scooped me up and carried me down the hall. I admit, the thought that I was about to be ravished, right before seeing my dad, crossed my mind, which made my stomach do a weird flip-flop thing, but then AJ just set me down on the bed and said he’d be right back. A couple minutes later he appeared with a package of Chips Ahoy and a really cold Pepsi. He handed them to me, then left again and came back with my Kindle. He told me to eat and read and relax, and he’d set the timer and call me in 45 minutes.
It was great!
45 minutes later, AJ walked in all showered and clean-shaven and smelling all good; it was all I could do to remember that pouncing before seeing your parents is a bad thing.
I took a quick shower, blew my hair dry and then did a fishtail braid down each side of my head, which can be tricky with my baby-fine hair. I connected the braids under the rest of my hair in the back, very 1960s, and turned the ends under for a more finished look.
I put on a pair of skinny cargo pants and a tank with a boyfriend blazer that Teagan made me buy.
I really need to remember to do something special for Teagan when we go on the cruise. She’s handier than I ever took notice of.
AJ looked great in a pair of jeans, linen shirt, and a really perfect smile.
We got there a few minutes early. Mom and Dad hadn’t arrived, which is weird, since they are always early. As we were walked to our table, we passed a couple of booths, which I would have preferred, but the guy just kept walking to the back of the place.
Looks like we’ll be sitting by the kitchen.
When we got all the way to the back he opened some French doors and there were my parents and all my brothers and sisters.
I was shocked.
I know I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t.
AJ is a very good guy. Comments were made all around about how he’d called everyone and suggested that we get together for dinner before the wedding. Since Morgan and Liam didn’t want a shower, this would be a family shower.
I had a moment of panic, I didn’t know about this, so I didn’t buy a gift.
AJ leaned down and said, “I got it covered.”
We sat. We ate. We had such a great time. Everyone in the family knew that I didn’t know what was going on before we walked in the door.
Everyone in the family knew that I was worried about everyone’s safety and would have quashed the idea of me being there.
Obviously, they didn’t agree with my security plans.
After dinner, gifts were presented. AJ ran out to the car and got ours out of the trunk. Beautifully wrapped, the card said the gift was from us both.
It was a teapot.
At first I was confused. It was square and unlike the teapots my family normally uses. If you’re going to do a teapot, you would think that an Irish teapot would be in order. That’s kind of the point. This teapot looked a little too modern. Maybe it’s Asian or something.
Morgan pulled a card out of the box.
She read it aloud.
It explained that the teapot is from Ireland. That it is a Belleek design. That just like Morgan and Liam, it’s the very best in Irish tradition, in a new and exciting form. Something like that. I was working so hard not to go all the way to an ugly cry that I missed most of it, but AJ promised me that he had a copy on his computer.
Morgan ran her finger over the lid, smiled and winked at AJ. Not sure what that’s about, but I’ll find out from AJ when we get home.
I insisted the family leave before we did. Stupid, I know, but if Jerkface and his minions are close by, I want there to be space between my family and me. I should probably insist on the same thing with AJ, but I’m just not that self-sacrificing.
When we didn’t hear any commotion from the parking lot, we gathered our stuff and left.
In the car, with the doors locked, I felt much better. Seeing my family centers me. Always has. Always will.
I was thinking about just how I was going to show my gratitude for all that AJ had done, in a completely
It was great!
45 minutes later, AJ walked in all showered and clean-shaven and smelling all good; it was all I could do to remember that pouncing before seeing your parents is a bad thing.
I took a quick shower, blew my hair dry and then did a fishtail braid down each side of my head, which can be tricky with my baby-fine hair. I connected the braids under the rest of my hair in the back, very 1960s, and turned the ends under for a more finished look.
I put on a pair of skinny cargo pants and a tank with a boyfriend blazer that Teagan made me buy.
I really need to remember to do something special for Teagan when we go on the cruise. She’s handier than I ever took notice of.
AJ looked great in a pair of jeans, linen shirt, and a really perfect smile.
We got there a few minutes early. Mom and Dad hadn’t arrived, which is weird, since they are always early. As we were walked to our table, we passed a couple of booths, which I would have preferred, but the guy just kept walking to the back of the place.
Looks like we’ll be sitting by the kitchen.
When we got all the way to the back he opened some French doors and there were my parents and all my brothers and sisters.
I was shocked.
I know I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t.
AJ is a very good guy. Comments were made all around about how he’d called everyone and suggested that we get together for dinner before the wedding. Since Morgan and Liam didn’t want a shower, this would be a family shower.
I had a moment of panic, I didn’t know about this, so I didn’t buy a gift.
AJ leaned down and said, “I got it covered.”
We sat. We ate. We had such a great time. Everyone in the family knew that I didn’t know what was going on before we walked in the door.
Everyone in the family knew that I was worried about everyone’s safety and would have quashed the idea of me being there.
Obviously, they didn’t agree with my security plans.
After dinner, gifts were presented. AJ ran out to the car and got ours out of the trunk. Beautifully wrapped, the card said the gift was from us both.
It was a teapot.
At first I was confused. It was square and unlike the teapots my family normally uses. If you’re going to do a teapot, you would think that an Irish teapot would be in order. That’s kind of the point. This teapot looked a little too modern. Maybe it’s Asian or something.
Morgan pulled a card out of the box.
She read it aloud.
It explained that the teapot is from Ireland. That it is a Belleek design. That just like Morgan and Liam, it’s the very best in Irish tradition, in a new and exciting form. Something like that. I was working so hard not to go all the way to an ugly cry that I missed most of it, but AJ promised me that he had a copy on his computer.
Morgan ran her finger over the lid, smiled and winked at AJ. Not sure what that’s about, but I’ll find out from AJ when we get home.
I insisted the family leave before we did. Stupid, I know, but if Jerkface and his minions are close by, I want there to be space between my family and me. I should probably insist on the same thing with AJ, but I’m just not that self-sacrificing.
When we didn’t hear any commotion from the parking lot, we gathered our stuff and left.
In the car, with the doors locked, I felt much better. Seeing my family centers me. Always has. Always will.
I was thinking about just how I was going to show my gratitude for all that AJ had done, in a completely
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