Disclaimer: Sam and Jo aren't mine. Penny Nixon and Chris Nixon are. Ooh it makes me so happy to be able to say a character is mine for a change!
Chapter 34:
"Hi Samantha darling, this is a nice surprise. Is Abi with you?"
"No she's at a friend's house. This was kind of a spontaneous visit actually. There's someone I'd like you to meet." Sam announced, stepping sideways to reveal Jo standing next to her. "Mum, this is Jo."
"Well it's very nice to meet you Jo. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Is dad in?"
"Yes, he's upstairs, why?"
"Because I think he should hear this too, is it alright if we come in?"
"Of course. Make yourself at home. Chris." She called up the stairs. A few moments later a man appeared at the top of them.
"Yes love." Seeing Sam standing behind his wife as he came down the stairs. "Hello princess, how lovely to see you," he said, placing a kiss on her cheek. "Oh, and you are?" He turned to face the unfamiliar face.
"This is Jo dad. That's why I'm here, to introduce you to her."
"Oh, well it's lovely to meet you Jo." He said, warmly shaking her hand.
"Oh my God, Samantha, you're engaged." Her mother exclaimed, suddenly noticing the ring on her finger. "When do we get to meet him?"
"That's why I'm here. Jo's my fiancée." Sam beamed.
"Her?" Sam's mother asked, a slight disgust in her voice.
"Yes."
"I didn't know you were… that way inclined." Her mother commented.
"I wasn't, not until I met Jo." Sam replied.
"Oh, well, I see."
"Penny." Chris snapped, embarrassed by his wife's behaviour. "I'm very happy for you Samantha, really I am. Please, come in, take a seat. I'll make us some coffee."
"Thanks dad." Sam said warmly, glaring at her mother once he had left the room.
"So, you're going to have a…commitment ceremony?" Sam's mother asked, almost spitting out the last two words.
"Yes, I suppose." Sam answered.
"Well, have you set a date?"
"No, we're about to start looking, we wanted to tell you first."
"Well, that's something I suppose." Penny muttered, louder than intended.
"What is?" Sam asked, angry at her mother's rudeness.
"That you haven't set a date. It means you have time to come to your senses."
"Mum! That's it, I give up. Why can't you just be happy for me? Jo is a wonderful woman; she makes me happier than anyone ever has before. Why can't you just accept that?"
After receiving no reply from her mother, Sam jumped to her feet, "That's it, we're leaving.
She went into the kitchen where her father was still making coffee. "Dad, I'm sorry, we're leaving."
"What, why princess?" Chris asked, using his pet name for his daughter.
"Why do you think? Mum. She just can't be happy for me. I'm sorry we have to leave so soon. Jo and I will probably stay in the area for a couple of hours at least, if you want to meet us for lunch or something, just you though yeah. Maybe you might like to get to know Jo."
"Yeah, that'd be great princess. She seems really nice, well I only met her for a couple of seconds, but I've never seen you with such a smile on your face. Never, not even when Abi was born."
"She makes me happy dad."
"I can see that princess."
"Good, I just wish mum could." Sam paused for a moment, reflecting on the scene she had made in the living room, suddenly remembering she'd left Jo in there alone with her. "Look, Jo's in there on her own with her, so I better go rescue her. Meet you at say, one o'clock in the Duck?" Sam specifically chose that pub because it held so many memories for her. She had spent virtually her entire late teens in there, and an old mate of hers worked there. She hadn't seen him in years, felt she should call in and introduce Jo.
"Yeah, sure." Her father replied, wondering how he would manage to get out of the house without a lecture from his wife.
Sam kissed her father goodbye and raced back into the living room, alarmed when she heard no noise coming from there. Virtually flying through the door, Sam was relieved to find Jo still in one piece.
Jo's head shot round when she heard the door open, relieved of the extra company.
"Jo, shall we go?"
"Yeah, okay." Jo realised she sounded slightly too enthusiastic, wanting to get out of the awkward situation.