I haven’t been home in six months. Last time I was in Misty Cove was only for a weekend. It’s not because I consider myself to now be better than my small town, as some residents think. I left because I needed the time to build my new life in New York, to focus on my job.

When I left Misty Cove to go to New York, I was a bit of a mess. My four-year relationship with Sam, the mayor’s son, had ended after he cheated on me. Even though I was devastated, I took it as a sign to get out and pursue goals bigger than myself. I’ve always wanted to be more than my small town allowed me to be.

Now I’m back with a new man on my arm and an engagement ring sparkling on my finger. Our arrival in one of Winston’s private planes caused a bit of a stir. I wish we had used a different kind of transportation, but Winston insisted on the plane.

What bothers me most, though, is the fact he wants us to stay at a hotel instead of my parents’ home. I’ve given up trying to talk him out of it. To be honest, I can’t imagine him—a man with a bedroom more than double my apartment—crammed up inside my tiny childhood room. And it felt rude to let him stay alone at a hotel when he’s my guest.

On the way to the hotel, I stare out the window at the streets of the town I grew up in, the town that gave me my first education, where I got my first job, working at the diner opposite my house, where I discovered what falling in love with a boy felt like, but also how it felt to lose love.

Secretly, I do miss it a bit. I miss that everyone feels like family here. I miss that you can visit a neighbor without an appointment. I miss that when there’s a tragedy, everyone offers a helping hand, and when there’s a celebration, the whole town brings their joy to your home.

We drive by the cupcake shop that used to make my mouth water. I turn to Winston with an excited smile. Before I can give him a mini tour, proud to show him my home, I stop. He’s not showing any interest at all as he taps away at his phone.

“You promised not to work.”

“I promised not to take any meetings.” He briefly looks up before returning his attention to the small screen. “Emails have to be answered. One unanswered email and the business could lose a lot of money.” He gives me an apologetic look. “You understand, don’t you?”

I nod even though panic is rioting through me as I fast forward to the future. Will it always be this way? Will our life and marriage be second best to him? He can’t even stay in Misty Cove for a few days. He already wants us to return to New York tomorrow and we’ve barely arrived. What he doesn’t know yet is that I plan on staying back a few more days. My family will not understand if I greet them and then head back out the door. It would be rude. It’s not even as if I have much to do back in New York anyway.

I have no job to go to in the mornings. A few days of being at home, rearranging my apartment and waiting for Winston to finish work so we can have dinner together is boring for me and there’s only so much day time TV a person can watch. I’ve never been the kind of girl who can sit on the couch for a long time doing nothing. The only good thing about having time on my hands is the opportunity to read more. Yesterday I started and finished an entire book. It’s been a while since I did something like that.

“What time will your family be arriving for dinner?” he asks, still tapping away.

“Seven. But Heather is having the night shift. She can only meet us for breakfast tomorrow morning.”

“Did you say she’s a nurse?”

“Yes. She works some tough hours.”

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

I lean into him and close my eyes. “I know. I can’t wait for you to meet my family.”

“Parents who raised a woman like you must be amazing.” He kisses the side of my head.

They truly are. I suddenly feel guilty that I didn’t visit Mom and Dad often enough. They were the ones who came to visit me two months ago and they looked out of place in the big city.

As the car glides down the streets of Misty Cove, making the pastel-colored cottages blur, I give up on trying to give Winston a tour. When we drive past the Trinity Chapel and Rose’s Beauty Parlor, I inhale a large helping of the salty ocean air to calm my nerves. He’s clearly not interested. He came here because he had to.

I let out a breath when we get to the Kashmir Hotel, a new building that had not been there when I’d left, with lots of glass, marble, and bright chandeliers in the lobby. It has to be the most luxurious hotel in town. Winston has reserved the honeymoon suite for us and we’re taken there as soon as we step into the hotel. Inside the glass elevator, I feel fake, as though I’m pretending to be better than everyone else I grew up with. Good thing I haven’t bumped into anyone I know yet, which is not surprising considering most of the people I grew up with would not be able to afford to stay here.

The room is a dream of whites, creams, and touches of gold, exactly Winston’s clean style.

Once the butler takes our bags and starts unpacking them, Winston comes to wrap his arms around me. “I’m glad to be here with you. You have a lovely town.”

“You haven’t seen much of it.” I swallow my disappointment. “You were too busy on your phone.” I hate that I sound like a nagging girlfriend, so I soften the blow. “But I knew what I was getting into. You are a busy man.”

“I’m glad you understand.” He kisses the tip of my nose and pulls back. “What’s your home address?”

“New York or here?” I call over my shoulder as I step into the white marble bathroom.

“Where your parents stay.”

“Why?”

“I think it’s normal for me to want to know the address of my future parents-in-law, don’t you think?”

“Yes, that’s true. They are your future parents.” I give him the address, which he doesn’t even write down because of his crazy good memory.

I’m still shocked that I’ll be marrying one of the most eligible bachelors in America. He’s off the shelf now. And he’s all mine.

Mom and Dad walk into the Kashmir Hotel restaurant wearing smart clothes. They must really want to impress Winston. Dad only wears a suit on Sundays.

Mom is clad in a champagne-colored, knee-length, velvet dress with a black silk ribbon around the waist. Her black hair—identical to mine—that’s usually in one braid is loose, the soft waves swept to one side of her neck.

I’m momentarily taken aback. All my life she had always gone for shapeless dresses that didn’t flatter her figure, claiming they were comfortable.

Both their clothes look rather expensive.

“My baby,” Mom says, planting a kiss on my lips and pulling me into a tight hug that smells of her flowery perfume.

