“Hello, handsome.” I smile up at him and usher him inside the house.
“Are you ladies ready?” He looks delicious in his black jeans, and un-tucked white button down shirt. I run my fingers through his soft blonde hair.
“Yes.”
“You look happy.” He kisses my cheek and hugs me to him again. “And beautiful in this red blouse.”
“It’s new.” I feel my cheeks flush.
“Yeah? I like it very much.”
“Thank you, for everything.” I kiss him, cupping his beautiful face in my hands.
“Did you have fun?”
“We had a great time. You spoiled us today. Thank you for including Jules.”
“I’m fond of Jules.”
“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow.
“She loves you and she’s your best friend.”
Damn, he’s just so sweet.
“Oh, God, please don’t be like this all night.” Jules walks into the foyer and rolls her eyes.
“Hello to you, too.” Luke laughs and kisses my forehead, then releases me.
“Thanks for today, Luke. We had a great time, and I am now the proud owner of this delightful handbag.” Jules smiles sweetly.
“It suits you. You’re welcome. Shall we go?”
I grab my camera bag and follow Luke out to the car. He raises an eyebrow, glancing at my bag. “Do you think I’m going to a family dinner with a brand new baby without my camera? I’m a girl, Luke.”
He smirks and opens my door for me.
Luke and I follow Jules in separate vehicles to her parent’s house. They live in a new subdivision in North Seattle where most of the houses look alike; well-kept lawns, small front porches with hanging baskets of colorful flowers and kids riding bicycles on the sidewalks. The house is average in size, with a large back yard.
No one, even the Montgomery’s themselves;
know
that
I’m
the
anonymous donor that paid the mortgage off for them earlier this year.
“This is a nice neighborhood,” Luke comments and I smile at him.
“It is. It suits Jules’ parents. They’re empty nesters, so the house is the perfect size for them. I’m glad it’s a nice day today; we can all sit out in the backyard.
Her dad has done a great job landscaping it. You’ll love it.”
We pull up to the house and Jules’
mom, Gail, comes running out to greet us.
“Oh, my girls are home! Hello darling.” She envelops me in her arms and I feel tears prick my eyes. This woman is so special to me.
She pulls back and looks at me, her hands still gripping my shoulders. “You look lovely, dear. Happy birthday.”
“Thank you, Gail. This is my boyfriend, Luke.”
“Mrs. Montgomery.” Luke offers his hand, but she also wraps him in a big hug.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Luke.
Please, call me Gail. Welcome.”
His smile is wide and a little bit shy.
“Thank you.”
“Hi, Mom.” Jules hugs her mom tightly.
“Everyone else is here. We’re in the backyard. Your dad is grilling, and I’m praying he doesn’t burn the house down.”
Luke takes my hand and we wander through the beautifully furnished home, past the state-of-the-art kitchen and out to the backyard. I smile at Luke’s gasp.
“I told you,” I murmur to him.
The back of the house faces a greenbelt, so there are no neighbors behind them. The yard is just under an acre. Beautiful shrubs and bushes border the tall privacy fence that encloses the yard. There are stone paths lined with solar lights leading to different gardens. There is a riot of color from all the flowers, reds and yellows, purples, pinks. Some of the gardens have little benches next to them to sit and enjoy the day.
There are also large fruit trees for shade. Steven Montgomery spends endless hours on this garden, and it shows.
The patio is also large and covered.
There is a huge stainless steel grill in the far left corner, with smoke billowing out of it now. There are two round patio tables with six chairs around each of them in the middle of the patio, and to the far right is a seating area of two rocking loveseats.
“I could spend all day out here,” Luke murmurs and I nod.
I glance at the tables and spot two familiar, but unexpected faces and whirl around to Luke. “Your parents are here!”
He blushes a bit and shrugs. “Jules asked me if she could invite them, and I thought it would be a good idea. I want our families to get to know each other, Nat.”
“Wow.” I’m struck dumb. He never stops surprising me.
“Is it okay?”
Is it okay? I love him. His parents are lovely, and yes, I want them to know my family. Jules’ family is the only family I have.
“It’s great.” He smiles, relieved, and kisses my hand.
I lead Luke over to the tables and begin introducing him to Jules’ large family, hugging Lucy and Neil.
“It’s so good to see you, darling girl.”
Lucy holds me extra tight and I return the embrace.
“Thank you for coming. I’m happy to see you both.”
Jules’ dad abandons the grill and jogs toward me. “Come here, birthday girl!”
He sweeps me up in a big hug and twirls me around in a circle.
“You’re too thin. I’m going to fatten you up today.”
I laugh and kiss his smooth cheek.
He’s a shorter man, but solid muscle like his sons, balding on top, but he used to be blonde like his daughter. He’s one of the kindest men I’ve ever known. “I can’t wait. I’m hungry.”
“Good. Is this your man?” He turns to Luke and holds out a hand.
“Yes, this is Luke.”
“Some kind of fancy movie star, aren’t yo u? ” Oh, God. He’s going to give Luke a hard time. A hush falls over the patio as everyone stops talking to listen to the exchange.
I blush scarlet and start to interrupt, but Luke puts his hand on my elbow and smiles down at me before shaking Stevens hand firmly.
“No sir, I’m not fancy or a star.
Thank you for including me and my family here today.”
“Am I going to have to kill you for hurting her?” Steven keeps Luke’s hand in his own, narrowing his eyes at him, and I just want to die. Now.
Holy fucking shit.
Luke laughs. “No sir. Can I help you at the grill?”
“You know your way around a grill?”
Steven smiles and I exhale deeply.