Chapter 16
Jonas
I pulled into the driveway, making sure to leave enough room for Arthur to park his car beside me. When I let out a heavy sigh, Eddie patted my leg reassuringly.
“They’re going to love him,” he said.
“You’ve been saying that all week.”
“It’s the truth. And I talked to Leo at volunteering. He’s going to be on his best behavior.”
I snorted. “What did you offer him?”
“Twenty bucks.”
I shook my head. “You’re something else.”
“I want this to go well." His smile was sweet, almost shy when he looked me in the eyes. “Like I said, I’ve never seen you as happy as you are with Arthur."
“I sure don’t want to go back to dumping everyone by the third date.”
He scrunched his nose and laughed. “Did anyone make it to the third date?”
“Point taken. Come on, they’re getting out of the car. Let’s get this over with.”
“It’s going to be fine,” he said. “It’s just Wednesday dinner.”
As we waited for Arthur and Leo to join us, and I saw the look on Leo’s face when he took in the ostentatious mini-mansion my parents called home, I wondered if it really was going to be fine.
But then Arthur took my hand and squeezed it. He leaned in, kissing me on the cheek and whispering in my ear. “We’ve got this.”
And just like that, I knew whatever happened at dinner, we would be just fine.
My mom answered the door before we knocked, the smile plastered on her face, a glass of wine in her hand. “There’s my favorite grandson,” she exclaimed.
“I’m your only grandson,” Eddie said, then motioned to Leo with his head. “This is Leo.”
My mom took a quick swallow of her wine, then smiled at Leo. “Nice to meet you finally,” she said.
I shook my head and rolled my eyes at her. “Something smells good,” I said, to break the tension and redirect her. “Can we help with anything?”
She blinked, then smiled. “No,” she said. “I’m just happy you’re all here.”
Mom stepped to the side and let us in, and as I walked by her, I took her glass and gave her my sweetest smile. “I was thinking that tonight, we could all stand a bit of sparkling cider.”
I didn’t wait for her answer, just walked into the kitchen and dumped the last bit of her wine down the drain. My father was pulling a chilled bottle out of the fridge when he saw me, and in one smooth move, turned and put it back in the fridge as elegantly as if he were dancing.
“We’re sticking with the sparkling cider,” I said. “Nice fancy bottle without the drama.”
He laughed. “Charlotte isn’t going to like that. She’s still in a tizzy about the CBD shop.”
“His shop is open on Thursdays,” I said with a wink.
“Maybe she should pay him a visit,” my dad said with a chuckle.
At least one person in my family is on my side, I thought, hugging my dad warmly, then helping him carry the dark green bottles of sparkling cider and grape juice out to the table. Charlotte took one look and rolled her eyes, hand going possessively around the base of the glass she’d already poured herself. I ignored her, sitting down between Arthur and Leo.
Eddie sat down on the other side of Leo, and I realized I was holding my breath, waiting for the sullen teen to say something crass. When he opened his mouth, I almost stopped him, but then I saw Eddie nod his encouragement. My boy has something up his sleeve, I thought.
Leo was almost timid when he finally spoke, the rolls in the basket in front of him. “Should we say grace before we eat?”
My mother’s eyebrow shot up in shock and appreciation, and my father cracked a smile and stepped right in. “Of course, son. What a great idea. Is it all right if I lead the prayer?”
Leo nodded, and I saw he and Eddie give each other a discreet high-five under the table. My Eddie knew what his grandparents liked, and he’d managed to make miles of progress for Leo with one well-placed question.
I bowed my head and waited until my dad had finished, murmuring “amen” at the appropriate time, then handing the lasagna tray to my father so he could serve my mother, as he had for as long as I could remember. When he set it down, Leo started to reach out, but Eddie stopped him. They waited until the adults had filled their plates, then Eddie handed Leo the tray before taking his own piece.
Arthur patted my leg under the table, and I knew he’d seen them, too. Eddie was a natural leader, and Leo was doing his best to earn twenty bucks. It wasn’t my ideal, but it would work for this first dinner with my parents.
“So, Arthur. I hear you grow pot,” Charlotte said, her wine glass already drained before her first bite.
