Other Side of the Wall by Jennifer Peel

isn’t about
you.” He tipped my chin up. “Please look at me. Ava, it’s not a surprise my
family likes you so much, you’re incredibly beautiful and warm. I don’t know
anyone that wouldn’t want to be around you.”
    “I
could introduce you to my ex’s family.”
    He
just ignored my comment. “Ava, I meant what I said. I’m happy my family likes
you. There are just some unresolved issues.” He reached up and briefly rested
his hand on my cheek. “Come here.” He pulled me into a big hug. “Just promise
me we can come back here afterward and resume where we left off.”
    “Deal.”
    He
let me go. “Ok, you better give me those flowers, because I probably could use
the help.” I gladly handed them over and then we made our way to his car and drove
over to his parents’ home.
    They
lived in a nice older neighborhood. It was the same house Scott grew up in, a
brick rambler-style home. The lawn was well taken care of and there were large
maple trees out front that were just beginning to change color. From the looks
of it, his mom was a huge fan of Halloween; she already had the porch decorated
even though we were barely in mid-September. I thought it was great. Scott just
shook his head.
    Scott
opened the door for me, and we just walked right in. His mom came right out and
hugged me. When she he turned to her son, I recognized the tension. I hadn’t
noticed it last week, I guess, because for one, I never had tension with my own
parents, and two, at the time I thought they all loved Jenna as much as Scott.
He handed her the flowers, and she got a little misty-eyed.
    “Oh,
Scotty,” she said.
    I
winked at him. I was glad he gave her the flowers. I think it meant more coming
from him.
    “Thank
you,” he mouthed while Myrna’s back was turned to me.
    His
dad and brother came out next. His dad shook my hand, but Nick, like his mother,
gave me a big hug. “So have you given any more thought to dating younger men,
Ava?”
    I
looked over at Scott. “I think I’ll stay with the older ones … for now.” I
winked at Scott.
    He
smiled.
    Nick
looked his older brother over. “Please don’t tell me you mean him. Ava, you’re
way too good looking and classy for that loser.”
    Scott
came over and territorially put his arms around me from behind. “Any more
questions?”
    “Do
you have a sister, Ava?”
    I
laughed. “Sorry, just an older brother.”
    “Better
luck next time, little brother,” Scott said.
    After
all the greetings I asked Myrna if she needed any help. She still thought I was
the most adorable creature for asking. Scott kissed me on the cheek before I
left to help his mom in the kitchen. I think his mom almost burst at the site.
I had mixed emotions about her reaction after the conversation Scott and I had
before we left. Selfishly, I was happy, but I felt guilty. I knew what it was
like to be disliked by your in-laws. I also had to fight the jealous feeling.
Is it terrible to be jealous of a dead woman?
    When
we got into the kitchen, Myrna finally did what I had been waiting for her to
do. Well almost. She didn’t quite pinch my cheeks, but she smushed them pretty
good with both of her hands. “Ava, sweetheart, you don’t know how happy you are
making Jerry and me, seeing you together with Scotty. And I don’t ever remember
Scotty bringing me flowers. Oh, you are such a good girl.”
    I
pretty much just loved his mom.
    I
made the salad while she finished up the sauce. We were having spaghetti and
meatballs. His mom even made homemade French bread, and it smelled heavenly.
She let me have a piece before we served it, and it was divine. I could just
eat that for dinner and be happy. She told me this was Scott’s favorite meal
growing up and she would give me the recipe. She treated me like I had wanted
Piera to.
    We
set the table and then Myrna called her boys all in. I could tell she was a
proud momma. Scott pulled out my seat for me, making his mom proud once again,
but she was less than