The next day, Myles was heading to his parent’s house, contemplating how he would tell his family about Kayla. He wasn’t worried about their reaction to her being black he was more concerned about how they would react to how he felt about her in such a short time. He intended to tell them all about Kayla as well as tell them that he planned to marry her one day.
His parents had been pressing him and Monica to settle down and give them grandbabies for years. He’d dodged all the suggestions and hints in the past, so this would likely cause them to go into shock. But he knew Kayla was the “one” and the more time they spent together, he knew that it would be just a matter of time.
Pulling into the driveway of their house, he saw both Monica and Grandpa Harte’s cars. “Good, the gang’s all here. I can tell everybody at the same time.” He got out of the car and walked up to the door. Once he got to the door, he let himself into the house knowing his parents would be expecting him.
The first person he ran into was his Grandpa who hugged him while giving him a big smile. “Gramps, why are you looking like the cat who ate the canary? What are you up to?” he asked ending the embrace.
Laughing, Grandpa Feelgood said, “Well, I can’t believe as much as you were sniffing around Ms. Kayla while on vacation, you neglected to tell your folks about her. Imagine my surprise when I brought up the subject of our vacation. I don’t think your momma is happy to be blindsided, your bout to step into some manure in that dining room.”
Shaking his head, he had no time for a rebuttal as he heard his dad’s voice from the dining room.
“Myles, is that you? Come on in here. Dinner is ready, and so are we. It seems as if you have some things to share with us.”
“Damn Gramps, a little more of a warning would have been nice,” he grumbled while heading to the dining room. His grandfather was muffling his laughter behind him. He found his mother, father, and sister staring at him as he walked into the dining room. Monica wore a sneaky grin on her face, his mother had her perfected guilt look, and his father tried to display his stern face.
Sitting in the chair furthest from his parents but still close to his sister, he decided to divert the missile aimed at him. “So, should we pray over this great looking spread? Mom, you really have outdone yourself. Monica, I want to hear all about your studies, when did you get back?”
“This boy done lost his mind, Keith. I know he isn’t trying to ignore what you said and start informing us of what’s going on here,” his mom said with attitude.
“Come on Mom, do you want to discuss this first or do you want to eat?” Myles asked looking at his mom.
“Oh no, you’ve kept us waiting long enough, out with it,” she said deadpan.
Feeling the mounting tension, he decided to tell them what happened on vacation and where he was currently, “Well, I’ll start by saying that you guys might want to start preparing for a wedding in the near future. I met the woman who will be my wife, mother of my children, and your future in law. Ironically, our meeting was a disaster thanks to Gramps and his theatrics, but I’m learning that sometimes fate has a way of slapping you when you least expect it. Her name is Kayla Banks, and she’s a thirty-two-year-old entrepreneur of her own consulting company. She lives in Powell, Ohio. I can’t wait for you guys to meet her,” he finished sitting back in his seat with a huge smile on his face as if he didn’t just drop multiple bombs on them.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” his dad said clearly shocked by Myles’ words. “This boy done went and fell in love. I didn’t think he would stay still long enough to pursue a relationship, let alone be talking about something long-term. Wow!”
“Uh, big brother did you really say for us to prepare for a wedding? I think I’m just as shocked as Daddy. Momma, did you hear your son?” Monica questioned looking from Myles to her mother.
Jumping up from the table and running to squeeze his neck in a tight chokehold his mom cried, “Oh, my goodness, oh my goodness! My baby done found his soulmate. I never thought it was possible. I thought he would be alone forever. I thought he would never find someone he wanted to marry. Oh, my goodness!” she exclaimed with tears streaming down her face.
Laughing hysterically, Grandpa Feelgood interjected, “Uh, I think he ain’t gone make it if you hug him any tighter Catherine. He looks to be turning blue from where I’m sitting, and you keep squeezing. Let the boy up for air, and I’m hungry can we eat while we discuss this?”
Letting him go, his mother headed back to her seat and started a long drawn out prayer of thanksgiving.
Shaking his head all Myles could think was… I sure hope Kayla is ready for meet the family night.
Meanwhile, Kayla was sitting down to dinner to begin her own conversation about the new man in her life. She had time to gather her words since her parents were unaware of the events on the cruise or what had taken place then to now. But unfortunately for her, she forgot to disguise her facial expressions.
She’d also forgotten that her dad was well versed in the language of ‘Kayla,’ so he initiated the conversation with her, “Baby girl, I have watched you go through twenty different conversations with yourself. What do you need to tell us? And whatever you do, please tell me that I’m not going to be a grandfather before I have even given you away.”
“Daddy!” she whined.
“Oh Lord, she’s whining, it must really be something big. What’s going on Kay?” her mother asked freezing her in her seat with an icy look.
“Mommy, Daddy, I met someone when me and the girls took our vacation cruise this year. Um, he’s a doctor, an orthopedic surgeon. And uh, he’s white,” she said looking down into her lap. She knew that her parents didn’t have a problem with race, but she wasn’t sure how they would feel about their daughter dating outside their race. Myles wasn’t her first interracial relationship, but he was the first one she was discussing with them. She was in love with him, and it felt different than her relationship with Rick. And she’d only informed them of her dating status at the time and his name that was all. But this relationship with Myles could lead to forever, so they needed to be aware of more than just his name.
“So, I’m guessing this relationship is getting serious because you never tell us much about your boyfriends,” her mother said looking at her with a knowing smirk.
“Now, Gina don’t you stir up anything and be marrying her off just yet. I haven’t met this joker yet. And Baby Girl, I could care less about him being white, but he better come correct, or I’ll bust his ass,” her dad said.
“Daddy, Myles is awesome and treats me just how you’d want someone to treat your baby girl. Trust me you’re going to love him just like I—uh, Mommy what’s for dinner?” Kayla quickly changed the subject before she let her feelings for Myles slip out.
“Kayla Michelle, don’t think I didn’t hear your near slip of the tongue we need to have a sidebar conversation without your father present. Now let’s move on with dinner, I made your favorite,” her mother said winking at her.
“Lasagna? You know I love lasagna, you rock Mommy,” Kayla said shimming in her seat.
“Alright, alright baby girl, let’s get started. Bow your heads and let’s thank God for this meal and time spent with the people we love,” her dad said as he led them in prayer.
After the prayer, Kayla wondered just what her father would say when he met Myles and how he would treat him. Goodness, I hope Myles is ready for meet the family night.