Chapter 8
A/N: Meeting the parents.
Okay it is time to meet the parents and reveal their relationship to them, how do we think it will go? Thanks to those of you that have read and reviewed.
Suzanne called Benjamin around noon to make sure the dinner for the evening was still on schedule.
"Yes, my parents should be in around 2:00. They are going straight to the ceremony for the business school. I told them I would meet up with them after your ceremony."
"You are coming to my ceremony? I expected that you would be going to your dad's speech," she said.
"Of course I am coming to your ceremony. My best girl is graduating Valedictorian, I am not missing that. Do you not want me there?" he asked.
"Yes, I want you there. I will just be twice as scared now," she laughed nervously.
He laughed and told her, "You are the smartest person I know, there is no reason for you to be nervous or scared. Just imagine the audience in their underwear."
She busted out laughing at his joke and said, "Easy for you to say, my parents will be in the audience. Not ready for that visual."
"I will wear my sexiest boxers just for you in case you decide that you want to go with my idea," he told her with a grin on his face.
She was really laughing now, picturing him sitting in the audience in just underwear. Then she thought about it again and the thought had her heart racing seeing him unclothed.
"I really don't need that in my head either,"she said.
"Okay, I will stop. I will see you when you come off stage," he said.
"I will see you later, enjoy the day until we are together," she said.
"Good bye beautiful, I am so proud of you," he told her.
Suzanne was sitting in the row with her fellow graduates, really nervous listening to all the speeches before her. The dean introduced her and she made her way to the stage. She looked out over to the crowd and somehow found Benjamin smiling at her. His smile put her at ease and she delivered her speech flawlessly.
Suzanne was standing with her parents after the ceremony, when Benjamin approached them.
"Mom and Dad, this is Benjamin Adams. He is the reason I made an A in my business class and was able to be top of my class," she beamed her smile at him.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both. Suzanne gives me too much credit, she has a brilliant mind. I just steered her in the right direction and made sure she stayed on course," he said.
He handed Suzanne and her mother a bouquet of flowers. Suzanne blushed deeply and her mother thanked him.
Her father asked, "Are you a student here also?" "Yes, I just completed my first year in the Masters program, I am a finance major," Benjamin said.
"I should let you all visit, I need to catch up with my parents," Benjamin told them. He shook hands with her dad and gave Suzanne a goodbye hug. Her mother raised her eyebrow at this but said nothing.
"You and Benjamin seem close," her mother said. "We spent a lot of time studying making sure I made my A in my class. He is a good friend," Suzanne said.
Her mother was not convinced they were just good friends but she would leave that conversation for another time when they were alone.
Both sets of parents were going to visit some friends and Benjamin was going to pick Suzanne to go to the restaurant. He arrived at her apartment and found the door open and her pacing the living floor. He stood and leaned on the doorway just watching her. He could tell she was deep in her thoughts about something. He stood watching her, his heart racing just being near her. He was finding it harder and harder to be away from her even for a short period of time.
He finally called her name and she spun around to face him. She quickly changed her face to a bright smile just seeing him standing in her doorway. She walked over to him and straight into his arms. He gathered her in his arms. He suspected she was nervous about how the dinner would go and he wanted to soothe her fears.
"Sweetheart, what has you so stirred up? I can see your mind running 100 miles an hour." he said. "I really want dinner to go well and our parents to accept our relationship and I don't want to be away from you for three months," she said.
"Dinner will be fine and we will make sure they understand how much we mean to each other, it will be okay," he told her as he soothingly ran his hands up and down her arms.
She laid her head on his shoulder, pulling him as close to her as possible. Being in his arms was her favorite place to be. He was able to bring her so much peace and calmness with just his embrace.
He stepped back and asked, "Are you ready to go?" She shook her head and retrieved her purse.
They arrived at the restaurant and both sets of parents turned to face them when they walked hand in hand into the foyer. Her father started to say something, but was quickly shut down by her mother. His mother's smile was just as bright as his.
"Mom and Dad, I want to introduce you to Suzanne and her parents. Joe and Ellen James, my parents, William and Emma Adams," Benjamin said.
All the parents shook hands and then turned to the younger couple, "Why are we meeting?" her dad asked.
