and Aidan, my brother Max, his wife Laney and their kids Alyssa, Lexie, Elias, Tessa and Joshua, my grandmother Bea, and of course my parents David and Jane," Chloe pointed to each one as she went along and took a deep breath once she got it all out.
"Nicely done Sis, I think you got everyone's name right," David teased.
Beca and Chloe were still standing in the doorway as everyone at the table stared.
"Beca, you can sit down anytime eh, we don't bite, except for maybe Jared," Max laughed, pulling out a chair for her.
Beca sat down next to Max, Chloe taking the seat on her other side.
"So Beca, what on earth would possess you to want to spend the rest of your life with this one?" Jared asked laughing.
"She's loving, sweet, funny, beautiful, kind, smart…" Beca would have continued, but Jared cut her off.
"I was kidding actually, but it sounds like my little sister has picked someone who really loves her, I approve."
"What are your plans for after graduation Beca?" a female voice asked, it was one of Chloe's brother's wives who asked this but Beca didn't have the names down yet.
Beca described the plans for her store, and answered a half dozen follow up questions, mostly from Chloe's brothers and their wives.
"Chloe, how did the two of you meet?" Chloe's niece Hannah asked her, sensing that Beca could use a second to breathe.
Feeling the story of their shower encounter was less than appropriate for their current company Chloe told her family about the activities fair instead.
"Aubrey didn't scare you off then?" Max said, Chloe's brothers had encountered Aubrey mostly at their sister's birthday parties but were well acquainted with her intensity.
Beca smirked, "no, but sometimes I still don't know how I survived that first year with her."
Finally Chloe's mother and sister in law Anna served dinner. Chloe's mother had prepared lasagna with salad and bread sticks, much to Beca's delight. It had been a while since she'd had a home cooked meal, neither her nor Chloe were any good at cooking, the only time they really ate a nice meal like this was at Aubrey's.
"The food is delicious Mrs. Beale, I mean Jane," Beca still stumbled over the idea of calling her future in laws by their first names.
"Thank you Beca, you're welcome to seconds if you're still hungry, I can imagine you don't get any meals like this from my daughter. I tried enough times to teach her, but when I realized she was still burning toast I figured it was a lost cause."
Chloe had largely ignored her mother's attempts at cooking lessons, she always told her she'd find a husband who could cook. It was funny to think about now that she had neither found a husband, nor anyone who knew how to cook. Beca thought about maybe asking Chloe's mother for some of her recipes, if either of them were ever going to learn how to actually cook it was going to have to be her, Chloe still burned toast frequently.
"Who's up for dessert?" Max asked once all the dinner plates had been cleared, "Laney baked Chloe's favourite; double chocolate brownies."
"So, you're marrying a girl?" Chloe's nephew Elias asked in between bites of his brownie.
"Yeah buddy, I am, is that cool with you?"
"Well yeah, why would I care, I was just checking because I don't know any other girls who have other girl wives and stuff, you know?"
Beca found herself smiling at this revelation from Chloe's 11 year old nephew; she hoped her mother would feel the same way.
After dessert Beca offered to help Chloe's mother with the dishes, she hated doing dishes but could use a break from all the questions.
"So, do you want a big family or a small one now that you've spent the evening with all us Beales?" Chloe's mother Jane asked her when they were in the kitchen, away from the rest of the clan.
"I think it's nice," Beca said, surprised by her own reaction, "I don't have any siblings, and my parents split up when I was younger. I've never experienced the big, warm, family atmosphere, you know?"
"Well, you're a part of this family now, so be prepared for more of the big, warm, family atmosphere. We expect to see the two of you at Christmas you know, none of this year between visits stuff. I can tell you'll fit right in with your sense of humour."
Chloe's mother put a hand on Beca's back, "I'm glad my daughter found you. The type of guys she brought around here in high school was starting to make us question her judgement." Beca couldn't help but laugh, she never imagined anybody's parents thinking she was a great choice.
As they walked back into the living room Beca could see Chloe's brothers and their families getting up to leave. It was starting to get dark out and all the kids had school in the morning.
"It was really nice meeting you Beca, hope to see you again soon," Max leaned in to give the tiny brunette a hug, it reminded her very much of his sister who hugged anyone and everyone, even if she had just met them.
The rest of Chloe's relatives said their goodbyes and Beca even received a few more hugs from Chloe's youngest niece Tessa and her Brother Max's foster child Joshua. Joshua stuck out like a sore thumb in the sea of Chloe's mostly red head and blonde family members. He had tan skin, dark curly hair and dark grey eyes, personality wise he fit right in though; he was so sweet and friendly and practically jumped on Beca as his family got ready to leave. The boy actually reminded her lot of Chloe. Beca wondered about his backstory, making a note to ask Chloe later, she hated to think about why this kid was in need of a foster family but she was glad to have met him, along with the rest of Chloe's family. Two days ago Beca had been dreading a family gathering this large, tonight she was wishing she could spend just a few more hours finding out more about Chloe's life and her family members.
