Chapter Twenty-One

Norah took her eyes off the road and glanced down at the strong fingers wrapped around hers. It had been eight days since she spoke the words that changed everything between her and Lance. She felt surprisingly calm about meeting his family, not because she didn’t understand the significance, but because Lance had spent hours showing her pictures and telling her about everyone. It was hard to be nervous when she felt as if she knew these people already.

Lance hadn’t even shut off the engine before the front door of his parents’ two-story house opened and his mother came running out. Norah was enveloped in a perfumed hug as soon as she stepped out of the car.

“You must be Norah. You’re just as lovely as Lance said.”

“I’m so happy to meet you, Mrs. Langston.”

“Call me Lily, dear.” She turned to hug Lance, who’d walked up behind them. “Your father went to run some errands. He’ll be back soon. Can I help carry anything?”

Lance opened the back door, removed the cat carrier and handed it to Norah. “No, thanks. I’ve got this. Take Norah and Oliver inside. It looks like it’s going to start raining any second.”

“I hope it holds off. We’re supposed to go caroling tonight with the church. You and Norah can come, too, if you like.”

“I’ve never gone caroling,” Norah said. “It sounds fun, though.”

“We do it for the shut-ins. They really enjoy it.”

Lance walked around and opened the trunk of the car. “I’m fine with whatever Norah wants to do.”

“I’d love to go. Do we get to dress up in old-fashioned costumes?”

Both Lance and his mother laughed. “I’m afraid not,” Lily told her. Come this way.” Norah followed Lily into the foyer and up the stairs. “How was your trip?”

“It went by so fast. Poor Lance had to listen to me ooh and aah over everything. I’ve never been to Georgia before.”

“I’m sure he enjoyed the company. He usually makes the trip alone.” Lily ushered her into a bedroom decorated in baby blue and yellow. “I hope you don’t mind sharing the bathroom with Lance.”

To her annoyance, Norah blushed. “That’s fine. Thank you so much for letting me bring Oliver.”

“It’s no problem at all. I’m the same way about my Jeeves.”

Lance stepped through the door, his arms loaded with suitcases and bags. “Dad just got home, Mom. He said he needs to see you in the kitchen.”

She walked to the door. “That usually means he had to make some ingredient substitutions. I’ll see you downstairs, Norah. Let Lance know if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Lan…I mean, Lily.” Norah waited until the sound of footsteps died away. “Your mother is so young looking. For a second, I thought she was one of your sisters.”

He smiled. “You’re not the only one. That happens to her a lot. One more trip should have everything. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Norah hadn’t done more than arrange her things on the bed when Lance returned.

“One of these is yours. The rest are mine. You can unpack later. Right now I want you to come with me.”

She followed him into a room at the end of the hall. The gray walls covered with posters depicting hockey players told her it was his. “It’s very close to how I imagined it.”

Lance dropped his bags on the floor. “You took the time to think about what my childhood bedroom would look like?”

“It’s all part of wanting to know everything about you.” She walked over to a set of shelves on the wall. Along with dozens of sports trophies, there were pictures of him playing hockey, riding waves at the beach, fishing off a pier, standing next to girls at school dances, and walking across the stage in a cap and gown. “You were cute even with acne, braces and glasses.”

He laughed as he came up behind her and put his arms around her waist. “Only someone in love could think that.”

She turned around in his arms. “I’m definitely someone in love.” That remark resulted in several minutes of pure bliss. When she got her breath back, she said, “Along with being good at hockey, you were very popular with the ladies.”

“Don’t let the pictures fool you. My mother made me join junior cotillion. Dances and formal dinners were mandatory. I didn’t like it at the time, but when I got to college, all those lessons in etiquette and how to behave in social situations came in handy.”

“I wish I’d had something like that. The first time I went to a fancy restaurant, I couldn’t figure out why they’d given me so much silverware to use for one meal.”

“That’s something I still don’t understand.”

“Where did you go whitewater rafting?”

“There’s a place here that takes you out on the Chattahoochee River. It’s too cold right now. We’ll do it next summer.”

“So you’re planning to bring me back?”

