To Kirsten's dismay, her father's car was parked in the driveway when she and Sandy returned home shortly before seven. With the exception of Christmas day, Caleb hadn't been home for dinner once since she'd been back from college, and she didn't understand why he had to pick today to change that habit. Then she felt guilty--after all, she did love her father--but she hadn't wanted his first impression of Sandy to be of a wethaired surfer in Captain Morgan swimming trunks.

Well, even if her father was home, he was likely in his office, which should give her and Sandy just enough time to sneak upstairs for a change of clothes before dinner. It was better than nothing.

Kirsten got out of the car with Sandy and quietly let herself in the front door. It was only ten yards to the stairs, and then they would be home free. Sandy followed close behind her, silent for once. He was probably nervous about the upcoming meeting with her family, or rather, downright terrified because in the time that she'd known him, Sandy Cohen was not often at a loss for words.

Kirsten took a deep breath, slipped her hand into Sandy's, and started to creep down the hall toward the stairs. Ten feet, fifteen, so far so good. They reached twenty, and she began to relax. Not far now.

"Kiki? Is that you?" her father called from the living room.

Shit. "I'm here, dad," she called back. "We were just going to wash up before dinner."

"Why don't you bring your friend in here first?" Caleb suggested. "Your mother and I are both looking forward to meeting her."

Sandy gave her a puzzled look. "Her?"

"I told them that my friend Sandy was going to visit, and I suppose they took that to mean that you were a girl," Kirsten explained quietly.

Sandy grimaced. "This won't be pleasant, will it?"

Kirsten squeezed his hand in an attempt at reassurance. "It won't be so bad. They're going to love you."

"Kiki, what's going on?" Caleb asked, suddenly appearing in the doorway to the living room. "Is everything all ri--" He broke off abruptly, and fixed a steely gaze on Sandy. "Who the hell are you?"

Sandy gulped, but put on his friendliest smile and extended his hand. "I'm Sandy Cohen. You must be Kirsten's father. She's told me so much about you."

"You have a girl's name," Caleb Nichol commented, making no move to shake Sandy's hand. "When my daughter said that she wanted to invite her friend Sandy to visit, I assumed that she was talking about one of her girlfriends. I must say that I'm surprised."

"Dad, it's my fault," Kirsten insisted. "I think you'll really like Sandy when you get to know him."

Caleb looked like he highly doubted it, but he reluctantly shook Sandy's hand. Kirsten gave her father a thankful smile, but Sandy sensed that this was far from over and he had a lot of work to do before Caleb would approve of him.

"I suppose that the two of you want to change for dinner, Kiki," Caleb suggested. "We'll be eating in ten minutes. Sandy and I will certainly have other opportunities to talk while he's here."

"Absolutely," Sandy agreed, putting on his bravest smile to mask how nervous he really felt. "And I'd like to say how much I appreciate your family's hospitality, sir."

Kirsten could see how hard Sandy was trying, and she loved him for it. She wanted to kiss him right then and there, but her father was still watching. "All right, dad," she agreed. "We'll see you in a few minutes."

She grabbed Sandy's wrist and started upstairs. He was more than happy to follow.

Dinner at the Nichol's was far more elaborate than Sandy was used to, and he was struck again at the differences between his world and Kirsten's. He had put on the nicest clothes he had for the occasion, a dress shirt and slacks that he'd bought specifically for this trip in hopes of making a good impression on his future in-laws. There was little chance of that now, but he would still try his hardest for Kirsten's sake.

Katherine Nichol looked a lot like her daughter, and she greeted Sandy with a gentle smile and expressed her pleasure at making his acquaintance. Kirsten's sister Hailey had eyed him warily, and then asked what was wrong with his eyebrows.

"Hailey!" Kirsten scolded her sister. "That's not nice!"

Hailey looked crestfallen at the rebuke from her adored older sister. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"No harm done," Sandy agreed good-naturedly. "Don't worry about it, kid."

"Don't call me kid," Hailey glared at him. "Only Jimmy can call me that."

"I'm sorry," Sandy apologized. "Forgive me?"

Hailey studied him thoughtfully. "You're not blond like Jimmy. And I bet you don't have a cool car like he does. He took me for a ride once."

An awkward silence fell around the table. It wasn't as if Sandy hadn't known about Jimmy Cooper, but it was still a shock to hear his name spoken so casually by Kirsten's little sister. Obviously Jimmy had been a frequent guest to the Nichol home in the past.