Chloe had taken Monday off so they could drive home in the morning. Beca and Chloe said goodnight to her parents and made their way upstairs. Chloe had made a point to ask her mother earlier if she could stay with Beca tonight, using Beca's trouble sleeping as an excuse. Her mother had given in, figuring they already live together anyway.
The next morning they packed up the Chevy and said their goodbyes to Chloe's parents. Chloe's mother gave her daughter a hug and then turned to Beca.
"Remember what I told you last night, and if you can manage it try to come back before there," she said smiling. She leaned in for a hug, Beca heart's felt heavy; she hadn't hugged her own mother like this in years.
Beca and Chloe had a coffee date planned with her mother when they got back into town. Beca had such a nice time with Chloe's family, but was nervous about introducing her to her mother. Anybody would be a fool not to like Chloe she thought, but her mother hadn't really cared for any of her decisions as of late. Getting all her piercing and tattoos, moving to go to her father's University, majoring in Business; there was nothing she could to do please the woman but she suspected it was less about her and more about her father's influence on her life. They dropped their bags off at home and headed to the coffee shop.
"You nervous?" Beca questioned her fiancée.
"Not really, parents love me," Chloe beamed confidently.
"Well, this woman is nowhere near as great as your mother or any of your family members really."
"You liked my family?" Chloe asked hopefully.
"How could I not, they were all very much like you, kind, welcoming, funny, what's not to like?"
Chloe squealed, "I'm so glad to hear that, they really liked you too. Max text me this morning to tell me how much his kids approved of Auntie Chloe's wife, ha."
As they pulled up to the coffee shop Beca could see her mother's car and knew she was probably impatiently waiting for them inside.
"Mom," Beca said curtly when they reached her table.
"Hello and this must be Chloe," she replied, eyeing the redhead.
"Chloe, this is my mother Tina," Beca said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Mitchell," Chloe hoped the woman hadn't changed her name after the divorce.
"It's Pierce now, but nice to meet you too, Chloe," she started, and sounded genuine enough, at least to Chloe, "so, tell me about yourself, my daughter has told me nothing other than, hey mom, I'm dating a girl now." Beca shot her mother a look.
"Well I graduated from Barden a few years ago and now I work as an accountant," Chloe filled her in, "I live a few minutes away from Barden with Beca and I asked her to marry me a few months ago. I am helping her set up her business and we are getting married in January and would love for you to be there."
Beca's jaw dropped at Chloe's revelation, that wasn't quite how she planned to tell her mother of her impending nuptials but now was as good a time as any.
"Well then, it sounds like the two of you have everything planned out."
Beca could hear a hint of sadness in her mother's words.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about any of this earlier," she offered.
"Beca I am your mother, I hope you know you can come to me in the future. I want to be a part of your life, especially if you're getting married and starting a family of your own in the near future."
"I'll make sure she does," Chloe added.
"Well, I need to get back to the office, but please come over for dinner sometime soon, I want to hear more about your wedding plans," Beca's mother grabbed her stuff, and offered a kind smile to the two women.
"That wasn't so bad. She seems nice Beca, and it sounds like she'd really like to repair your relationship. Let's go for dinner soon okay," Chloe said after the woman had left.
Beca was hesitant about letting her mother in to her life, she was so happy now with Chloe and she didn't want that tarnished by bad memories and awkwardness. Her mother was right though, if she was going to have a family of her own with Chloe she should at least make an effort with her own family. Her mother had been great with her when she was little and Beca knew deep down she'd be a good grandmother.
They left the café hand in hand, and made their way back home to unpack.
"I forgot to ask you earlier," the red head said as they turned onto their street, "how much did all those adorable red headed children make you want to have those 6 kids?"
Beca blushed, "actually, it really did Chloe. They were ridiculously adorable, and pretty well behaved. Maybe your brothers can give us parenting advice, I always thought of children as being bratty and loud."
Chloe laughed at her girlfriend, to hear Beca Mitchell talk about kids being adorable was hilarious and comforting.
"Also Chloe, I just want to say I'd like to adopt at some point. I know we can have our own kids with some work, but I really want to give a home to a kid who doesn't have one."
"Joshua?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah, he was just the sweetest kid, and I just, it's great that your brother could take him into the family."
"I don't know much of his backstory, but from what Max has told me, he'll probably be staying with them, and I agree, I think in the future we should consider adoption. I would love to be like my brother, he's really great."
As Beca and Chloe walked up their steps, Chloe pulled a picture out her pocket; it was one of her family.
"I want you to have this. You're part of my family now, and I want you to remember that," Chloe confessed, handing Beca the photograph.
"Thanks babe," she replied, giving the redhead a kiss on the cheek.
Beca put the picture in her chest pocket; she wanted it close to her heart as after this weekend, that's where Chloe's family were.
"So, dress shopping with Aubrey tomorrow afternoon, you excited?"
Beca rolled her eyes but she knew Chloe would have a ball, and it made Beca happy to see her happy.