Chapter Eleven

Just then, "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys came on.

"So—may I have another dance?" Mike asked Connie.

"Absolutely," Connie replied.

The two of them were just about to begin another romantic slow dance when they were approached by Mike's mother.

"Hi, Mom," Mike said with a smile.

"Hi, Michael," his mother responded warmly. "It looks like you two are about to just enjoy each other's company so I can come back later."

"No, it's all right, Mom. What is it?" asked Mike.

"I just wanted to talk to my wonderful daughter-in-law," his mother replied kindly.

"Oh of course!" Connie said, smiling. "Hi!" she added, reaching out and hugging her mother-in-law.

Mike's mother hugged her back.

"Hello, sweetheart, welcome to the family," she said tenderly.

"Thank you, Maddilyn, you're so sweet," Connie said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, love, but I mean it," Mike's mother replied.

After they drew apart—

"You make Michael so happy," Maddilyn continued. "I'm so glad he has you—so glad."

Connie smiled and took hold of Mike's hand. Mike grasped her hand in return.

"I'm very glad I have him," Connie said. "He makes me so happy."

At that, Mike couldn't help but smile.

"Actually, I just got done telling Allison and Lupo that he brought my sense of humor back out—he brought my personality back out," Connie told Maddilyn.

"You did the same for me, Connie," Mike said tenderly.

Connie smiled at him.

"Well," Maddilyn said sincerely, "I'm just overjoyed that Michael has you—and to have you as my daughter-in-law. I just had to say it."

"Thank you," Connie said, moved.

She shared another hug with her mother-in-law.

"Of course, dear," Maddilyn said generously after they drew apart. "It's one hundred percent true."

Mike then reached out and embraced her. She hugged him back tightly.

"I love you, Mom. I'm so happy you're here," he said.

"Me, too. I love you, too, Michael."

After they drew apart, she kissed Mike on the cheek and then Mike kissed her on the cheek.

"I'll let you two get back to enjoying each other's company," she told them.

"Thanks, Mom," Mike said sincerely.

"Of course, honey," his mother said in the same tone.

She patted his upper arm and gave the two of them a smile before making her way back over to Dr. and Mrs. Rubirosa, with whom she'd been conversing.

Connie's parents both looked over at them and smiled and waved.

Connie and Mike smiled and waved back.

"They'll probably be over here in a bit," Connie said. "They want to give us time to ourselves," she elaborated with a smile.

Mike smiled.

"I'm cool with that," he said. "You know, I still can't believe you ever thought she wouldn't love you," he added, referring, of course, to his mother.

"Oh," Connie said bashfully, looking down at the floor. "Well, you know…"

"Know that that was you being insecure for no reason? Yeah," Mike said sweetly with a smile.

Connie smiled shyly again.

"But let me tell you—I was terrified of meeting your family," Mike went on. "I mean, I'm sure they know about all the shit I caused between us…I hope they believe me when I say how much I love you and how I plan to spend the rest of our lives making it up to you."

"Aw, Mike," Connie said, touching his face tenderly. "Of course they believe you. Trust me, honey—it shows that you're being honest."

"That's a relief," Mike said, gently taking her hand that she'd rested against the side of his face and kissing it. "It really is. It's obvious how much they love you and want you to spend your life with a good man who'll love you the way you deserve."

"Well, it's obvious you're that man," Connie said with a smile.

Mike responded by placing a tender kiss on her cheek, his lips lingering for a moment before he gently withdrew them.

Connie took a moment to catch her breath and then gently touched his face again.

As she did so, Adele's rendition of "Love Song" came on.

"So how about that dance, sweetheart?" she asked him.

"Of course," said Mike.