On Friday, the same girls who had arranged to meet Catherine at the nightclub and didn't show up, asked her out again on Saturday.

"No, thanks. I have an important appointment tomorrow," Catherine politely replied to them. "They want to make a fool of me again, but they won't," she thought.

The next day, Catherine helped her mother in the kitchen during the afternoon. They were preparing dinner and Catherine was anxious. "Mom, please don't say anything embarrassing to him."

Carol smiled. "It's all right, daughter."

Carol liked to cook and passed that on to Catherine. She liked to listen to music and sing while she cooked. "Dessert is on you, Cath."

"I'm thinking of making a strawberry mousse. Do you agree, Mom?"

"I think it's great, honey."

Catherine prepared the dessert and then went to get ready although it was still early. She opened the closet and was in doubt about what to wear. She chose a simple and beautiful dress, a black shoe, and was deciding if she would wear makeup.

At night, Steve arrived at Catherine's house. He was nervous, he didn't understand well why, and he wondered if Catherine's mother would like him. He had a bottle of wine in his hand and rang the bell.

Catherine heard the sound of the bell and her heart went off. She walked to the door and opened it. "Hello," she said with a big smile.

"Hey. Am I early?" Steve asked.

"No, not at all. Come in, Steve, please."

Steve walked into the house and looked around. The living room was very tidy and cozy. Catherine's mother was in her room getting ready when Steve arrived. She went downstairs and found him looking at some picture frames with Catherine. In some Catherine's father was smiling and in others he was very serious and seemed a very severe person. "I'm glad he's not here today," Steve thought.

"Steve?" Carol said as she walked down the stairs.

Steve reached out to her. "Yes, Mrs. Rollins. I'm Steven John McGarrett."

Carol held his hand and smiled. "Nice to meet you, Steven."

"I brought this wine, I don't know much about wine, and it was a recommendation from an expert," Steve delivered the bottle of wine to her and Carol realized he was nervous.

"Great recommendation. It's one of my favorites. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Steve answered.

Catherine, put the wine in the kitchen, please," Carol told her daughter.

"Okay," Catherine took the bottle of wine and went to the kitchen.

"Sit down, Steven," Carol pointed to the couch next to him.

Steve sat down and Carol sat on the other couch facing him.

"Well, Steven, I invited you to dinner because I want to thank you, in my name and in my husband's name, for saving my daughter's life. We will owe you an eternal debt. You saved our most precious asset and that debt is priceless."

"You and your husband owe me nothing. Catherine is my friend and I would never leave her behind. But I appreciate the invitation to dinner. It's been a long time since I've had a good home-cooked meal," Steve smiled.

"I prepared the food myself, with my daughter's help, of course, and she prepared the dessert. I hope you enjoy everything," Carol told him.

"I'm sure I will," Steve answered.

Catherine returned from the kitchen and Carol indicated to her the place next to Steve. "Sit down, daughter."

Catherine sat down and Steve, calmer, finally noticed how beautiful she looked, but said nothing. He was embarrassed by her mother's presence.

Carol realized that Steve looked at Catherine with admiration and affection and she could say that he liked Catherine.

"Tell me about your life in the Navy, Steven," Carol asked.

Steve told her about his career in the Navy, the places and cultures he knew, and the conversation went on without Carol embarrassing Catherine.

The conversation is very pleasant, but I think I will serve dinner. What do you think, Steven?" Carol asked him after a while.

"You decide, Mrs. Rollins. It's okay with me," he answered.

"Great, sit at the table, Catherine and I will bring dinner."

Catherine went with her mother to the kitchen and Steve sat at the table. He heard a key noise at the door and was in doubt about what to do. "Is someone trying to break into the house?" He thought. He got up and the door opened before he got more closer. Mr. Rollins came in pulling a suitcase and looked tired. He looked at Steve and asked who he was.