"Dad, Benjamin and I are in a very committed relationship and it was only natural for you all to meet at some point. Before you go getting your dander up, we are taking things slow. We decided we wanted all of you to meet since our relationship has developed," Suzanne told them.
"We did not want to hide our relationship and we are planning on trying to see each other over the summer. We didn't want to spring it on everyone at the last minute," Benjamin said, looking at Suzanne for support.
Suzanne looked lovingly at Benjamin as he spoke of their relationship to their parents. She could tell with his words and his smile to her his sincerity.
Ellen spoke up and said, "Well kids it sounds like the parents need to get on board with this relationship. She walked over and hugged Suzanne and then pulled Benjamin into a hug also.
Suzanne's insides were all a jumble, she knew if her Mom was on board her Dad soon would be too. Her Mom would make sure her Dad accepted it whether he wanted to or not. He didn't seem too upset or concerned, so it might not take too much convincing.
Benjamin looked at his parents to gauge their reaction and his Mom was grinning from ear to ear. She appeared elated at the idea of Benjamin finding Suzanne. His Dad did not appear to have an opinion either way, so he figured it was a good sign.
The maitre' d appeared and escorted them to their table. Jean (the owner) came out of the kitchen and greeted the group. He and Ellen (who was fluent in French exchanged a greeting. Benjamin's parents too were both fluent and they greeted him also. Joe did not speak French but gave him a hearty friendly handshake.
Jean's English was broken, but he told them that he had prepared a special meal for them all in honor of Suzanne's graduation. Benjamin had mentioned it when he made the reservation. Suzanne beamed with joy and hugged Jean tightly and thanked him. She whispered to Benjamin, "I will thank you later tonight."
Benjamin blushed a deep red and his Mom caught on to it and squeezed his hand and laughed.
Dinner was a success, the Mom's spent the evening speaking French and telling stories. The Dad's spoke business and seemed to be getting along really well.
Suzanne and Benjamin smiled at each other and decided that the evening was a success. Everything was going great until the Dad's started arguing over who was going to take care of the bill. Benjamin beat them both to it and passed over the money to cover it to the waiter. The Moms and Suzanne got a laugh out of Benjamin besting the Dads.
The group said a final goodbye at the door. The Adams were going to their hotel and the James' were returning to the farm. Suzanne was going back to her apartment for the night and leaving for the farm tomorrow. Benjamin was driving to New York and leaving the next day.
Benjamin escorted Suzanne to his car and drove towards her apartment. They pulled into the parking lot and he parked. He didn't want to leave her just yet. He turned to her and said, "I do not want this night to end, knowing it will be several weeks before I will see you again."
"I feel the same, you want to come in for a while?" she asked hoping for a YES.
He grinned and opened his door. He walked around to her side and opened her door also. He took her hand and helped her out of the car and into her apartment.
The second the door closed they immediately stepped into each other's arms and joined their lips. They were both hungry for each other's touch and kisses.
They kissed until the need for oxygen pulled them apart. Benjamin wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I have been wanting to do that all evening," he told her breathlessly.
"I have too and dinner was way too long for me," she laughed at him. The feel of his arms around her was a feeling she would never get tired of. She laid her head on his shoulder and held on to him as tight as she could. She knew when she let him go it would be a while before she was in his arms again and the thought was bringing tears to her eyes.
Benjamin felt the wetness from her tears on his shoulder and moved back from her to look into her eyes. He reached up and wiped her tears away. He understood her pain and would do anything he could to take it away.
"Sweetheart, please don't cry. I know this separation will be hard, it will be hard for me too. The fact that you will not be down the street from me everyday has my heart in a vice. We just have to be strong knowing the time will go fast and we will see each other very soon. I will call you as much as I can and I will write to you everyday," he said, trying to aleve her sadness as much as his own.
He reached and joined their lips again to stop her tears. He would do anything in his power to make her tears stop. It hurts him when she is sad and crying.
He steps back from the kiss, "Sweetheart, I better go. I have a long drive ahead of me and I need sleep. I have to take Mom and Dad to the airport, then I am going to hit the road."
She nods reluctantly and gives him one more peck on the lips before he goes out the door. She locks the door and heads to her bedroom. She slowly puts on her PJ's and crawls into bed. Sleep is not going to come easy and she tosses and turns trying to shut her mind off. Finally after several hours of sleeplessness she falls asleep with Benjamin's face in her dreams.