He was the first guy I had brought around them since Sean. Not to say that my mom hadn’t tried to set me up on blind dates with her friends’ sons, she had, but I hadn’t been interested. When I had brought up mom’s invitation he had surprised me by smiling saying he would love to come over and meet them. Luckily Emmi and Dan would be there, along with my sister and her husband Jerry, and even Nick. They would all be able to be buffers in case for some oddball reason my parents didn’t like him or vice versa.
Now in my parents’ bedroom I started to worry. Deep in my own thoughts I hear my mom clear her throat and I look up. Sitting at her vanity putting on her mascara she looks through the mirror and her brown eyes connect with mine. Mom looks great. Great skin, great lashes and naturally full lips that would make Angelina Jolie see green.
“So tell me about Mr. Wonderful,” my mom says with a slight smirk on her face and I shake my head even though I knew the subject was going to come up.
“Mom. It’s not like that,” I say smiling and shaking my head and she looks at me seriously with an eyebrow raised. She’s waiting me out. I obviously forgot the powers my mother possessed.
“Ok maybe it is a little. I don’t even know. We are friends getting to know each other,” I spit out. I don’t know how she still had that magic power of getting things out of me even as a thirty-six year old, but she did and I hoped I had a little of that for when my own kids got older.
Then my beautiful mother turned around from where she sat at her vanity and just looked at me calmly. She wasn’t in a rush. She knew I would tell her what she wanted to know. Knowing that she was completely waiting me out, and I gave in.
“Okay so I like him. He’s nice and funny in a dry witty way. He challenges me. He’s easy to talk to. You should see how he is with the kids, so patient and calm. Especially with Chris. There’s something there…” I admit.
“But?” Damn, she knew there was a but.
“But I bring a lot to the table…” I start to say.
“None of it is negative sweetheart,” she chimes in, her eyes serious.
“I know it isn’t, but it’s not like it’s a walk in the park either,” I comment and she gives me a half smile.
“True… but he isn’t a little kid. He’s a grown man.” This I am guessing she probably heard from Cara who had heard it from Emmi.
“Yeah I know. He’s older than me.” I start to say but she starts to shake her head.
“Sweetheart when it comes to men, age isn’t what makes them grown. When your dad and I met Sean, he was in his early twenties but let me tell you he was grown then,” she says very matter of fact and it was completely true. He had been. When we had met, he knew what he wanted from life and from me and he wasn’t shy about letting me know it.
“He was, wasn’t he?” I say smiling remembering what he was like when we first started dating. “Things were simple with Sean mom,” I sigh.
“Oh honey… hindsight is always 20/20,” she says and to be fair she was right.
“That is true,” I smile sadly at her.
“Has Nick met him yet?” she asks and I nod. “What does he think?”
“Mom,” I groan.
“Sabrina,” she says back to me. She’s staring at me, seriously now, almost frowning.
“Look Nick’s like a brother to me. He knows that. Not only that but he feels the same way,” I say and she starts to say what I know she has been dying to say all along.
“I don’t know honey. Last year I could have sworn…” My poor mother was hopeful that there would be something between Nick and I. She loved Nick. Nick was like a son to her.Especially when her own son wasn’t around. She adored Nick. She saw how he helped me, how he helped and loved the kids. Nick was great, he just wasn’t meant for me and I was most definitely not meant for him.
“No,” I shake my head. “Nick and I are friends. Nick’s just being Nick when it comes to Mike”
“And what does that mean?” she asks, her eyebrow raised.
“He’s being overprotective. He says he feels that Mike isn’t being completely honest about something,” Damn! I slip up saying.
“Like what?” she asks straight out now frowning, and I am not sure why I‘m having this conversation with my mother.
“That’s the thing. He doesn’t even know. Just says there is something off. But Mike and I talk. Plus it’s not like we are dating. We are just friends,” I repeat.
“Sabrina, first off, I wasn’t born yesterday. The kids have been talking about this guy since April. Secondly, honey maybe we should find out a little more about him?” she says now sounding worried.
