Lucky had come with them and had not left Tessa’s side. They’d played music and Tessa had even danced with Lucky, who had barked happily while standing on his back legs, his paws resting on Tessa’s shoulders.
Days like today were how Jake had pictured his life. He’d never cared about being rich or famous. All he’d wanted were days exactly like today.
“I can stop by and see your parents another time. It doesn’t have to be for Sunday dinner.”
“Listen, my mom has laid down the law. She’s pissed that no one told her about the work day yesterday and wants to see you,” Jake had mixed feelings about Tessa being at Sunday dinner. As happy as he was that Tessa was here now, sitting beside him, he knew that, once she sat down at their family table, Sunday dinners would never be the same again.
“Nikki said that your dad’s health has been poor off and on, and he would have overdone it if he’d come yesterday.”
“Right, but try and explain that to my mom.” Jake pulled up in front of his childhood home and saw that his siblings’ cars were all there. He looked over and saw Tessa’s expression at all of the cars parked in front of the house. “Plus, you don’t want me to be the odd man out, do you?”
“It’s your family. You’re not the odd man out.” Tessa was wringing her hands in her lap.
“Are you kidding me? Eric has Lily, Amy has Matt, now Nikki has Mike, my parents have each other and even Laverne has Shirley.” Jake opened the door and got out. He knew that prolonging their entrance would only give Tessa more time to let her nerves go crazy.
“Laverne has Shirley?” she asked as he opened the door and she stepped onto the running bar.
“My parents’ corgis, Laverne and Shirley,” Jake explained as he placed his hand on her lower back and guided her towards the house.
Tessa’s face lit up as Jake shut the car door. “Oh, I love it. That’s too cute.”
Before they’d even made it onto the brick path that led to his parents’ colonial-style home, the front door flew open.
“Tesero!” his mother Rosalie cried out as she ran down the steps and threw her arms around Tessa. In Italian, tesero meant darling or treasure, and after about a month of Jake and Tessa being together, his mom had started calling her that.
Seeing his mom’s face as she practically smothered Tessa in her embrace caused a knot to form in Jake’s throat. As a teen, he’d liked the fact that his parents had loved Tessa as much as they had. But as an adult, he appreciated how rare it was to find someone who so seamlessly fit into the dynamics of his family.
His siblings had been able to pull it off. But Jake hadn’t had one relationship that had even made it to Sunday-dinner status. Of course, in all fairness, he hadn’t actually had a real relationship. Unless you counted hooking up with the same girl multiple times a relationship, which he didn’t.
Jake watched as his mom linked arms with Tessa, talking nonstop as she practically dragged her up the steps to the house. Sean, his father, was waiting in the doorway.
“Oh, me darlin’. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. It’s been donkey’s years since I seen ya last.” His father’s Irish brogue was sounding even heavier than it normally did, which tended to happen when he got emotional. His father hugged Tessa tightly. When he released her, he pointed to Jake, “Boyo here has been banjaxed since ya left.”
Tessa looked at Jake with a questioning glimmer in her eye, probably having no idea what his dad had just said. Jake stepped beside her and wrapped his hand around her waist. Leaning down, he whispered in Tessa’s ear, “He said he hasn’t seen you in a long time and that I was wrecked when you left.”
He was concentrating on keeping his voice low because lately, whenever the kids translated their father’s Irish-isms in front of their dad, he got a little offended. He was getting sensitive in his old age.
When Jake straightened, he saw the look of surprise in Tessa’s eyes. It took him a moment to realize what had put it there. Did she really not know what her leaving had done to him?
“Now that everyone’s here, let’s eat!” his mom yelled out happily.
As Jake and Tessa took their seats at the table, Jake was struck by how, with her beside him, it felt like the final piece in his family’s puzzle was in place. He knew it wasn’t a thought he should dwell on, so instead he focused on saying hello to his brother, sisters, and their significant others. Tessa was doing the same.
“Before we eat, I have an announcement,” Amy spoke loudly, which was very out of character for his quiet bookworm sister. She cast a nervous glance towards Matt, and Jake noticed he winked at her supportively. As Amy stood and took a deep breath, she glanced down at the table while her hands covered her stomach.