I leaned forward, about to shut my sister down, when Arthur patted my leg again and chuckled.
“I’m sure it seems that way, but medical cannabis products are only part of what I do. I carry a wide array of products to help people live better and reduce their stress. Everything from yoga mats to essential oils and herbal teas.”
“Why not sell those things without the drugs?” Charlotte pressed.
“CBD is not what makes you high,” Arthur said, his voice warm and completely non-confrontational.
He patiently laid out all the facts, answering Charlotte’s questions and even a few from my mother, never letting them ruffle his feathers. I listened in awe, only half paying attention to the boys beside me, who were having their own side conversation and working on their second helping of dinner.
When he was done, Charlotte smiled, and I knew it was coming before the snark left her lips. “Have you thought about getting a real job? You know, a respectable job, like Jonas. You can’t really sell herbs for a living forever, can you?”
“My dad owns a business, lady,” Leo said, giving Charlotte a withering look.
Charlotte’s cheeks turned pink, and she cleared her throat, then looked down at the table. “What I meant was—”
“You meant that you think my dad is a loser,” Leo said. He jumped, then glared at Eddie. “Don’t kick me. Your aunt is a snob. She thinks she’s better than my dad, and that’s crap.”
“She doesn’t think that,” Eddie countered. “She’s just over-protective of her little brother.”
“Boys,” I warned.
To my surprised, both Eddie and Leo hushed immediately, but my mother was already simpering to herself, as if I couldn’t hear her judgmental little hmmm under her breath.
We ate the rest of our meal in silence, and when the last plate was clean, I went to stand up to clear the table, but my dad held up his hand. Then he motioned to my mother and Charlotte and smiled. “The guys are our guests tonight. Let’s take care of this, and we’ll have dessert in the family room.”
They left, grabbing plates as they went, leaving the four of us at the table alone. Eddie nudged Leo and tilted his head toward the hallway. “Wanna see my room?”
“You have a room here, too?”
Eddie shrugged. “Why not? They have like fifty rooms, and only Charlotte and Dad.”
“It’s not fifty, Eddie,” I said, then turned to Arthur. “There are eight rooms.”
“Eight or fifty, it doesn’t matter,” Arthur said as the boys raced down the hall and out of the dining room.
I looked around to make sure we were still alone, then leaned close and kept my voice low. “You don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not just to make them happy.”
He pulled back, surprised. “I’m not pretending to be anyone.”
“This isn’t you. You’re funny, and a little bit of a hippie. You’re not all science facts, and peer-reviewed studies, and calm, concise arguments. You’re fiery and passionate.”
When I leaned in for a kiss, he put his hands on my shoulders to stop me. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I can be both. Come on, Jonas. This is what I do. You think your sister is the first person to ask me those exact questions?”
“You just sound so smooth and educated.”
“I sound smooth and educated because I am. I put a lot of research into everything I sell. People trust me. Yes, I use CBD from time to time when I need it. But I’m not the loser you seem to think I am.”
“I’m sorry.” I sighed. “I mean that. I just meant that I don’t want you to think you always have to be on point when you’re around my family.”
“I figured you wanted me to put my best foot forward,” Arthur said, shaking his head. “I’m not sure what you want from me.”
“I want you to be happy, and I don’t want you to feel like you have to hold back.” I smiled. “My sister is used to me. If you think she’s being a jerk, call her on it. You’ll earn her love a lot quicker than you think.”
“Her love? Jonas, how serious is this?”
I thought about it for no more than a split second. “Very serious. I know we had a bit of a setback when I found out about Leo, but you make me happy."
I kissed him quickly, then smiled and shrugged. “Life isn’t always smooth sailing, and if I have to go through hard times, I want to do it with you by my side.”
“You mean that?” he asked, a little breathless, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I do.”
He kissed me and I chuckled, kissing him again when he pulled away. Then I heard someone clear their throat behind us, and turned to see my sister standing there, one hip to the side, a pie in each hand and a big smile on her face.
“I guess you’ve already had dessert,” she teased. “Oh well, more pie for me.”
And just like that, Arthur became part of our family, and I fell a little deeper in love.