“Mom. He’s a really good guy. Something in my gut tells me Nick is probably right. That he is keeping something. But that same gut instinct is telling me he isn’t dangerous or going to hurt me. He’ll let me know what it is when he is ready to let me in. It’s called getting to know one another,” I say smiling.
“Anyhow just be nice please Mom. He’s a … good guy, a good friend. Kids like him, even Chris has warmed up to him. There is something different about him… I like him,” I say honestly. There’s something different about him, something I wi explain.
She stares at me for a moment and I notice her eyes start to get suspiciously glassy.
“Mom… Hey what’s the matter?” I ask as I hug her and she just smiles and shakes her head.
“Nothing sweetie, let’s go make sure your dad’s started heating up the grill.” I walk with her trying to figure out if my mom’s tears were a good thing or not.
Emmi, Dan, and the kids arrive around the same time Nick does. I glance at my phone to see if Mike had called, wondering if maybe he had changed his mind about coming over. I look up and watch my beautiful sister walk in holding her devilishly handsome husband’s hand. Her beautiful baby bump bouncing with every step she takes and I smile. I am so excited to see my little sister pregnant, and am even more excited about becoming an aunt soon.
Jerry carefully helps Cara down the decorative steps that lead into my parents’ backyard. The look of love he gives her is so sweet and loving. He would lay down his life for her and their future baby. I knew the look because Sean had looked at me the same way. Sometimes being at my parents’ house was hard because it was filled with memories that all included him. Recently though it had become easier to deal with.
Watching my sister and her husband walking in, I’m actually able to smile, instead of trying to blink away the usual tears that threatened whenever I thought about Sean. My heart wasn’t as heavy and the pain was no longer as sharp when thoughts of my life with Sean spontaneously popped in my head as if I was watching a movie play out in front of me.
Coming over to my parent’s house when we were what felt like ten months pregnant with Mark. Sean loved my parent’s home but he would bitch about those decorative steps. Always mumbling about how they weren’t safe.
Smiling to myself, I think about how proud Sean would be of Cara. He had come into my life at such a young age that he got to watch her grow up with the rest of us. Sean, having had two brothers, loved Cara like the sister he never had. They had been extremely close.
“Hey pretty girl!” I say smiling as I walk towards Cara and Jerry.
“Hey babe. How are you?” Cara asks as she tries to hug me her belly kicking between us.
“Good… how’s my favorite sister feeling?”
“I’m your only sister,” she chuckles. “I’m good. I have some big news later,” she says and she is glowing. I hug Jerry.
“How are you hun?”
“Good… you know your parents should think about fixing those stairs,” he says as we both look at the decorative rock steps that my parents had created a long time ago and I laugh.
“I’ve heard that before,” I chuckle and he looks behind him, towards the driveway and scowls.
“What’s the matter?” I ask and I turn around to watch Mike walking towards us and I can’t help the smile that forms at my lips.
/> “You know him?” Jerry says sounding a little surprised. His green eyes wide and a little shocked.
“He’s my… umm… friend,” I whisper leaving them standing there as I walk towards Mike without another word or glance. That’s because when he is around, he is all I can see. He is finally standing in front of me. I look up at him and he looks like part of him wants to smile and the other is extremely nervous.
“Hi,” I say softly and he finally smiles at me pulling me into his arms holding me close. Breathing in his scent, the mixture of his cologne and soap and his own skin soothes me in a way I hadn’t thought possible.
“You sure about this?” he asks softly when his face is in my hair.
“Yeah, why not?” I say breezly even though part of me is nervous that he is about to meet everyone.
He looks at me and before separating, he kisses my forehead. He nods, giving me a small smile and we walk to where I left Jerry. Jerry is standing stiff, looking a little shocked maybe a little surprised but then his face goes completely serious almost menacing.
“Hey dude, Mike.” He says to Jerry.