Steve recognized Catherine's father whom he had seen in the photos. He was embarrassed, but Carol saved him when she returned to the room.

"Jacob! What a wonderful surprise!" Carol went to her husband and hugged him. "I couldn't imagine you would come, darling."

"Well, I was missing you so much," Jacob answered.

Carol smiled at him and then pointed to Steve. "This is Steven, he saved Catherine's life and I invited him to dinner, but you already know that.

Jacob reached out to Steve. "Nice to meet you, Steven."

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Rollins."

"Well, I want to say I don't know how to thank you for saving Cath's life. I'd be a dead man too if I'd lost her on that ship because I couldn't stand it. Thanks a lot," Jacob hugged Steve and was thrilled.

"You're welcome, Mr. Rollins," Steve was surprised at Catherine's father's kindness.

"Dad!" Catherine ran up to Jacob and he hugged her and lifted her off the floor. "Hey, sweet daughter."

"Sit down, dinner's already on the table and we don't want it to get cold," Carol said and everyone sat down.

Steve was really enjoying the food, although he was controlling himself to eat slowly.

"So, McGarrett, what's your future in the Navy?" Jacob asked.

"I intend to be a SEAL, Mr. Rollins. Training begins next month," Steve replied.

"Do you know what it's like to date a SEAL, Catherine? It means staying months or even more than a year without seeing your boyfriend," Jacob said.

"We're not dating, Dad," Catherine replied.

"That's not what people are saying at the base," Jacob replied.

"I don't know what people are saying, Mr. Rollins, but Catherine and I are just friends," Steve answered.

"Why is that? Do you think my daughter is ugly?"

Steve laughed, but because Jacob was making him nervous. "Of course not! Catherine is beautiful, and she's a wonderful person."

"Yes, she really is. And she's also smart, she cares about people, she's selfless, and she has many other qualities."

"Jacob, dear, you're embarrassing our daughter," Carol told him.

"Why? I'm just telling the truth," Jacob replied.

After dinner, Catherine served dessert.

"It's delicious, Catherine," Steve told her.

"Thank you, Steve," she thanked him.

"It's great, daughter. You can get married now," Jacob told her.

"Stop it, Dad, please. What will Steve think of me? That I'm a person nobody wants and that you need to keep offering me?" She was upset.

"No, Catherine! I'm not thinking that. Your dad's just kidding, I know," Steve told her when he realized she was on the verge of tears.

After dinner, Steve said goodbye to Catherine's parents.

"Thanks for the wine, Steven. It was wonderful," Carol told him and hugged him. Steve remembered his mother's hugs when he was younger.

"You're welcome, Mrs. Rollins. The food was wonderful, too." Steve answered her.

Jacob hugged him, too. "Come back again, McGarrett. I promise not to try to marry you to my daughter again," Jacob laughed, and Steve did, too.

"Okay, Mr. Rollins. Thank you for the invitation."

"Escort Steve to the gate, daughter. It's cold, and your father and I will stay inside."

"It's okay, Mom," Catherine answered.

Catherine accompanied Steve to the gate to say goodbye.

"I'm sorry about the things my father said, Steve. I thought it would be my mother who would embarrass me, I never imagined it would be my father."

Steve smiled. "Stop it, Catherine. You're taking this very seriously. I liked your parents, and they were just trying to please me."

"Thanks," she answered a little sad, and Steve saw that she was still embarrassed.

Steve pulled her to a hug. "Come here. It was a great Saturday. It's been a long time since I've known what a family reunion is. Thank you."

Catherine hugged him, too. "You will always be welcome in my home."

"Would you like to go for a ride around town tomorrow afternoon?" He asked.

"Yes," she answered.

"I'll call you to arrange it. Good night, Cath."

"Good night, Steve," she answered. He walked and she watched him walk away.

Catherine went back inside and went to her room. Carol went inside right after and smiled at her daughter.

"What, Mom?"

"I already have a verdict: you're in love, daughter."