Chapter 8

On the way back home, Liz had tried to put what had gone on with Patsy to the back of her mind. It was not as if she could change what had gone on and she was determined not to let it ruin her enjoyment of the evening. It was not as if she would ever get the chance to reintroduce these people. She had to savour this. So that in the years to come and was able to tell people what a lovely night they had had.

So that was what she would do.

When she got in, she found that her mother and father were well underway with their own preparations for the evening. Dinner was nearly done, and her father had put a tie on. It was a special occasion. Due to the fact she did not have a lot of time in between work and dinner she did not have much time to talk to them before she got ready.

"You know, I do not know if I have ever seen my Lizzie all but hanging out of the window to see if a boy is here," Liz felt only mildly embarrassed for her father to find her thus in the living room. In fact, Liz had gone out to meet her boyfriends before, but this was the first time she had brought one back to the house to his knowledge.

"Well – well, I do not want him to be late when mum has cooked such a lovely meal," she had to say she did not know how her looking out for him was going to hurry him up. She gave him a tentative smile.

"He is a really good man – I really like him," and that was the bottom line. That perhaps was all of it to him.

"I am sure if my little girl likes him so much, he would be good enough," but if he was not then he would see him off. He turned to give her a little time to get ready for him coming. He could not resist a little jib. "but if he is late for dinner then that is not going to be a very good start."

Liz sighed and he went to find his wife. Well, that did not make her nervous at all.

She soon found out she had no reason to be though for Jim was perfectly on time and soon walking up to her house. He really was a different man to Flynn, she thought. How had she been so hung up on him? She was sure the lad who she had thought she was so into would have been late. She had thought she was going to put her from her mind that night, but she really did have to thank Patsy. She had been right about him and she could see it now. If she and Flynn had got together then, she did not think he was going to treat her half as well as Jim in the sort of time they had been together. Maybe this was what an adult relationship felt like. Which was damn sight more than she had felt about any of the other muppets she had dated.

"He's here," she yelled to her parents as she rushed to the door to let him in.

She wondered if it was easier for her or him, the thought of this upcoming meal. Likely it was harder for him.

As she opened the door, she could see much more clearly that he was in a suit and tie - as normal he had scrubbed up well. She thought her mother and father were going to see it as a mark of respect, which could only be a good thing. He had not come empty handed either – she hoped the flowers were for her mother and when he did not offer them to her she was glad of it. She smiled. He really did like her then and more than that he was ready to show it to her parents. She could not say how thrilled she was by that.

"Well, don't you look handsome?" she asked with a smile.

"Oh, I do not think I can hold a candle to you." He said as pecked her check.

That was as far as he would go right then.

"Would you like to come in?" she asked with a welcoming gesture.

He gave a nod and stepped into the house as her parents came into the hallway.

There was silence for a minute as they assessed Jim. Carole was pleased to at last met the man who had run off with her daughters' heart. He looked right then like a respectable lad.

"Mum and Dad, this is Jim. Jim, these are my parents."

"It is very good to meet you, Mr and Mrs Greenwood," Jim said as he stuck out his hand to shake that of her father.

"Jim," he said as he shook his hand.

"And these are for you Mrs Greenwood," he said as he passed her the flowers.

"Oh, how kind," she said. Well he was trying to impress.

"Why don't we go through to the living room, and have a drink before dinner?" Of course, not alcohol for the kids but she had a feeling they were going to have a good night.

As her parents have gone through, Liz felt fine to take Jim's hand for just a moment. She gave it a squeeze and they went in.

It was not often they had guests and Carole could only hope they had not forgotten the art of entertaining. Though she wondered if Jim was to nervous to enjoy it anyway.

"So, Jim," said Mr Greenwood, as they all sat down together. "What are your intentions towards my daughter?"

Liz just wanted to die when her dad asked that question, she was so embarrassed. If the world swallowed Her up that would be fine.

But as she felt the internal panic in her build, she could hear a sound which she had to say she was not expecting build. Laughter. So her dad had been joking.

A look about the room told her the mood for the rest of the night.

One the laugh had begun, it stayed. Carole cooked a lovely meal, Liz's father did in the end behave himself. All in all, a lovely time was had by everyone.

"Mr and Mrs Greenwood, I can't thank you enough for tonight, but I am going to have to get back to the base," said Jim. He could not say how sorry he was to bring the night to it's end as he had had a lovely evening. He would be sorry to leave their home.

"It was very nice to meet you James. I hope when your back in town we are going to be able to see you again."

The fact that a comment such as that came from Elizabeth's father and not her mother seemed to mean even more to the young soldier.

"I would like that sir," he said as he gave a nod. A respectful silence lingered in the air for a moment.

"Right then, I am just going to see Jim out," Liz said as she ushered him out into the hallway. She felt as if she was ten times lighter than she had at the start of the night. The door was shut, so she felt as if she could speak frankly. "Well I do not think that could have gone any better," said Liz as they went outside.

"Do you think so?" said Jim for the truth was he was desperate for that to be the case. He wanted for all of them to get off to a good start more than he could say.

"It is not every day I see my mum and dad take to someone as they did you."

Jim was delighted to hear it.

"I do not think it is every day that people take to each other as we have done." He was no good with words, but he could say that in all truth, he was sure. He took her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing it.

"No - I do not think it is," she confirmed as he leant in. It was not a long kiss. That would not be right here. But all the passion they felt was there.

"Thank you for introducing me to your parents," said Jim. It was not, he thought. Something which she would have done lightly.

"You're so welcome," she said as they stood in the moonlight together, looking forward to the future.

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