Jerry looks at him seriously his arms folded across his chest. Standing there I realize that Jerry is taller than Mike. Jerry’s green-eyed stare isn’t flinching from serious. Nothing like the laid back Jerry that I know and love. This Jerry is so serious and almost scary looking, and for a moment I am completely confused as to what he is doing. His muscles are bulging at the sleeves of his t-shirt, making the tattoos on his arms look more pronounced.
“Jerry.” He says, his voice sounding deeper, “So you’re Sabrina’s friend huh?”
“Yeah.” Mike answers and I scowl at Jerry, completely unsure of what he is doing.
“So what are your intentions with our girl here?” he asks his gaze icy and voice completely rude.
“Jerry!” I hear my sister Cara and I see her right behind him smiling brightly, “I told you not to act all older brother on him! Hi Mike, I’m Cara, Sabrina’s little sister, this big guy is my husband Jerry. Play nice Jer!” she says jokingly and that’s when I see Jerry’s serious expression crack and he starts to laugh. His face now once again the easy going man I know.
“Oh my god dude! I am sorry about that but it was hilarious! You should have seen both of your faces. Sorry bro! I just couldn’t resist. You should have seen what their brother Jake did to me when I first met him. Jerry Carter, nice to meet you,” he says smiling brightly through his laughter, extending his arm and I can hear Mike chuckle as they shake hands.
“It’s all good, nice to meet you,” he says. “And Cara nice to meet you too. Sabrina has told me so much about both of you.”
“Don’t believe a word she says,” Cara says smiling with a sly wink. “Come on in, would you like a beer or anything to drink?”
“No I am okay, but thank you.”
We walk side by side and somehow I’m not sure if I reached for him, or if he reached for me, but our hands met. As he holds my fingertips, he squeezes them and I look up at him as we walk behind Cara and Jerry. He smoothly pulls me in close to him his arm wrapping around my shoulder making my front go to his side , “You look good Babe.” He whispers into my ear I can’t help but blush and mouth a thank you.
Walking with him, my mom and dad step out into the backyard. I watch as hand-in-hand my parents walk towards us as my sister and Jerry suspiciously disappear into the house.
“Mom, Dad this is my friend, Mike. Mike this is my mom, Mary and and my dad, Joe..”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, you have a lovely home.”
“Thank you Mike. Please make yourself at home, and call me Mary; Mrs. Thompson is my mother-in-law,” my mom says smiling brightly as my dad just observes him quietly.
Mike nods, chuckling and I can’t seem to look away from him. I take in the small lines that have formed on the outside of his eyes, adding beauty to his smile. I hear my dad clear his voice and I look towards his direction.
“Call me Joe. Come on Mike. You like to grill?” my dad asks, taking Mike away towards the grill where Jerry and Dan are now. Mike looks behind me, winking at me and I smile at him.
The guys are all at the BBQ, Dan and Mike are talking while Nick scowls and Jerry teases my dad about burning some burgers. Emmi, Cara, my mom and I are sitting and I try not to keep watching Mike surrounded by some of the most important people in my life, but my eyes have a mind of their own.The kids play at the playground set my dad insisted on building, which also included a tree house.
Finally the guys come over and we all eat at the huge custom made table my dad built with Dan and Nick a couple years ago. The girls are talking celebrity gossip while the guys talk baseball. Mike sat next to me and held my hand the entire time, making my heart do flips inside my chest. I noticed he didn’t drink and I wondered if there was a reason for that or maybe he just wasn’t in the mood. Then I realized I had never seen him drink.
Emmi quickly pulled me out of my thoughts by asking me about an upcoming wedding I had for two co-stars to some vampire movie who had fallen in love on set and were now tying the knot.
“Ugh don’t remind me! The whole thing seems weird!” I say recalling how they behaved around one another. Distant, not even friendly. Not at all like my usual couples who are in love.”
“Do you think it’s a publicity stunt?” Cara asks and I shrug.
“Not my business if it is, I guess.”
“Can we have a sleepover at your house Aunt Emmi?” Chris comes over and climbs into Em’s lap, cuddling into her. She looks at me and with a glance and I convey that if it’s okay with her it is okay with me.
