“I can’t wait to see you again, baby,” she said. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you guys, too. I guess I’ll see you next week.”

I was still sitting on the sofa in shock when Gemma came home. “I hate dinner meetings,” she said as she hung up her coat and scarf. Then she turned and saw me. “What’s wrong?”

“My parents are coming for Thanksgiving.”

“Then why do you look like they just told you your dog died?”

I shook my head to clear it. Of course, I couldn’t explain the full reasoning to Gemma, so she wouldn’t be able to understand my worry. “I’m mostly surprised. They spent so much time telling me how awful it would be here that I can’t believe they’re willing to come here of their own accord. And it’s bad timing. I’ve got a huge project at work, and I can’t take time off to show them around.”

“I’ve got some time off next week. I can play tour guide at least one day.”

“Really?” Gemma would make a great tour guide, and in spite of the fact that she was unknowingly dating a guy who’d spent decades under a frog enchantment, her world was a lot more normal than mine was.

“Sure. It’ll be fun. I love your parents.” She grinned suddenly. “I don’t suppose your mom is planning to make Thanksgiving dinner, is she?”

“She’s already got it planned. She’ll die when she sees the kitchen, but she wants the big family gathering.”

“Don’t get me wrong, your Thanksgiving dinner last year was wonderful, but I still remember that year I came home with you from college for Thanksgiving. Your mom is an amazing cook.”

“And she’ll be delighted to feed you.”

Marcia then came through the door. The starry look in her eyes hinted that her lateness had little to do with a meeting and everything to do with her boyfriend, Jeff, who also had some frogginess in his past. Only he wasn’t ever really a frog. He just thought he was for a while.

“Guess who’s going to be here for Thanksgiving?” Gemma asked her before she even had her coat off.

“Who?”

“Katie’s parents.”

Marcia’s eyes lit up. “Is Mrs. Chandler cooking Thanksgiving dinner?”

“She plans to,” I said. It said something about my mom’s cooking that neither roommate had yet asked where my parents were planning to stay. For some of my mom’s pumpkin pie, I imagined either one of them might volunteer to sleep in the bathtub. Before they had to offer, I said, “I’ll need to make hotel reservations for them. Then I need to see if I can manage any time off. Maybe I can work half days.”

“It’s a holiday week. Nobody will get any real work done, anyway,” Marcia said. “Do you think she’ll make that sweet potato stuff with the little marshmallows?”

I was still so preoccupied by the impending parental visit that my heart almost forgot to flutter when I saw Owen waiting in front of my building the next morning. He greeted me with a warm smile, then frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Wrong? Oh, it’s nothing. I’ve just been thinking.”

He kept his usual slight distance as he walked alongside me. “About what?”

“My parents told me last night that they’re planning to come here for Thanksgiving.”

“That’s great.” Then he hesitated and added, “Isn’t it?”

“Yeah. But I’m really busy right now, what with that investigation and all, and I don’t know that I can take any extra time off. According to company policy, I’m not even eligible for vacation time yet. But my folks really shouldn’t be left on their own in this city, trust me. I’m not sure who’d be in more danger, them or the rest of the city.”

“Your boss probably doesn’t even know we have a vacation policy,” he said with a wry grin. “I’m sure he can be flexible with you. But other than the work issue, you’re glad to see your family, aren’t you?” He sounded almost concerned.

“Yeah, I’m glad. I’m mostly worried about what they think of the city and my life. They were so worried before I moved here. Part of me is afraid this whole trip is their excuse to drag me back home. It would be a lot easier if I went to visit them.”

“Or they could see what you see in the city. They might be proud of you for surviving here, and seeing the reality instead of their fears may make them feel better about you living here.”