“And proud of it,” I laugh. “Always has been.”
We’re quiet as he starts the engine and then turns left, heading toward the railroad tracks. Once we hit those, we’ll be on what’s considered his side of town.
“Are you nervous?” He asks, reaching for my hand.
Thankful for the touch, I entwine our fingers together. “Slightly. I want your family to like me. Especially your mom. I don’t have luck with moms.” I try to say it as a joke, but I think we both know this is a rough day for me.
“My mom is going to love you,” he assures me.
Sighing, I shrug. “We can’t assume that, but I’m willing to try for you.”
He brings my hand up to his lips. With the gentleness I’ve come to expect from him, he brushes a kiss along the skin. “That’s all I ask.”
* * *
The lineof cars in front of Danny’s parents house is massive. I don’t think we’ve ever had this many in front of ours. “This is all your family?”
He chuckles. “Extended too. When we get together, we do it up right.”
“I’m nervous,” I admit, looking up at him.
“You’ll be fine.”
“If you say so.”
He wraps his arm around my neck. Without thought, I lift my arm up, entwining our fingers together. Walking down the street with him feels second nature. Instead of being nervous, I’m comforted. We climb the hill to where we can enter the backyard. “Let’s go, babe.”
With him, I’ll go anywhere. He opens the back gate and I’m swept into a world I’ve never known before. There are people milling about everywhere, talking to one another with smiles on their faces. Children running around screaming and laughing. This is so far from what a normal get together at our house looks like that I feel as if I’ve stepped into another world.
As he leads me into the space packed with not only people but a palpable feel of love flowing from all sides, I’m hit with the realization that I’ve come home. I never knew what it meant before this moment, but being here with him? It’s what’s been missing my entire life.
“Mama!” He yells out.
A woman turns around at the sound of his voice as does a man. If I didn’t know these were Danny’s parents, I’d figure it out immediately. He’s the perfect mix of the two of them.
“Danny.” She holds her arms open, taking him in for a huge hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
Introductions are made once she releases him. “I’ve been wondering about the woman keeping my son busy.” She smiles easily at me.
The arm he slips around my shoulder is warm and it’s second nature for me to snuggle in against his side. “This is Hayden.”
“Nice to meet you.” I put my hand out but she pulls me in for a hug, much the same way she did for her son.
“I’m Penny and this is my husband, Juan,” she says next to my ear. “I’m so happy to have you here.”
The funny thing is? I believe her. For most of my life, I’ve never believed anything a woman told me. So many times, when other moms in whatever class I was in tried to make me feel as if I was as normal as everyone else - it never took. I always saw the pity in their eyes. The barely suppressed sympathy in the lines on their faces.
Penny? She has none of that. Her eyes are shining and the welcoming smile on her face warms my chest. It gives me hope that one day I’ll be able to overcome the abandonment issues that hold me back.
“Nice to meet you too. I’m excited to be here.”
“You two got here just in time,” Juan says as he stands next to her. “Your brother finished cooking a few minutes ago.”
“Yeah, lazy ass. Mom knows who cares about her on Mother’s Day. Some of us stayed here instead of going to pick up their girlfriend,” he sing-songs. It reminds me of Hailey and I wish she was here with me right now.
“Shut up, Sam.” Danny shoves his brother.
“Don’t make Javy and I beat you up in front of a pretty lady.” He smiles over at me. It’s obvious they’re brothers, but Sam looks much more like their dad than Danny’s perfect combination of mother and father.