“Mom,” I murmur before I pull away. “Your price tag is showing.” As discreetly as I can, I pull it from the back of her dress. A quick glance at the price confirms the high cost. There’s no way she’d spend several hundred dollars on a dress. And she would never buy a designer dress.

I don’t ask questions as I allow Dad to hug me. He’s scrubbed up really good, but my nose still catches the faint whiff of motor oil.

“It’s been way too long,” he says.

“I know, Dad. I’m sorry.” I give him a kiss on the cheek.

He pulls away from me and looks at Winston. “I don’t think we need to be introduced,” he says to him. “I’ve seen you all over the papers in the past few days.”

Winston laughs. “It’s a pleasure to meet you in person, Mr. Mcnally.”

“Don’t call me that. We are about to become a family.” Dad literally throws himself into Winston’s arms and I blush with embarrassment. “Call me Dad. Jenna told me you don’t have a dad of your own.”

As soon as Winston announced our engagement at a press conference, I called my parents to tell them. I was a little too late because they already knew about it. I have no idea how, but Mom said it was already in the papers. Of course they were offended that I didn’t tell them first, and Dad didn’t sound like he approved of Winston. The first thing he asked me was his age. As soon as I told him, he gave the phone back to Mom, who simply said she was happy for me and ended our conversation soon after.

That’s why I’m quite surprised at the warmth of the welcome they’re giving Winston right now.

Mom also gives him a hug followed by a kiss on the cheek. To my horror she cups his face with both hands. “I’m so proud that you’re marrying my daughter.”

“Our daughter,” Dad cuts in.

“I’m a lucky man to have your daughter in my life.” Winston puts an arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. Luckily, he doesn’t seem to mind the exaggerated welcome.

Instead of dwelling on the embarrassing moment, I wonder where my parents got the money to buy the expensive clothes. I keep looking from Mom to Dad, and they have really gone all out. I hope to God they didn’t use their savings to buy expensive clothes in order to impress Winston. I knew they would feel out of place in such an expensive hotel, but they didn’t have to go broke for his sake.

“Winston,” Dad says after we order our meals. Actually, it’s Winston who orders the meals. “As the father of the bride, I’m rather disappointed that you did not come to ask for our daughter’s hand in marriage.”

“Daddy.” I glance at Winston, my cheeks heating up. “I’m sorry.”

“No need to.” Winston drinks his water and looks back at my father. “Your father is right. I should’ve come. And I apologize profusely that I did not do that...Dad.”

During the meal, the two men in my life really hit it off. Dad even tells him about his failing car repair business, while my mom looks at Winston in complete awe.

“It doesn’t have to be the end, you know,” Winston cuts into his grilled hake. “A dying business can always be revived.”

“No, I think it’s a sign that I should put an end to it. I’m thinking I should do something new. I’ve always wanted to start my own car wash business. It’s another childhood dream of mine.”

“Why don’t you make it come true?”

My father shrugs. Even though he’s not responding, I know his answer. He doesn’t have the funds.

“Is it the money?”

I want to die when Winston asks the question. I don’t want him to make my father uncomfortable.

My father doesn’t meet his eye as he clears his throat. “Not only about the money.” I know it’s a lie. Everyone at the table knows it’s a lie.

“What if the money appeared?” Winston asks. “Would you make your dream come true?”

“You mean—”

“I mean, what if someone invested in your business? Your future son-in-law maybe?”

My father wipes his mouth, his face flushed. “No, I couldn’t accept that.”

“Winston, you don’t have to do that,” I add quickly.

“I know I don’t.” He reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “But it would give me so much joy to see your father’s childhood dream come true. I really don’t mind.”

I let it go because I feel terrible for standing in my father’s way.

Instead, I eat in silence and after dessert, I somehow manage to lure Mom to the ladies’ room.

“You look amazing, Mom.” I take a moment to really appreciate how beautiful and glossy her hair looks. “How were you able to afford the expensive clothes? I hope you didn’t—”

Mom leans into me. “We were told not to say anything to you.”

“By whom?” I hold my breath as I wait for the answer.

“This afternoon, a car arrived at the house and a woman brought beautiful clothes. She asked us to choose whatever we wanted.”

The answer hits me like a bolt of lightning. “Don’t say they came from Winston.”

She clutches my arm. “Sweetheart, please don’t tell him. The woman told us the clothes came from your fiancé. She asked us to keep it a secret.”

Now I understand why Winston wanted my address. He wanted to surprise my parents. As sweet as the gesture is, it makes me feel uneasy. But how can I deny Mom the joy that’s reflected on her face right now? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen her this excited.

“He’s such a lovely man. You did well, my love.”

“I’m not marrying him for money, Mom.”

“I know you’re not. I didn’t raise you and your sister that way.” She pauses. “I could see that both of you love each other.”

“Didn’t Daddy mind the age gap?”

“He did at first, but I reminded him that your happiness comes first. You are happy, aren’t you?”

I hesitate only for a split-second before smiling. “I am, Mom. Yes, I am.”

“Then that’s all that matters. Everything else is the cherry on top.” She touches my cheek and tells me we have to return to the table because it’s bad manners to be away for so long.

When we make it back, arrangements have already been made to fund my father’s business. My father is sitting like he’s won the lottery and Winston looks proud of himself.

Just when I think I cannot take any more surprises, Winston announces to my parents that he reserved a room for them in the hotel and they can spend the night. I’m about to object, but Mom jumps into his arms. I almost die with embarrassment and guilt.

The truth is, they deserve to be spoiled. But I hate that I’m not the one who’s providing them these gifts. And I cannot stop feeling uneasy about the whole thing.