Nick turns off the ignition and grabs my forearm as I’m reaching to open the door. “If you feel uncomfortable in the least bit, just say the word and we will leave.”
He has an apologetic look on his face. Surely, his dad isn’t that bad. “He’s serious, Shannon. In fact, the sooner we leave, the better for all of us. These gatherings never end happy,” Nikki chimes in as she is righting herself up from the backseat.
“Okay, but I’m sure it’s not going to be that bad. Surely, I can get through a few hours in your parents’ company.” I say as I open the door.
“It’s not our parents that are the problem; it’s our dad,” she adds as I’m pushing the seat forward so she can get out. The three of us head for the front door. Nikki is leading the way and I’m holding Nick’s hand as we all make it up the steps to the house. Nikki doesn’t bother knocking and walks right in.
The first thing I notice off to the side of the foyer is a large formal dining room with the largest table I’ve ever seen. Yes, I definitely dislike this house, but it hits me that it’s not the house. Something just isn’t sitting well with me. You know that feeling you get when you are in the wrong place and all your senses are screaming at you to leave…to get the fuck out? That’s the feeling I have at this very moment. The hairs on the nape of my neck and arms lift, prickling over my skin.
I push the feeling out of my mind as we make our way through the foyer and enter the kitchen. I’m sure it’s just my nervousness at meeting his parents for the first time.
“I thought I heard you guys come in the door,” a petite, older woman with dark hair says. She has a wide smile on her face as she embraces Nikki in a hug. She must be their mom. She has the same stunning blue eyes Nick and Nikki have. Nick releases my hand to give his mother a kiss on the cheek.
“Food smells great, Mom,” Nick tells her as he reaches for me. “This is my girlfriend, Shannon,” he says as I’m pulled in front of his mother. She smiles again and pulls me into a hug.
I feel awkward. Isn’t it customary to shake hands in these circumstances? I know she is only being friendly, so I return the embrace and force a smile when she releases me. I don’t care for the touchy-feely types.
“I’ve heard so much about you over the last two weeks. It’s great to finally meet you. Nicholas has never brought a girl home before,” she says eyeing her son in a loving, motherly way. “I’m Elaina Lewis, but please call me Elaina. I hate all the formal stuff.”
“Lewis?” I question looking at Nick. He didn’t say he had a stepdad. The way he spoke about the man, it gave the impression his parents were married to each other.
Nick shrugs his shoulder. “I’ll explain later, but I decided to go by my mother’s maiden name a long time ago. I had it legally changed when I turned twenty-one.”
“And you?” I ask turning to Nikki. She shrugs her shoulders in the same way as her brother, as if it’s no big deal.
“I’ve always done everything Nick does since I can remember, so when Nick did it, there was no questioning that I would do the same.” She walks to the refrigerator and takes out a bottle of water. Do they hate their dad that much that they don’t want to share the same name? Surely, the man can’t be that bad. Right?
Nick tightens his hold on my hand, causing me to look up at him only to find his face is set in an expression of anger. His nostrils begin to flare. He’s looking behind me, and as I turn to see what’s caused his change in mood, I hear a shrill voice. A voice I’m all too familiar with, a voice that I have never been able to forget. This can’t be happening. Please God, tell me this is a nightmare and I’m going to wake up any minute now.
“It’s about time−” He stops mid-sentence when his eyes met mine. He wasn’t expecting me, and I certainly wasn’t expecting to ever see this monster again. “Shannon.” It’s not a question, but a statement. He knows exactly who I am and what he did to me.
My heart starts to race at a rapid pace. The thumping echoes in my ears as each beat bounces off my chest bone. I take a step back on reflex, only to back into Nick’s hard chest. My body freezes. I’m rooted to the ground when it hits me. Lewis, his mother’s last name is Lewis. She is married to James Lewis, Judge James Lewis. Oh God, no. No…no…no…no…no. He’s Nick’s father. This isn’t a nightmare. This isn’t some sick joke someone is playing on me. This is real. Beads of sweat start to form across my forehead and on the back of my neck.