"Did I mention that Sandy's at Berkeley Law?" Kirsten offered, in an attempt at starting the conversation again. "He'll be graduating in June."

Caleb snorted. "Just what this country needs. More lawyers."

"That's what my mother said when I told her I was going to law school," Sandy tried to joke. "But I believe that everyone's entitled to a good defense, no matter what their circumstances."

Caleb eyed him warily. "As long as they pay enough, you mean?"

Sandy shook his head. "Money isn't important to me."

Caleb's eyes narrowed and Sandy had the feeling that that wasn't the best thing to say. "What about when you have a family to support?"

"Then I'll do whatever I have to do to take care of them," Sandy answered firmly.

"I think that's a very admirable sentiment," Katherine Nichol added. "It's a pleasure to see a young person who understands the importance of family and of doing what's right."

Caleb threw his napkin onto his plate and stood up. "I just remembered that I left some important papers at the office."

"What could be so important that it can't wait until tomorrow?" Katherine asked sharply. "We have guests, Caleb."

"I'm sure Sandy will understand," Caleb answered shortly. "Don't you?"

"All the same, it's just rude," Katherine insisted. "You've barely seen Kirsten at all since she came home, and now that you're finally home for dinner, you're leaving in the middle of it."

"Mom, it's okay," Kirsten hastened to assure her. She had never seen her parents fight like this, let alone in front of a guest. She sensed that Sandy's visit was not a success so far, but the tension had been there before his arrival. Something was different, and it was scaring her. "Sandy and I were planning on going out tonight anyhow."

"Uh, yeah," Sandy added. Kirsten hadn't mentioned anything to him, but the idea of leaving this house and the tension behind for awhile was a welcome one.

Caleb ignored Sandy, but gave his daughter a grateful look. "See, Kate? It all works out, and Sandy will be here for awhile yet. We'll have plenty of time to spend together."

With that he was gone, shutting the front door behind him a bit harder than necessary. Once he was gone, the room lapsed into silence again.

Katherine sighed. "I'm sorry, Sandy. I'm afraid our family isn't making the best impression on you."

"Can I go watch TV?" Hailey asked, pushing away her plate. "I'm not hungry."

Her mother nodded. "Just keep it down, okay? I think I'm going to take a little nap."

The maid came to take away the plates, and Sandy and Kirsten were left alone in the dining room. Kirsten looked upset, and Sandy reached over and took her hand. "Hey. You okay?"

"I don't know what's gotten into them," Kirsten shook her head. "They never used to be like this."

"I'm sorry." He didn't know what else to say, so he just squeezed her hand. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Do you want to go out tonight?" Kirsten asked. "I saw Jimmy today, and he invited us to go out with him and Julie."

Sandy looked startled. "You saw Jimmy? When?"

"It was while you were surfing," Kirsten answered quickly, hoping Sandy wouldn't be weird about it. "We just said hi and talked for awhile, and he said that maybe the four of us could go out while we're here."

"I thought you weren't talking to him," Sandy said.

"I wasn't," Kirsten protested. "We just happened to meet on the pier. Nothing happened, Sandy. Jimmy and I are over. You're the one I want to be with."

"I understand if you still have feelings for him," Sandy told her. "The two of you have a history together, and it ended abruptly. I just want you to be with me because you want to be with me, not because you can't have Jimmy."

"You're what I want," Kirsten assured him, resting her head against his shoulder.

Sandy smiled and kissed her cheek. "Did you still want to go out tonight?"

"Is that okay with you?" Kirsten asked.

Sandy nodded. "It's fine." He would have to meet Jimmy sooner or later, and he believed Kirsten when she said that it was over between the two of them. Not to mention that the evening could only improve after his not-so-favorable first impression with Kirsten's father.

"I'll go call Jimmy." Kirsten stood up to leave, and hesitated. "I love you, Sandy."

It was the first time she'd actually said it to him, and suddenly Sandy didn't care that Kirsten's father hated him or that her little sister kept talking about Jimmy. Kirsten loved him, and he was so happy that he kissed her right there in her parent's dining room.

"I love you too," he whispered in her ear.

"Maybe later tonight, we could go out by ourselves," Kirsten suggested. "There are some great places in Newport I'd love to show you." She gave him a bewitching grin and Sandy knew exactly what she meant.

"I'd definitely be okay with that," Sandy grinned.

"I'll go call Jimmy," Kirsten said reluctantly. "We won't stay long, I promise."

"Just as long as I have you all to myself afterwards," Sandy replied.

Kirsten kissed him. "It's a deal."