“I know that sofa well.” It wasn’t a convertible one. He shrugged and offered his apartment, then thanked her again for sending the ring. After disconnecting, he texted Jen and got back to working on the curriculum. She’d call when she had time. Her promotion had come with additional responsibilities to go along with the additional salary, including supervising her entire. department.
He’d gone up to her office once when she was working late. Standing in the doorway, he’d watched, listened and admired her as she talked with clients on the phone. A perfect fit in her professional world. Some people might think he and Jen had nothing in common, but they’d be wrong. The theater was a business, too. Mutual respect for each other’s efforts ranked high with him.
His phone rang, bringing him back to the present. “Are you up for another round with my folks?” he asked without preamble. “It’s really about Eve…Yeah, I’m sure. I’m thinking dinner and a nice walk with a hundred thousand others to the Esplanade for the Pops concert. And I’ll need to stay at your place that night.”
He laughed at her response. Sleeping at Jen’s was the easy part.
##
In her apartment a few evenings later, Jen placed her cell phone on an end table in her living room and looked at Doug, stretched out on the sofa. “Lisa and Mike want to join us tomorrow for dinner. We need to let them know where and when.”
“With the kids?”
Jen felt a genuine smile emerge. “Uh-uh. She’s actually happy with the nurse they hired. I hope the woman stays forever. Or that they hire a nanny again. Lisa sounds so much more relaxed.”
“Then let the fun begin!” said Doug. “But you’d better tell Mike to wear a baseball cap…if he wants some privacy. Bostonians know their QB.”
Jen waved his words aside. “No problem. The fans here are used to seeing him around town. He waves, nods and they leave him alone. He’s got the whole thing worked out so he and Lisa can live like regular people—sort of.”
“Regular people with a limo?” he quipped.
She walked over and sat at the edge of the cushion next to him, then brushed the lock of hair from his face. “Going out to dinner is a no-brainer at other times, but I’m wondering why they want to join us now. With all the tourists in town, it will be a madhouse wherever we go.”
He studied her for a long moment before saying, “They think you’re worth it.”
“What do you….” The coin dropped. “Oh. They want to meet your family.”
“Bingo.”
She shrugged. “It’s not necessary. I already know what I’m dealing with.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “It could be worse.”
His brows hiked up so high, she thought they’d touch the ceiling. Then he pulled her in for a kiss. “You never know with my father. Let’s just wait and see.”
She saw the doubts, a lifetime of hurt feelings, of perhaps being second-best. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Doug.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your parents…Eve…history…”
“Hey, girlfriend. I only care how they treat you!”
She wrapped her arms around him, snuggled against his chest. “Love you, Doug.
I’m a big girl and I’ll be fine.”
##
“We’re like sardines in a can,” grumbled Doug’s dad as they made their way through Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the refurbished area of restaurants, food stalls and specialties, and probably the most popular tourist spot in town. “We’ll never get a table anywhere here.”
“We don’t have to,” said Doug. “Jen managed a reservation at Maguires, our usual place. With the city overflowing, she pulled a string or two. Now, we only wanted to show you around a bit. Can’t you relax and just enjoy yourselves?”
Jen looked from Doug to his parents. They’d greeted her politely enough an hour ago at Doug’s place, as did his sister. Now the other two women were walking side-by-side through the crowded outdoor venue, seemingly content with each other’s company.
“Walking around here for ‘a bit’ is about all I can take,” said Eddie. “We came only to visit with you and your sister.”
“I have to admit,” Helen chimed in, “that we’ve seen more people here in twenty minutes than we see in twenty days back home.” An adorable grin crossed her face. “But it’s fun. Look at the acrobats, right there.” She pointed to the entertainers while Eve smiled at her brother. “I think Mom’s enjoying herself.”
“How about you, Evie?”
“Oh, yeah.” She waved broadly. “This is so great. Being totally away from the hospital actually feels weird, but good. Oh, look—anyone want to play ping-
pong?” She glanced over her shoulder.
“I’ll take you on.” Ed’s eyes were on his daughter—his shining eyes— and a smile lit his face.
“And that’s the way it is,” Doug murmured to Jen.
Helen stepped closer to them as an enthusiastic five-minute ping-pong volley ensued. She cheered her family on.
“Reminds me of our ping-pong championships in the basement,” she said, looking from Doug to Jen. “Great on bleak winter days when the kids were little, and the weather was abominable.”
“Sounds like a nice pastime,” said Jen.
“We drank hot chocolate and tried to make a little party of it, remember Doug?”
She faced Jen again. “The winters in New England can be brutal.”
“I’m well aware,” said Jen. “I grew up in Woodhaven, not too far from you.”
“Really? And now you’re in the big city.”
Jen felt her smile spread from ear to ear. “I totally love it!”
Helen looked at her son. “Well, she’s a perfect match in that regard!”
Jen had rarely seen Doug embarrassed before, but now his face turned a deep pink. “Mom! Enough!”
She swallowed her grin as well as her own discomfort and changed the subject.
“C’mon everyone. Let’s start walking toward Maguire’s. A slow walk, so Helen can see everything at the Marketplace.”
Street performers, magicians, acrobats, musicians… Jen was glad of the distractions for Doug’s family, and glad to have allowed enough time to arrive promptly at the restaurant.
Doug opened the front door. “Welcome to our Friday night hangout. Go right on in.”
“Blessed air-conditioning,” said Eddie. “Thank God.”
Jennifer approached the hostess. “We’re here on time!”
