Episode 60...

~ Jade ~

“Why did I let you talk me into this?” I ask Brian.
He grins and keeps concentrating on the road ahead of him, “Almost there.”
We landed in Kentucky two hours ago and now we are on the final leg of our journey – driving to Brian’s family house in a rented jeep. A few minutes later, we round a corner and I see a house up ahead.
“That’s it!” I look at Brian and chuckle. He is ridiculously excited. Ten minutes later, we’re parked and Brian is pulling me out of the jeep and up to the front door. Before knocking on the door, he faces me seriously and brushes back my hair softly. “Now don’t be nervous. They already love ya,” he kisses me and knocks on the door before I can respond.
To be honest, I don’t think I CAN respond. I feel so nervous my mouth has dried up. A woman with salt and pepper hair opens the door. She has Brian’s blue eyes and her face widens into a smile when she sees Brian.
“Brian!” she pulls him into a big hug before stepping back to look him up and down. “You’ve lost weight sweetie!”
“Mom, that’s kinda what touring does to ya,” Brian grins at his mom and then pushes me forward. “This is Jade Greene.”
“Jade!” she smiles at me and gives me a quick hug before stepping back and looking me up and down. “It’s good to finally meet you. I’ve kept askin’ Brian to bring you up but he kept saying it wasn’t the right time. Finally!” she laughs and beckons us to follow her inside.
I smile gratefully at Brian. He has wanted me to meet his family since the week after we met, I had been the one putting it off.
“It’s good to meet you too Mrs Littrell.”
“Oh, Jackie, please!” she smiles at me and we go into the family lounge.
Brian’s dad is standing by the fireplace. I can really see what Brian gets from his parents – he has his mom’s eyes and his dad’s smile.
“Ah, you must be Jade,” he says stepping forward to shake my hand enthusiastically.
“Yes, it’s good to meet you,” I smile.
“I’m Harold by the way.” He turns to envelop his son in a big hug. “Good to see you boy.”
“You too dad,” Brian grins. “Hey mom, can I smell cooking?”
“You sure can!” Jackie says happily. “I hope you’re hungry Jade?”
“I’m starving,” I tell her. “We got offered something on the plane but it was kinda hard to identify…” They both laugh and Jackie heads towards the door. “Can I help?”
“Oh that would be nice Jade.” I follow her into the kitchen and she hands me a knife to chop the vegetables with. “It really IS nice to meet you finally Jade. Brian’s told me so much about you.”
“Should I be scared?” I laugh.
“Not at all! He really loves you, y’know.”
“I love him too,” I tell her quietly and she smiles.
“Do you liken roast chicken?”
“Love it,” I say, my stomach already rumbling in anticipation. “I don’t think I’ve had a roast meal since moving to Tampa.”
“That’s not right,” she laughs. “You live with Nick’s girlfriend, right?”
“Yeah. Her name’s Alicia.”
“How did you meet?”
“At college in Georgia. We took the same writing class and just clicked.”
“Wow mom, that has to be a record,” Brian walks into the kitchen. “Here five minutes and you already have Jade working.”
“I offered,” I say with a smile.
“Unlike a certain son of mine…” Jackie teases and Brian holds his hands up.
“Hey, I’m here now!”
“You can stir the sauce then.”
“I’d be honoured,” Brian heads over to the hob and starts stirring. “Is Harold comin’ over later?”
“Tomorrow. He wanted to come tonight but I told him three Littrells were quite enough for Jade to deal with.”
“Well, after spending time with five Backstreet Boys, I can pretty much deal with anything,” I joke and Jackie laughs.
“You probably can. How IS Kevin?”
“He’s good,” Brian says. “Bein’ his usual self.”
“That bad?” Jackie jokes and Brian grins at his mom.
I carry on chopping the vegetables as the two of them launch into a conversation about the events of the past few months. It’s great seeing the way they interact and tease each other. I really like Brian’s mom already. She obviously gave him his sense of humour. After a few minutes, Harold wanders into the kitchen and is quickly put to work by Jackie. He joins in on the conversation and I listen, loving the cosy family atmosphere. They remind me a lot of my own parents and I resolve there and then that Brian should meet my family as soon as possible. Once I’m done chopping, I take the board over to a pan simmering on the hob and put them into the water. I put the board and knife in the sink and start to stir the vegetables. Brian slips an arm around my waist and kisses my neck during a lull in the conversation. I smile at him.
“You’re very quiet honey.”
“Just taking it all in,” I tell him.
“But you’re ok?”
“More than ok,” I kiss him quickly. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“Thank YOU,” he smiles and gently squeezes my waist. “It’s good to have someone to bring home. I never cared about anybody enough before.”

~ Jackie ~

Jackie looks across the kitchen at her son and Jade by the hob and smiles to herself. She had been wary when Brian had first told her about meeting Jade. And after the couple had split up over the AJ thing, she had decided to treat Jade cautiously. But all that had changed now. After seeing the way Brian looks when he wraps an arm around Jade, and the way she gazes at him whenever he speaks. Those two are definitely in love. And Jackie doesn’t think she has ever seen her son look happier. Jade is the first girlfriend he’s ever brought home – apart from the usual high school ones – and she’d be willing to bet her life savings on her being the last. Jackie hums contentedly under her breath as she turns away from her son and Jade. She checks on the chicken in the oven and then rests a hand on Harold’s back, leaning in to talk quietly with him.
“I like her.”
Harold smiles at his wife. “That’s obvious. I do too.”
“Well,” Jackie says loudly. “I guess dinner is just about served.”
“Great! I’m starved,” Brian says happily. “Wait til you taste mom’s roast Jady! You’ll never want to leave.”
“For that, you get extras!” Jackie laughs and hands her son the plates. “Go set the table while we carry this through.”
“Yes, boss!” Brian salutes and runs out of the room with the crockery.

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