The Beginning
Chapter 11
Jackie was so nervous. She was nervous because she was on her way to meet Nick's family for the first time. She felt like she might throw up.
She had managed to get a couple additional days off so instead of spending all of her next vacation in Vegas Nick wanted her to come with him to Texas to meet his family, and so she had flown to Vegas and then she and Nick had caught a flight to Texas together. They were now in a rental car on his way to his parents' house.
Nick looked over at her and saw the look on her face.
"Relax, they are going to love you. Almost as much as I do." He said as he reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.
"Thank you." She said giving him a slight smile.
When they pulled in the driveway she took a deep breath. They walked hand in hand up to the front door. Nick rang the doorbell. A woman answered the door.
"Hi, you must be Jackie, I'm Jill, Nick's mother, come in." She said as she wrapped Jackie in a hug.
She then grabbed Jackie by the shoulders and led her into the house leaving Nick standing on the front porch alone!
"Hi Mom, nice to see you too." Nick said with a grin.
"Hi Nicky, come in and shut the door." She said as she continued to lead Jackie by the shoulders.
"You have a beautiful home." Jackie said and she wasn't saying it just to be polite, the house was huge and it looked like it had been professionally decorated.
"Thank you dear." Jill said with a smile.
They reached the dining room which had a huge table. Tons of people already sitting down. After they had sat down Nick introduced Jackie to everyone. Everyone greeted Jackie in a very friendly manor but when they began to eat Jackie saw what Nick meant when he had said that his family was more formal than her own. When someone spoke everyone else listened intently, no one else said a word, they were stone silent.
"Mommy." One of Nick's little nieces said.
"Maci your grandfather is speaking, don't interrupt."
"Sorry mommy." The little girl said quietly.
She had a sad expression on her sweet little face and she looked like she might cry. Nick saw the look on Maci's face so he made a funny face at her to make her giggle.
"Nicholas." His mother said sternly.
"Sorry mom." Nick said immediately.
"These people are horrible, how did Nick get to be so sweet?" Jackie thought to herself.
Then she reprimanded herself "You don't know them very well, don't judge them yet."
Jackie also found it odd that no one was asking her questions, although she was happy that Nick's family wasn't grilling her like her family had done to Nick.
After dinner Nick went over to his little niece and picked her up.
"You got me in trouble Maci." Nick said as he began to tickle her.
"Sorry uncle Nicky." She said giggling.
Nick then put her down.
"Come outside and play catch with me." Maci said.
Nick glanced at Jackie and then said "I can't right now kiddo, maybe later though."
Maci looked disappointed but only for a minute. Then she turned her attention to Jackie
"Your shoes are pretty." She told Jackie.
"Thank you sweetheart." Jackie said with a smile.
What Maci said next shocked Jackie.
"Are you guys going to have a baby?" She asked innocently.
"No Sweetie." Jackie managed.
"Maci, kiddo, why would you ask that?" Nick asked the little girl.
"Because you keep holding her hand." Maci replied before wandering outside.
Nick looked at Jackie and grinned "Kids" He said.
She laughed.
"You should go." She said.
"Go where?" Nick asked confused.
"Go outside and play catch with her." Jackie said.
Nick smiled and said "Alright, come outside and watch us."
So the two of them went outside. They found Maci sitting in a chair on the porch.
"Hey Maci, do you still want to play catch?" Nick asked.
"Yes." She said excitedly as she hurriedly got up out of the chair and ran down the steps to the grass.
Jackie smiled as she sat down in the chair that Maci had just occupied.
"Come play with us Aunt Jackie." Maci called.
Jackie smiled "Aunt Jackie" she thought to herself as she went to join Nick and Maci on the grass.
She glanced over at Nick to see if Nick had realized what his niece had just said and the smile on his face told her that he had in fact noticed.
"He's good with kids." Jackie thought to herself as she watched Nick interact with the little girl.
All three of them had fun playing catch and when they were done they sat on the porch and had a glass of lemonade.
Over the next couple of days as Jackie spent more time with Nick's family she realized that they were not horrible people at all, just very different from her own family. Jackie found that she got along well with his family, especially Nick's mom which she took as a very good sign.
When it was time to head back to Vegas everyone said their goodbyes and as Nick and Jackie drove to the airport Jackie couldn't help but secretly hope that this would not be the last time that she would see Nick's family.
I'm sorry I took so long to update but I had the entire chapter ready to post and then it accidently did not get saved so I had to rewrite the entire thing! Thanks for your patients, I hope you enjoy it, and as always reviews are appreciated!