"Right here," she says. "Turn right. That's my parents’ house."
"This is where you grew up?" I ask as we pull up to a massive homestead. A house that is lit up by lampposts, a large garage with three bays, attic windows with the lights on, a big wide porch full of white rockers. "Damn," I say, "this place is incredible."
"My dad built it with his own two hands," she tells me as I pull into the large driveway in front of the house and turn off the ignition. Jumping out of the Jeep, I head over to her side and open her door, taking her hand and then pulling her in for the hug I've been aching to give her for the last few hours.
"What was that for?" she asks, looking up at me, the moonlight across her face. Even in her pain, this girl glows.
"I'm just happy you invited me to come along. I’m glad I can be here for you. I know you love your family something fierce.” I swallow my feelings of being overwhelmed. I have never had anyone and Lemon, she has everyone.
“I know we just met, but I want you here with me," she says, pulling me in for a second hug. “I know my family can be a lot. But I just want..." She swallows. "I want you."
Inside the house I quickly realize why her family is so dear to her. There's family pictures on every wall, big comfy furniture in all corners of the rooms. Someone's put on a pot of soup and I'm guessing one of her brothers’ wives is the one slicing a loaf of French bread.
"Oh, Lemon," a woman says, wrapping her up in her arms. "Happy birthday. I'm sure this is not how you expected to be spending it."
Lemon hugs her back. "Thanks, Abby. It's been a long day for everybody, I guess."
"Who's this?" Abby asks, looking over at me.
"This is Anchor," she says. "We met at the lake house. He's our new neighbor and my..." She is looking at me with anxious eyes, silently asking me to fill in the blank.
"Friend," I say, offering her a hand. "Good to meet you, Abby."
"Good to meet you too. You guys hungry?" she asks us.
Lemon shakes her head. "No, we ate before we left. Mac grilled burgers."
"Well, Prairie made lemon meringue pie, which I guess is apropos considering it's your birthday. She made one this morning before she even knew you were coming back into town.”
“That woman has good instincts."
I smile, watching the two women exchange updates as they head into the kitchen. I follow them, taking it all in.
An older man is sitting at the table with a bowl of soup. His eyes lift when Lemon walks into the kitchen.
"Hey sweetheart." He stands and Lemon walks over to him.
"Hey, Dad," she says, "I'm so sorry about Grandma."
"It's gonna be all right," he says. "She's going to be all right and pull through. I have faith in that."
Lemon smiles. "The doctors say anything?"
"We're just hoping when she wakes up, she'll have full function of her speech, her mobility."
Lemon gives her dad a hug. "I guess there's nothing we can do except wait for tomorrow, huh?"
Her father nods. "I'm Red," he tells me. "I'm guessing you’re Anchor?"
"Yes, sir." I realize in this moment, meeting her father means everything to Lemon. I'm falling for this girl hard and I'm meeting her dad. It’s the last thing I anticipated when I woke up this morning, bringing her croissants and mimosas. But here we are, with real life right in our faces.
"Well," Red says, "get yourself some pie, maybe a cup of coffee. I know it's not the birthday you were hoping for, Lemon, but at least we're together." Her father smiles at her and another woman, who I'm guessing is Prairie, hands Lemon a slice of pie.
"Here you go, birthday girl. Should I find a candle and let you make a wish?"
Lemon laughs. "I did that on Sunday night, Prairie."
Prairie, though, rests a hand on her shoulder. "Take it from me. If you have the chance to make a wish, you never let it pass you."
I realize then that this family is more than something special. This family is forever.
11
LEMON
We don't stay long at my parents' house. Everyone there is exhausted, worn-out from the day, and emotionally drained.
Anchor puts my coat on for me while we're standing in the foyer of my childhood home, and I turn to look at him, wondering what he feels standing here in this place that is full of all of my memories.
He's smiling and that warms my heart in ways I don't think he could know.
"I've never brought a man home," I tell him.
"What about a boy?" he teases.
I smile. "I mean, I did have a prom date."
"Who was that?" he asks. "Competition?"