Chapter Thirty-Seven
I contemplate whether or not I should wake Gina, because it will soon be time to get ready for lunch, while she hasn't even had breakfast yet. She's probably slept enough already, even though she came home late last night. It was very convenient for me and Kurt, because after the skating and the dinner, the kids left for some party, so we got to spend some precious time alone.
He'd left before Gina arrived home, because I was sure Gina wasn't ready for him to spend the night here and I respect that. I don't want to force his company on her, I'm already grateful she's begun to accept him on a certain level. I'd rather we take it slowly, because I know my daughter well enough to believe that she won't open her heart to Kurt that easily.
Not that I normally do, and I ask myself on a daily basis how all this happened so quickly. How come I want to introduce a man to my parents today, when a few weeks ago I said my dating days were over? But there's something about him that makes it easy to fall for him. He's not like the men I dated before, he's special. And I know he places in our relationship the same seriousness as I do.
Unlike him I know nothing about long term relationships, but he knows enough for both of us. And now I feel like I'm ready to go down this road, wherever it may lead us. Maybe I'm supposed to be scared of losing my independence or getting attached to someone, but it's not how I feel when I'm with him. I'm simply happy.
"Morning." Gina's appearance in the doorway of the kitchen interrupts my daydreaming over the newspaper.
"Good morning," I smile at her, "I was about to wake you. We need to leave in an hour," I remind her as she sits down next to me.
"I know, I set an alarm," she responds with a yawn.
"Would you like to eat something?" I offer.
"Only some juice," she requests, so I take a glass and fill it for her. "Thank you," she smiles at me shortly before she tastes the drink.
"I haven't eaten much either, I'm sure grandpa is preparing some of our favorite food for lunch." That's one reason why I'm actually looking forward to this lunch today, I don't get to be spoiled by my dad's cooking that often anymore and I miss it.
"I have no doubt," she agrees.
We sit there in silence for a while, I need to give her some time to wake up, but when the silence becomes a little uncomfortable, I decide to break it.
"How was last night?" I inquire, because I'd like to get her thoughts on the previous day and I have to start somewhere.
"Just a party, nothing special," she shrugs.
"It's good to see you and Keith have managed to put that fight behind you," I approach the subject carefully.
"Yeah, otherwise it would be a little awkward to spend time together," she concludes, "and it was fun to team up against you two with the skating," she adds with a chuckle.
"Maybe for you," I laugh, denying that in the end Kurt and I also had fun.
"You did quite well, I was impressed." Her praise surprises me.
"I don't think we did, but thank you. It wasn't that bad after all," I reassure her with a mild-smile.
"Kurt seems okay and he clearly likes you a lot," she notes, and I'm relieved it's her who mentions him first.
"I like him a lot too," I admit, because I feel that it needs to be said.
"And Keith actually said you are cool, he's also grateful that you helped us to mend fences," she continues and I can hardly believe my ears.
"I had my own selfish reasons," I joke, to hide the joy I feel about what Gina just revealed.
"But you were right, he deserved a second chance and he's changed so much since then," she remarks happily.
"Kurt also told me he's been more communicative lately," I share, what she probably knows as well. I was really glad to hear about the progress in Kurt and his son's relationship.
"I think Will is to thank for that." Gina manages to surprise me again.
"Will?" I blink, confused.
"They have been talking," she explains and I begin to wonder how come Will hasn't told me about this.
"I didn't know," I state what's written on my face anyway.
"They seem to have bonded and he's been a good influence on Keith," she notes.
"I'll have to thank him," I smile, grateful I have such friends. It's definitely not his job to talk to students about their personal problems, we have a psychologist for this job. I have no doubt that he's doing it for us.
"Thank him on my behalf too." Her request puts a smile on my face. Unlike yesterday on the ice, she sounds all grown-up now.
"I will," I nod, "but we better start getting ready, if we don't want to be late for lunch," I urge her, although I would rather stay here and continue this conversation now that she seems to be in a good mood.
"You're right," she finishes her juice and stands up.
"Just one more thing, that video," I feel the need to bring it up, to get to know her plans with the recording.
"Don't worry, I won't post it anywhere," she reassures me and I sigh with relief, "but I'm keeping it, just in case," she adds with a chuckle.
"I can live with that," I smile at her, "and thank you for giving Kurt a real chance, we both appreciate it."
"I leave the rest to grandma," she reminds me of what's waiting for us in about an hour.
"Oh god, I hope she will at least be gentle." I panic, when I think of what damage my mother could do if she wanted to.
"I hope you've prepared Kurt for her," she responds with an amused expression. Unlike me, she might actually enjoy if mom decides to make Kurt feel uncomfortable.
"I tried," I sigh.
I didn't want to freak him too much though, not to mention I can never really know with my mother. I have a slight hope that she might behave, because she has to know it's important to me.
o-o-o
I stop the car in front of Kurt's house a few minutes later than planned and blow the horn twice to announce our arrival. The front door soon opens and Kurt and Keith come outside, both of them dressed in a suit, probably for my mother's sake. The bouquet of yellow roses in Kurt's hand is also for my mother, our shameless attempt to please her, which will hopefully work in Kurt's favor.
When he opens the door of the passenger seat next to me, I greet him with a smile. "Hey, sorry we're a little late," I apologize from both of them, as they quickly get inside and Keith joins Gina on the backseat.
"Hey," Kurt places a discreet kiss on my cheek, which I find very adorable.
We have no time to waste, so as soon as the doors are closed I drive off in the direction of my parents' house. The few minutes until I park the car in the driveway pass quickly and in silence.
"Is everyone ready?" I ask, when no one moves, and I'm not even surprised, because I can't say I'm fully ready myself.
"I guess," Gina is the first to reply.
I glance at Kurt, who seems to be a little scared, just like before the skating yesterday.
"I'll be right there next to you," I put my hand on his, to share the courage I don't really possess at the moment either.
"We should go," Gina reminds me that we shouldn't be late, or mom would start off in a bad mood, which could only make the whole thing even harder.
"You're right," I open the door and press Kurt's hand before I pull it back to get out.
"You look very handsome," I whisper to him as we walk side by side towards the door.
"And you look gorgeous," he returns the compliment, boosting my confidence a great deal before I have to ring the bell.
There's no way back anymore.