Howie pulled up in front of the large brick house and parked, turning to Kristina as he shut the engine off on the Corvette. She was nervous and it was more than obvious as she attempted to straighten any minute wrinkle that threatened to appear.

"You look beautiful, Kris" he whispered, leaning in to kiss her.

She smiled nervously, wanting to believe him but still anxious about meeting his close knit family. She leaned in to meet him as well and they kissed briefly. ‘Okay, I can do this’ she said quietly as he got out of the car and walked around to her side, opening the door and taking her hand in his.

His chivalry was something she adored about him, among many other things. It wasn’t something that she expected rather than a quality she appreciated and admired. He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close, their hips brushing one another as they walked up the steps to his parent’s house.

The door opened and John greeted them both with a smile.

"The girls are dying to meet you," he said to Kris as he pulled her into a fierce hug. "You look so relaxed and beautiful. I take it that my brother treats you right?"

"John, I..." she started but was hushed by his words.

"No need for an explanation, Kris. I’m just thankful that it all worked out in the end. I knew that I liked you from the beginning but I had no idea that you would soon be a part of my family. I think it’s wonderful!"

"Thank you, John. For EVERYTHING" she said as she hugged him once again.

"Where’s Mami?" Howie asked, expecting to be greeted by her.

John laughed. "In the kitchen cooking her little heart out!"

"What is she cooking? It smells absolutely delicious!"

"Why thank you, dear" Paula said as she turned the corner and greeted them with a warm, sincere smile. "Mexican turkey, brown rice and a few other of my son’s favorite dishes."

Howie hugged his mom tightly, kissing her cheek in the process.

"Mami, this is Kristina" he said with a triumphant smile. "Kris, this is my mom."

Paula embraced Kristina warmly and whispered into her ear. "Our home is your home. Come, relax and meet our family."

"Thank you" Kristina whispered back as she squeezed the tiny woman’s shoulders.

As she turned and walked away, she motioned for Kristina to follow. "Howard and Kristina are here! Come and greet them" she shouted.

Within seconds his family surrounded Kristina, each of them hugging her and smiling as they welcomed her with open arms.

During dinner, Howie sat on one side of her and John the other as the family told stories about Howie as he was growing up, stories of him on tour and other tales that created fits of laughter throughout the table.

It was by far one of the best dinners Kristina had ever attended both socially and intellectually, with the tasty food being an added delight to her senses. As they continued the conversation, well after the meal had ended, Howie rested his hand on top of hers, squeezing periodically with affection. Everyone had made her feel so welcome and accepted that she felt as if her heart would burst with joy. It was something she had needed so much more than she realized. She knew in her heart that she could easily fall in love with the idea of being part of their family. Actually, she craved it, needed it.

Although her mother loved her, Kristina had never really grown up in a loving and overtly affectionate family. At the Dorough house, it seemed that everyone hugged, touched and expressed their love for one another constantly. She wanted to be a part of that, to raise children in that environment. HIS environment, HIS family.

Sensing that her mind was now elsewhere, Howie once again squeezed her hand and mouthed the words, ‘you okay?’ to her. She nodded her head but he knew differently. Something was on her mind and he had a feeling it had to do with her family.

"Mami, dinner was excellent," he said as he pushed his chair back from the table and stood. He wanted a moment alone with Kristina but everyone followed his actions and before he knew it, his mother had taken Kristina’s hand.

"Come with me, Kristina. Howard’s father and I would like to talk to you for a little while. Howard, you and John are going to help your sisters clear the table and do the dishes, right?"

Kris shot Howie a questioning look and he responded simply by winking at her.

"Sure, Mami" he said as he and John fought their laughter at the _expression on Kristina’s face.

He watched as his mother escorted Kris into the living room so she and his father could talk to her alone and uninterrupted.

"She looks scared to death" John laughed as he and Howie began to clear the remaining dishes from the dinner table.

"Uh – huh" Howie smirked.

****************************************************************************************************

John and Howie were discussing club business as they walked in on an apparent discussion of his and Kristina’s relationship. Angie elbowed Pollyanna and shushed her.

"What?" Howie asked with a laugh as the sisters burst into giggles.

"You have it SO bad for that girl!" Angie said as she continued the task at hand.

Pollyanna shook her head in agreement. "I’ve NEVER seen you so gaga over anyone before."

John quickly took his brother’s defense. "You two leave him alone. I think it’s great he’s found someone as sweet and beautiful as Kristina. She may end up being our sister-in-law one day, but if you two don’t leave him alone then you’re gonna freak him out."

Angie rinsed her hands, drying them on the towel she had taken from Pollyanna’s hands. She turned to John and Howie as Pollyanna did the same.

"Okay, spill it little brother! Just how serious is this relationship?" Angie asked with a smile and a wink.

"ANG!" John yelled.

Howie smiled, the excitement of wanting to talk about Kristina apparent in his tone of voice. "If you MUST know, sis – the relationship is VERY serious."

Angie and Pollyanna exchanged looks. "Are we talking ‘I can’t keep my hands off of her’ serious? OR, ‘I want her to move in with me’ serious?"

Howie’s face lit up as he motioned for his siblings to come closer to him, like a child with a big secret he was afraid someone would over hear. As they did so, he produced a black velvet box from his pocket and opened it. Gasps filled the still kitchen air as he revealed a three-karat princess cut diamond engagement ring sitting beautifully inside the small box. Screams erupted from the girls as they hugged him, excited that he had finally found true love.

"When are you going to pop the question?" John asked as he examined the ring.

"Tomorrow night" Howie said, turning to his sisters. "Do you think she will like it?"

"HELLO!" Pollyanna said. "She’s absolutely going to love it!"

Angie teared up as she hugging him once again. "She’s a really gorgeous girl, little brother. I think you two make a wonderful couple."

Howie’s eyes were dancing with joy as he accepted ‘congratulations’ from his siblings. "Thanks sis. I love her more than I thought possible and I know that she feels the same way about me."

"When are you going to tell Mami and Papi?" John asked.

Howie laughed. "They already know. I suspect that is why they wanted to talk to Kris alone."

Chapter 52        Index