Getting To Know You
Chapter 7
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: Jed and Abbey made up during a long walk at the party.
Summary: Abbey introduces Jed to her family.
Jed and Abbey curled up under a blanket under the stars, a spectacle of colorful fireworks exploding above them. Although they were surrounded by hundreds of people, the place felt deserted, like it was their own magical night, devoid of any interruptions. With Jed's back braced against a tree, Abbey sat in front of him as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"I realized something over the past month," he leaned forward to whisper in her ear.
"What's that?" she asked while gazing up at the colorful illumination in the sky.
"That I'm falling in love with you."
Abbey turned around to face him, but her only response was the tiny tear that shined in her expressive green eyes. Jed reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.
"What is it?"
"Open it and find out."
She lifted the top and stared down at the sterling silver hair barrette she pulled out of the box. It was the same one she admired in a store window the night they walked the streets of Boston. "Oh my God."
"It's the one, right?"
"Yes, it's the one." She was incredibly touched by the gift. "But you brought it with you tonight. You knew I was going to be here?"
"Why do you think I came?" He moved himself closer to her, brushing a strand of hair off her forehead as he gazed into her emerald orbs. "I'll never intentionally hurt you again, Abbey."
"You didn't have to do this."
"Yes, I did. The big fight was my fault."
"Jed, there are always going to be disagreements."
"There are?" he asked, slightly confused.
"Yes. That's how relationships work. Didn't you ever argue with your ex-girlfriends?"
"There was never anyone serious enough to fight with and when we did argue, we usually just broke up."
She couldn't help the gentle laugh that escaped her. "Well, in a functional relationship, you disagree and maybe even fight, but you work things out. And you don't have to run out and buy me an expensive gift every time that happens."
He smiled wickedly, reaching up to grab the barrette from her hand. "Well, in that case..."
Abbey held it just out of his grasp. "But since you've already done that..."
He surrendered with a chuckle. "Come here, I'll put it on for you."
Abbey relaxed against his chest as he gathered a few locks of hair and pinned the barrette in the back of her head.
"So I take it the fight's over?" Millie asked, approaching the couple cautiously.
"Yeah, she took me back. Can you believe it?" Jed tightened the embrace to hold Abbey closer.
"I knew she would," Millie replied. "She's hooked."
He cupped Abbey's chin, turning her towards him so he could place a delicate kiss on her lips. She returned the gesture then looked to her friend. "Are you two finished talking about me now?"
"Almost."
"Mill, I think Jed's going to take me home tonight, if that's okay."
"Of course! You'll call me in the morning?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Bye guys." She waved as she left them alone. "Glad it all worked out."
"Bye Millie."
Abbey wiggled back, pushing herself deeper into Jed's frame. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms, feeling the goosebumps that rose above her skin. "When do you have to go back to school?"
"Not until the end of August."
She turned around in his arms. "Do you want to go on that cruise we talked about in May?"
"The one to Martha's Vineyard?"
"Yeah."
"You know it's not really a cruise, right?"
"Jed."
"I'm just saying, it's a 40-minute ferry ride." She looked at him, obviously unamused. "I'd love to go."
"Jed?"
"Yeah?"
Abbey picked up one of his hands to kiss the back of his fingers. "I want you to meet my parents."
Definitely a positive sign. "When?"
"Saturday night. Is that okay?"
"It sounds perfect," he whispered softly into her hair.
Saturday night came too soon for Jed. He spent hours getting ready to meet Abbey's parents. They had talked about the close relationship she shared with her family countless times and he realized their opinion would mean the world to her. A bad first impression could ruin this potentially successful romance.
When he arrived at the Barrington home, he presented Abbey's mother, Mary with a bouquet of red roses. For Abbey, he picked out a box of her favorite chocolates, handing them to her with trembling hands as he entered the house. James immediately greeted the young man with a smile, an effort to put him at ease make him more comfortable.
"So, Jed, Abbey says you're an American Studies major."
The usually articulate Jed could barely get his thoughts out. He assumed part of the evening would revolve around grilling him for answers, but all his years with his own father had affected his self confidence. He found himself stuttering with every word. "Yes, Sir. I...I was thinking about...maybe...a career in academics. I want to teach maybe."
"Really?" James responded, delightfully surprised. "That's an excellent career choice, Son."
"It is?" So unsure of his own decisions, Jed had to ask.
"Of course it is! Without teachers, there wouldn't be any other professions."
His reaction brought a warm smile to Jed's face. He couldn't have counted on that kind of support from his own family. In his house, his aspirations were met with sarcasm from his father. He grew up feeling like he could never quite measure up to the successes of his ancestors, or even his Dad.
Abbey joined him on the sofa when she noticed his relaxed demeanor. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's great." His sincerity came shining through in the high-pitched response.
"Well, I think dinner must be ready," Mary informed the couple. "Shall we retreat to the dining room?"
