All week I’ve been a nervous wreck, waiting for Wednesday, when Shane’s parents are due to arrive at O’Hare. Shane drives us to the airport in the Escalade to pick up his parents and their luggage. Then we’ll drive them to Shane’s house in Kenilworth, which is where they reside. Ellie and George will certainly be happy to have some of the family in residence at the big house again. Especially Ellie. She’s not happy if she doesn’t have someone to dote on. And from what Shane tells me, George and Calum have been known to get into trouble a time or two.

I’ve talked to Shane’s parents a hundred times over live video chats. I know what they look like, I know the sounds of their voices. I know that Shane’s father, Calum, is a steady, even-tempered man with a wonderful sense of humor who is madly in love with his wife of thirty-seven years. I know that Bridget is a gentle, kind-hearted, nurturing woman who loves her family dearly. They seem like wonderful people, and yet I’m a nervous wreck to meet them in person.

What if they find me lacking as a future daughter-in-law? What if they consider me a poor match for their eldest son? What will they think when they learn I’m pregnant?

We’re in the airport lobby waiting for the new arrivals from LaGuardia to disembark from their flight, and I’m fidgeting nervously.

Shane takes pity on me and pulls me to his side, wrapping his arm around me. “Relax,” he says, kissing the top of my head.

“That’s easy for you to say.”

He laughs. “I happen to know my parents already adore you. You’re making an honest man out of their first-born, paving the way for grandchildren, so trust me, they love you. And when they find out you’re pregnant, well… then, I imagine you can do no wrong.”

“They’ve never even met me, at least not in person.”

“Hey, princess!”

I look across the lounge to see Lia and Jonah approaching, along with Jake and Jamie and Gus. Even though Jonah is well camouflaged behind a pair of dark aviator sunglasses and a baseball hat, heads nevertheless start turning in his direction. He’s got that celebrity-in-disguise vibe all over him.

A few moments later, Liam and Sophie arrive. Now the entire McIntyre clan – except for their sister Hannah, who’s flying in from Denver Friday for the wedding – is here to greet Calum and Bridget.

The gate opens and a stream of weary passengers shuffles down the ramp to the lounge. We stand clustered together, waiting for a glimpse of Shane’s parents. Finally, they appear toward the end of the line, walking hand-in-hand, both of them with big smiles on their faces despite the fact they both look exhausted.

I have to catch my breath when I see Shane’s father in the flesh. I always knew there was a great resemblance between them, but seeing Calum McIntyre in person is a bit of a shock. He looks just like Shane – only a couple of decades older. Or rather, Shane looks just like his dad. They have the same short, brown hair and trim beards. The same handsome face, straight nose, and welcoming smile. The only difference is that Calum has brown eyes, whereas Shane has his mother’s bright blue eyes. And Calum’s face is lined with a few more wrinkles than his son’s, as befitting his age.

Bridget is petite, like Lia, with bright blue eyes and wavy, strawberry-blond hair and freckles. She’s beaming with excitement as they approach.

When they reach us, Bridget drops her husband’s hand and opens her arms to me, pulling me close for a hug. “My darling girl,” she whispers to me. “I’m so happy to meet you finally. You’re even more lovely in person.”

I laugh nervously and squeeze her back, feeling instantly comforted by her warm welcome. “Hello, Mrs. McIntyre. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

“Call me Bridget, darling,” she says. “We’re family.”

Calum pulls me away from his wife’s embrace and gives me a big bear hug, lifting me off my feet. “Hello there, young lady,” he says, squeezing me.

“Careful, Dad,” Shane says, gently extricating me from his father’s grasp.

“Give me a break, son,” Calum says, patting Shane’s shoulder. “I’ve been waiting months to hug my first daughter-in-law.”

Nevertheless, Calum puts me down gingerly, as if he’s afraid I’ll snap in two. Then there’s lots of hugging and a few tears as everyone welcomes Calum and Bridget home.

“And who do we have here?” Bridget says, grinning up at Jonah, who’s practically plastered to Lia’s side. “Who’s this handsome fellow?”

“Oh, him?” Lia says, waving offhandedly. “That’s just Jonah, my boyfriend. Don’t mind him, or the hordes of paparazzi who tend to stalk him.”

“Hello, Mrs. McIntyre, Mr. McIntyre,” Jonah says, shaking their hands.

Speaking of photographers, there’s one in the lobby right now, keeping his distance, nonchalantly snapping pics of Jonah when no one’s watching. The photographers have learned the hard way to have a healthy respect for Lia. She’s chased more than a few of them off, and one photographer’s camera ended up in the Chicago River as a result of getting just a little too close.

“Just ignore them,” Lia says. “They come with the territory.” She consults her phone as it pings with a notification. “Damn it, we’re on Instagram already.”

* * *

We hang out in the arrival lobby for nearly an hour, everyone chatting and catching up. Shane’s parents regale us with a few tales of their year spent exploring the Italian countryside.

Lia blushes six shades of pink when her mom fawns over Jonah. Calum eyes Jonah from head to toe, taking in his manbun, his lobe piercings and his heavy sleeves of black tribal tattoos. “I hear you’re some kind of rock-n-roll celebrity. Is that right, son?”

Lia rolls her eyes. “Please, Dad, don’t feed his ego.”

Jonah pulls Lia close, then answers Calum. “I guess that depends on who you ask, sir. These days I like to think of myself as a singer-songwriter.”

“Is there good money in that?” Calum says.

“Dad!” Lia says.

Jonah nods. “Yes, sir, there is.”

Calum purses his lips, then nods. “Okay then. Pleased to meet you, son.”

As the crowd starts growing, it’s time for us to leave. The guys collect Calum and Bridget’s luggage from the carousel and load it into the Escalade. Shane and his dad sit in the front seat, and Bridget and I sit in the backseat so we can chat on the way to Kenilworth.

When we arrive at the estate, it’s dark already, but the house is lit up like a Christmas tree. Ellie and George, along with several of the on-site security staff, are on the front porch, awaiting our arrival.

Ellie and Bridget hug like long-lost besties, and George and the security staff collect the luggage and carry it up to Shane’s parents’ suite.

We all reconvene in the great room downstairs, at the seating area in front of the hearth, where a healthy fire is blazing. Beyond the wall of windows, Lake Michigan is dark and liquid for as far as the eye can see. Lights from cruise ships and yachts flicker on the water’s surface like fireflies.

While Shane and Calum pour whiskey for themselves and for George at the bar, Bridget invites me to sit with her on one of the sofas. Ellie brings out a tray with tea, cream and sugar, and cups for Bridget and me, and sets it on the coffee table in front of us.

“Beth and I have an announcement to make,” Shane says, lifting his tumbler. He glances at me with a reassuring smile, then turns to his parents. “You two are going to become grandparents in about six-and-a-half months. Beth and I are expecting, and the baby’s due early summer.”

Bridget sets down her cup of tea and bursts into tears.

Calum sits beside his wife and draws her into his arms, rubbing her back. “Don’t mind her,” he says to us. “She’s just excited. And jet lagged.”

Bridget wipes her cheeks, smiling through her tears. “It’s about time, Shane,” she chides. “I’ve been waiting for grandchildren for years.”