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“Come in, come in,” my dad greets as he ushers Tyler and me into the house.
My parents and I moved into the spacious townhouse when I was fourteen. Although I didn’t live here long before I left for college, the house quickly grew on me. Following the move, my parents always tried to make this place feel ever so comfortable, carrying a touch of remorse for displacing me from our previous home.
It certainly helped that my love for my family runs deep; wherever they were, it felt like home to me. This sentiment is something I'll treasure regardless of what unfolds tonight.
Since I’m only nine weeks pregnant and not showing yet, we considered pushing off sharing the news until I was a little further along. But my parents were eager for the dinner, and there seemed to be little point in delaying.
We need to tell them now. It’s been a secret long enough.
“You both have a lovely home,” Tyler offers to my parents as we’re led into the living room, the muted tones of the space livened up with greenery.
“Well, thank you. My lovely wife has a nice touch. Wouldn’t look nearly this nice if I picked things out,” my dad jokes, throwing my mom a loving smile that I don’t think she catches. “Did you two come here together?”
The question feels charged, and I try to come up with an answer.
“Yes, I asked Tyler to bring me along. You know how I feel about driving in the city,” I explain, having had conversations with my dad about this more than once.
“That is very true. Thank you, Tyler.” My dad smiles at him.
He is in a cheerful mood tonight. Hopefully, that will work in our favor.
“It was no trouble,” Tyler offers easily, and I cherish this moment of harmony before the fallout that will surely occur later.
The extent of which, I’m just not sure yet.
“Would you two like some wine?” my mom asks, clapping her hands together as Tyler and I sit down on the couch.
We make sure to put distance between us so as not to look too friendly yet. I want to make it at least partway through dinner before shit hits the fan.
“I’m fine. Water is good for me,” I tell my mother with a smile I hope she doesn’t see through.
“The same for me.” Tyler gives her an easy smile. That seems to be good enough for her as she goes into the kitchen to get us water.
By the smell coming out of the kitchen, I know it’s Mom’s pot roast. The scent has my mouth watering, and I’m glad I still have an appetite for it.
“Have things at the school been going okay for you both?” My dad is sitting on the couch adjacent to ours. “I know I’ve been running Tyler ragged with this copyright case,” he adds, shooting Tyler a wink and reaching over to give him a lighthearted pat on the shoulder.
“Yeah, things are going great. The kids loved the Museum of Science. I had them draw their favorite part of the trip,” I tell my dad. The trip was the highlight of my lesson plans.
“I knew they would. You loved it so much when you were a kid. Thought you may grow up to be a scientist.”
“Good thing she didn’t. Those students would be missing out,” Tyler offers, and I bristle, worrying that my dad will take the comment as too friendly.
However, he seems pleased with the answer. “That is very true.”
“Come on, you all, dinner is ready,” my mom calls out, and we see her carry the pot roast out of the kitchen in the direction of the dining room.
“Let me help you,” my dad calls out, rushing over to the kitchen to bring out the rest of the food.
The pot roast, fingerling potatoes, and arugula salad remind me of what it was like to live at home. Getting a meal like this every night was unmatched. If this is my final supper, it’s a good one.
I don’t hold back as I serve myself. My parents don’t seem deterred by how ravenous I must appear, but Tyler releases a small laugh from under his breath.
“Tyler, are you close with your family?” my mother asks politely as she cuts a piece of her beef.
“Yes, I am. My best friend’s family are my parents’ neighbors, so all of us are really close,” he explains, going on to share about some of the joint family adventures they’d been on.
It’s sad how well things seem to be going as we laugh over dinner. Mom shares stories about her time volunteering at the local library, Tyler talks about Monica, and what it’s like being so far apart in age, and my dad goes on a small rant about the judge in the current case he’s working on.