Everyone followed her to the table. As Jed graciously pulled Abbey's chair out for her, James did the same for his wife. Immediately, Jed realized there would be no fighting at this dinner table. Unlike his family, there were no insults or arguments brewing, threatening to erupt at any moment.
This was nice. It was different.
"So Jed, what do your parents do?"
Adrenaline coursed through Jed's veins. That was the last thing he wanted to talk about. "Um, my Dad...he's the Headmaster at New Hampshire Academy."
Abbey could hear the tension in his voice. She put down her fork and placed her wrist on top of his, grasping the back of his hand and lacing their fingers together.
"Is that where you went before college?" Mary asked.
"Yes, Ma'am."
James followed up with yet another question. "So how do you like Indiana, Son?"
"Well, it's okay. It's certainly not New England and I'm going to miss Abbey when I have to go back at the end of the summer."
Abbey's smile was replaced by a frown at the thought of him leaving. They had been apart before, but now that they had grown so close, it would be a much more difficult separation.
"Don't worry, Dad. This time, we'll write letters," she joked.
"I...I'm sorry about that, Sir," Jed interrupted. "It was my fault that the phone bill was so high. I should have insisted that I call her."
"Jed, you'll learn quickly that our Abigail has a mind of her own," Mary assured him. "She doesn't do anything she doesn't want to do."
"All the same, I am sorry," Jed replied.
Abbey tugged on his hand slightly. "Jed, it's not your fault."
"Besides, Mary and I remember what it's like to be young and in love." James lovingly glanced at his wife.
"We sure do."
There was love between this couple and it wasn't hidden or covered with a harsh veneer of constant bickering. Jed wasn't used to seeing that. In his world, a married couple was supposed to be together to have children and financially support one another. Tender, loving moments were non-existent when he was growing up. But Abbey's childhood had been different. Her parents shared the kind of marriage he prayed he'd have some day.
Once they polished off the chocolate cheesecake Mary had baked for dessert, Jed and Abbey retired to the living room. Abbey took a peek at the candy Jed had bought her, wrinkling her nose as she dipped her finger into the center of the chocolate-covered cherry.
"I love this, you know," he told her.
"The chocolates?" She stuck a caramel square between his lips, forcing him to bite down before he could talk.
"No, this. Your family. They're great."
"Hold on to that thought. You haven't met my sister Kate yet."
Jed straightened his posture, surprised he hadn't heard more about her already. "Yeah, where is she?"
"She's away at school at NYU. I told you that."
"I just assumed she was home for the summer."
"No, she's trying to finish in three years. She's in all our pictures though, so you can see what she looks like."
Jed looked around at all the family photos. He hadn't noticed them before. In his house, there were no family pictures. Sure, his parents had a few photo albums with photographs of Jed and his brother Jack, but the only one on display was his parents' wedding portrait.
"She looks like you," he remarked as he held the frame Abbey handed him.
"A little, I guess, except for the lighter hair and peaches and cream complexion."
"Your Dad must have had his hands full with two gorgeous daughters."
Abbey smiled at him, retrieving the photo and returning it to its home. "You're a real sweetheart, you know that?"
Jed flipped the strand of hair that fell over her forehead, taking a second to just stare adoringly into her eyes. "Abbey, seriously, I can't believe your father is actually clearing the table and helping with the dishes."
"Your father doesn't help your mom?"
"No, never. He was brought up to believe it was a woman's job."
"Please tell me that attitude didn't rub off on you."
"No," Jed chuckled, examining another piece of chocolate.
"Thank God."
Abbey had to stop and wonder about his parents. He knew just about everything about her family, but she knew nothing of his. He was mysterious and secretive and she didn't understand why.
When she walked him out at the end of the night, stretched herself to the tips of her toes to plant a kiss on his lips. "I've been wanting to do that all night."
"Then I should have left sooner." He settled his arms on her hips as she relaxed.
"Thank you."
"For what?" he asked.
"For being you and for making such a great impression on my parents."
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Really? Do you think they like me?"
"They love you, Jed!"
"I was really worried..."
She silenced him with a finger to his lips. "There was no reason to be."
Jed closed his mouth around her finger, dropping a tender kiss to her nail before taking her into his embrace. "I had a really good time tonight."
"So when do I get my turn?"
"Huh?"
Abbey pulled her upper body away so she could face him while she kept her hands wrapped around his waist. "When do I get to meet your parents?"
He probably should have expected that, but he didn't. He had been living in denial, believing that Abbey would never ask to meet his family, hoping he could skirt the issue long enough to distract her for it entirely. His feelings for her were growing, but he worried that if she got any insight into the dysfunctional mess that was his life, she'd permanently shut him out.
"Jed?"
He snapped out of his daze as she waved a hand in front of his eyes. "Yeah?"
"When can I meet your parents?"
TBC