“Sure baby. Why don’t you ask your sister and brother if they want to stay over too!” Emmi says as she stands and walks over patting me on the shoulder. She walks over to give Dan a kiss as she follows Chris inside the house.
The guys stand to clear the dishes, and Cara takes Mike’s seat, just as Emmi come back taking the seat next to me. Looking at me with a grin on her face Cara leans in as close as she can, with her belly in the way.
“So how serious is it with this guy?” she asks and I laugh shaking my head. Emmi leans in to over hear and I notice my mom just watching us.
“We’re friends, getting to know one another. The kids like him. Nick hates him and Emmi thinks he is hot,” I say looking over to where Jerry and Mike are standing by the grill with my dad and Dan. They are now talking about something as the guys drink beers and Mike drinks a soda. I even notice Nick laughs at something Mike says.
“I do. I mean have you seen the guys’ body! Holy shit! I wish this would have been a pool party,” Emmi chimes in and we all laugh, even my mom.
“I’ll talk your dad into an underground pool by next summer if he is going to stick around.” my mom mutters and we all laugh even harder.
“MOM!” Cara says in surprise as we are all laughing.
“I might be old, but I have eyes. I mean he looks like McSteamy from the one TV show!” my mom says surprising us all, as we all go in a fit of giggles.
“Question is what do you feel?” Cara asks seriously and I can feel their eyes on me.
I look across to where he is standing. His strong tall body, his handsome face, and then his pale blue eyes meet mine and he smiles and winks at me. He knows we are talking about him and he is okay with it. I smile back at him and look at my sister.
“Happy,” I whisper. “Really, really happy Cara.”
“Good. I’m glad. Sean would want you happy,“ she said holding my hand, squeezing it tight. Hearing her say the words I know to be true get to me. My eyes get teary and when I look up he is staring at me. His face is slightly serious, maybe a little worried and I just shake my head and smile at him. He winks at me, right before Nick asks him something and Mike turns away. I look back at Cara and smile .
“I think so too,” I say and she squeezes my hand, bringing it on top of her belly and I laugh as I feel a big kick.
“Ha
ve you talked to Jake by chance?” she asks, and I shake my head.
Our dear little brother had made it his job to stay away from everyone, making whatever self imposed rift worse when he didn’t show up for Sean’s funeral. I had actually understood why he couldn’t come out. Jake and Sean had been close, and the last time they had spoke they had had a fight. I wasn’t sure about what, but they’d had words. I imagine that Sean dying the way he had, Jake felt a little guilty that they had ever made up. Of course I’d been pissed at him for a couple of months, for not being there for the kids. But as more time passed, I let go of the anger because the kids had had a great deal of support and love all around them. I decided that he was just going to need to snap the hell out of it when he was ready. But my family couldn’t understand his need to stay away. I knew sooner or later he would come back, he just needed his time away from the folds of the family.
“So I need to tell you something, “ Cara says sounding a bit hesitant, snapping me out of my deep thoughts of my brother.
“Well we need to tell the whole family actually. Babe!” she calls out for Jerry and he looks at her and heads over to us.
It always surprises me how graceful he was for being so tall. At six feet six inches, not only was he tall, but also really muscular. His caramel mocha toned skin showing his dual ethnicity making him only even more handsome. Not only was he handsome, but he was also intelligent. He was an incredibly successful plastic surgeon, he was funny and easy going. The best possible match for my beautiful sister. As he walks towards us I love watching how he looks at my sister. He came into our lives about a year before Sean died and having watched them fall in love was one of the most beautiful things I had ever witnessed.
He comes over and stands behind her and places one of his huge hands on her shoulders.
I look at them realizing they seem a little nervous which makes me a little nervous about what they have to announce. Was something wrong with the baby? With Cara? Concern must have shown on my face because Mike came over to me placing his big strong warm hands on my shoulders. Then I realize everyone has gathered around, concerned looks on everyone of us.
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