I take a deep breath. “It seems today is the day for meeting parents.”
He laughs. “It seems it is.”
Before we can make it to the front door, it swings open, and a beautiful blonde-haired woman rushes out. She’s dressed in smart Capri pants and a cream silk blouse, with a delicate string of pearls around her neck.
“You’re here!” she exclaims. “Come in, come in.”
“Hi, Mom,” Lucas says, climbing the porch steps and pressing a kiss on her cheek.
I follow him up the steps with Roman’s hand nestled in mine. I’m not sure who’s more nervous, me or Roman.
Lucas turns to me and smiles before looking back at his mom. “This is Melody and her son, Roman.” He turns back to me. “Melody, this is my mom.”
I push down my nerves and step forward. “Hello, Mrs. Reed.” I hold out my hand, surprised when she walks toward me and pulls me in for a hug. I drop Roman’s hand and hug her back.
“It’s so nice to meet you, and please, call me Helen.”
She steps out of the embrace and kneels down in front of Roman.
“And you must be Roman?” she asks, smiling at him. “Lucas tells me you like fire trucks.” He nods shyly and clings to the edge of my dress.
She stands up and reaches inside the house, picking something up. Holding her hand out, a small diecast fire truck sits in her palm.
“This used to be Lucas’s when he was your age. I got it down from the attic this morning. Would you like it?”
Roman looks from her open hand to me, and I nod, letting him know it’s okay.
“Yes, please,” he says so quietly I almost miss it. She hands him the truck and Roman stares at it. “Come in and I’ll get us all some drinks.”
Heat tracks up my spine as Lucas’s hand presses against the small of my back, and I smile at him as we follow his mom inside. The house is beautiful, and there are pictures of Lucas and his sister as children dotted everywhere.
“You were a cute kid,” I whisper as we walk into the kitchen.
“Hey, I’m still cute.” He winks, and I laugh quietly.
I hold his gaze. “Yeah, you are.”
Helen clears her throat, and I tear my eyes off Lucas to see her smiling at us.
“What would you like to drink, Melody?”
“Just a water from me, please.”
She nods and looks at Roman. “What about you, Roman? Would you like some apple juice?”
“Yes, please,” he says shyly.
“Where’s Dad?” Lucas asks.
“He’s just cleaning the pool. We can go outside and say hi.”
She reaches into the refrigerator and pulls out two bottles of water. Handing one to me and one to Lucas, she reaches back inside and pulls out a bottle of apple juice. After she’s poured Roman a drink, I take it from her and she leads us outside through bi-folding doors off the kitchen.
The backyard is large with a decked seating area directly off the kitchen and a pool beyond that. Mature trees and shrubs line the edge of the space, and as I look around, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve been here before. I can’t have, though. Maybe I’d just looked into their yard from an upstairs window of my great-aunt’s house, and I’m confusing the memory.
“Richard. Lucas is here with Melody and Roman,” Helen shouts. “Come and say hi.”
“Be right there,” he shouts back.