He reached for her again. “It’s you or no one.”

* * * * *

Lance hid a smile as he and Norah reentered the church van for the ride to the next house on the list. Norah had quickly become a favorite among the group of five couples, and it wasn’t just because of her youthful enthusiasm. He’d been just as surprised as everyone else to discover that she had a beautiful singing voice. 

As the van pulled away from the curb, he put his arm around her and pressed a kiss on her hair. “What other hidden talents do you have?”

“You’ll have to find that out for yourself.”

He leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “Something I’m very much looking forward to.” She tapped him on the nose. If they’d been alone, he would have caught her hand and kissed each one of her fingers. “Is this Christmas caroling experience living up to your expectations?”

“Very much so. I hope you’re not finding it boring.”

He laughed. “Boring? This is better than watching Ninja Warrior. At every stop, there’s a competition to see who’s going to stand on the other side of you. I’m thinking of auctioning off my spot to the highest bidder.”

“Be nice. These people are giving up an evening with their family to bring some Christmas cheer to someone else.”

“I’m sacrificing, too. I could have taken you to Cooper Creek Park to see how fast we could fog up the windows of my car.”

She smiled. “Is that where you took all your high school girlfriends?”

“All? I only had two. You might think the acne, braces and glasses were cute, but no one else did.”

“If only they could see you now. All those girls would regret not taking a chance on you.”

“We’ll never know. I haven’t been to any of my high school reunions.”

“I went to my five year. Nothing much had changed except that the boy I had a crush on in eleventh grade had transformed from a Greek god into something much less impressive.”

“That happens. We’re slowing down.” Lance looked out the window and started to laugh as the van came to a stop. “This is Summer’s house.”

“Your sister Summer?”

“Yep. This’ll be fun. Maybe she’ll come to the door in her pajamas.”

“You’re awful, Lance.”

To Lance’s disappointment, it was Garrett who answered the door. On cue, everyone started to sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Summer evidently heard the commotion and came to see what was going on. The look on her face was priceless. It was obvious his mother hadn’t mentioned this would be happening. After they finished, she made a beeline for Lance, talking a mile a minute as she gave him a throttling hug.

“What you doing here? Mom said you weren’t coming until tomorrow.”

“Between you and Mom, it’s more likely that you got the date wrong. If you haven’t guessed already, this is Norah. Try not to scare her to death.”

“I don’t scare people, Lance.” She turned to Norah. “He says the silliest things sometimes. What do you think of Columbus so far?”

“It’s very different from Charleston. I love the rolling hills and all the trees.”

“Have you seen April yet? Of course you haven’t. I forgot they’re visiting Barry’s grandparents today. Leah and Stratton will be here tomorrow. You won’t get to meet Violet this trip. She and her husband Jackson left for Nashville yesterday. What’s it like working for Lance? Is he very bossy?”

Norah smiled. “Not at all. He’s very considerate.”

Summer shot a teasing glance in his direction. “I guess he’s mellowing in his old age.”

When his brother-in-law joined the group, Lance took the opportunity for a little payback. “Norah, this is Summer’s better half, Garrett.”

Garrett laughed. “You must be feeling brave, Lance.” He held out his hand to Norah. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“I hate to break up the party,” Lance said, “but we’ve got more carols to sing. We’ll see you guys tomorrow.” They said their goodbyes and started walking to the van. “Summer is the social butterfly of the family. She can outtalk everyone.”

“She’s bright and sunny like the season after which she’s named.”

“Remember when I told you about the woman I loved who married someone else? Holly was Summer’s best friend. That’s how I met her. She lives in St. Marys now.”

There was a few seconds of silence and then, “Did you see her at Thanksgiving?”

“Yes. What was normally a very uncomfortable experience wasn’t that bad at all. Falling in love with you…it was…it was important. It was necessary for me to feel like this. Sometimes I’m not always sure about the important things, but somehow feeling this way again with you, I know it’s right. I know that I don’t have to feel the pressure or the pain from before. Everything with you feels new; it’s like I’m getting a second chance at first love.”

“We’re both getting a second chance at love.”

“A chance I don’t intend to waste.”