Of course I know who his parents are. In the last two years of me being pulled into the fold, I’ve been to a few gatherings where all the parents were also in attendance. I also know that she’s Dani’s mom’s best friend and has been for years and years before they had Dani and Lee, thus the reason that Dani and Lee were destined to be best friends even before birth.
But besides the small smile in passing, I’ve never spoken to either of them.
Add to that the small fact that their son has fallen in love with a woman with baggage of a widowed mom.
A woman, that until about five months ago, hasn’t been able to see the beauty in life past her guilt filled grief.
A woman that they very well may see as someone not good enough for their son.
And that’s what’s been keeping me so full of nerves that I’ve been on the edge of puking all day.
“She always has princess shoes on, little lady. Even when she’s cleaning the house or doing laundry. My mom, she’s a silly girl.”
Lee’s voice pulls me back from my scared thoughts and I steady my breathing, give him a squeeze and when his feet start carrying us up the driveway, toward his waiting mother, I follow and pray that I don’t make a fool of myself.
And that his mother won’t see Molly and me as the wrong choice for her son’s future.
“Hey, Mom,” he greets when we reach the front porch. “Meet my girls, Molly and Megan.”
I gulp and give her what I hope is a welcoming smile. She looks at her son with love in her eyes before they turn to me.
“Megan,” she breathes. “It’s so good to finally, formally, meet you. We’ve been waiting for this.”
“Uh, hi,” I squeak and Molly laughs.
“Mommy has butterflies all inside her belly. Leelee told me so.”
I feel my face heat and my hand gets a gentle tug. I look up and meet Lee’s gaze. He gives me a wink and then his face washes with love and compassion. His expression filling my heart instantly with his love and effectively kicking the crap out of those butterflies.
Turning back to his mom, I reach out my hand, and blurt, “I did. They were crazy butterflies that fluttered their wings so much I couldn’t take a deep breath. So, hi, I’m Megan and I’m absolutely terrified that you won’t like me.”
I feel Lee shaking with his amusement, but my eyes are transfixed on his mom as I watch, with fascination, as her eyes, so much like Lee’s, fill with understanding before my hand is knocked to the side as her body moves forward. Her arms reach out and wrap around my middle and then she gives me a hug that knocks the wind out of my chest with her strength.
“Oh, honey. I was in love with you before I even knew who had stolen my son’s heart. Have no worries about that. You keep doing whatever has that smile on my boy’s face. I swear, it’s been like watching his father all over again these last few months.”
I don’t know what to say. Or do. So I follow my gut, drop Lee’s hand, and hug his mom back just as tight.
“He’s easy to love,” I tell her honestly.
“I know,” she whispers. “It’s a Beckett thing.”
I laugh, but don’t let go.
“Uh, Mom. You think I could have my woman back now?” Lee laughs.
“No, you can’t,” she snaps and continues to hug me tight.
“Dee, baby, let go of Lee’s woman and let them come inside.”
I open my eyes at the new voice and look up into Lee’s father’s eyes. If I thought he looked like his mom, I was wrong. Lee is the spitting image of his father and I have no doubt that when Lee gets older, his good looks will only become richer. John Beckett, or Beck as I’ve heard so many call him, has the same thick dark brown hair as his son. His strong bone structure a mirror to his son’s. You can tell that he laughs hard, and often, because the smile lines on his tan face are deep, even when he’s just smirking.
Lee’s dad is smoking hot.
Of course, his mom is downright stunning too, so it isn’t a shock to me that Lee is as handsome as he is.
“You look like my Leelee,” Molly states in awe.
“Hey, sweet girl, I sure do. Want to know why?” Lee’s dad asks her.
“Yup!” she shouts.
Lee’s dad chuckles deep in his throat, “That’s because he’s my Lee too. We’re his mom and dad. He looks like us just like you look like your mom.”
When Dee lets go of my body, I turn and watch Molly move her eyes from Lee’s smiling face, back to his father’s. Then in typical Molly fashion, she gives out more of her love.