Chapter Ten
I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to decide if I looked okay. The form-fitted jeans went well with the loose turquoise blouse I had picked out. My hair braided into a crown around my head gave me a feminine look. Maybe if I wore some jewelry the outfit would come together better. But I didn't make jewelry. I groaned as I reached into my closet for the dress that Victor had convinced me to sew. Would it be best to wear it instead of my jeans?
It had been almost a year since Victor had hired me and Owen to escort Charlotte to Flowerpetal. I had drifted for a while before I learned that the culinary arts were my calling. Owen stayed on with the guild and had found himself a new partner who was excellent at playing the damsel in distress for their new line of work. Victor had left Raindrop, much to his parents' dismay, and had taken almost three dozen young elves with him. Ever since then, we'd been sharing an apartment.
The door opened and Victor poked his head in. "Ready? They'll be here soon."
"I made supper. Do I have to wear a dress? Not that I don't like dresses, but this?" I gestured at the monstrosity I created. "My parents will think I've been brainwashed into a cult."
Victor came and checked out the dress. He snorted, which earned him a glare. Looking contrite, he put his arms around my waist and kissed me lightly. "Eloise, you are beautiful no matter what you wear. It's the first time you'll be meeting my parents, and I'm just a little nervous. But you're right, you made our meal and I made all of our furniture. That will have to be enough to convince them I'm not turning my back on all our traditions."
I managed a smile at that, though my nerves didn't change at all. I would be meeting his parents for the first time tonight, and he would be meeting mine for the first time. Ugh. Kill me now.
"You know what?" I pulled away from him. "I changed my mind."
"About dinner?"
"Yes. Actually, about all of it." I shuddered as I imagined the clash of the parents. Dad was still unhappy I left the guild. Me springing on the fact that I was dating an elf nearly gave him a heart attack. Even Mom couldn’t understand, although she at least tried to be supportive. There was still a lot of hurdles between Victor's culture and mine that we were navigating, but we were making it work. I just didn't want to deal with parents right now. "Why don't we just fake our deaths and run away? We can go to Brazil and be hermits together."
His lips twitched. I tried to give him the Death Glare, but all it succeeded in doing was making him burst out laughing. He twirled me away from the bed and kissed me again. "You don't have to be worried. My parents weren't happy that I left and weren't happy when I told them I was with a half-dwarf, but they're coming around."
"And my parents are getting used to it too," I admitted. "But wouldn't it be easier if they never met?"
"My parents won't bite."
"Yeah, but mine might."
"In which case, I will be prepared to defend myself. Verbally and physically, if need be. But it won't come to that."
He was right and I knew it, but that didn't make this situation any easier. It didn't help that lately my taste buds had been going crazy, and I wasn't entirely certain the meal I'd cooked was everything I'd been dreaming of.
I took a deep breath, calming myself. It was going to work out. Victor and I were together and we were going to stay together. Our parents would have to accept that.
"Did you get that knife for my dad like I suggested?" I asked anxiously.
Just because our parents would accept us being together didn't mean that I wasn't worried about how they would react tonight.
Victor nodded. "Yes."
His hand coasted over my hip to the slight bulge in my belly that the blouse just barely hid. I warmed from the inside out as I considered the little miracle that was there. Victor pressed his forehead to mine. There was a reason why we were getting our parents together tonight. There was nothing that could build a bond between people who had nothing in common than knowing that they were going to share a grandchild soon. My parents would be happy for me, I knew that.
There was a knock on the door and Charlotte peered inside. She held her little infant boy in her arm and smiled wanly at us. Her marriage was working out, although being a mother left her exhausted. "They're here."
The nerves came back, but this time I was able to push them aside easily. I twined my hand in Victor's, and we left the bedroom. It was time to meet the old and ring in the new.
*****
THE END