“Alright. Well, count me and your father in. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Perfect. I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetie.”
Kate jumped out of bed and went to find Bruce. He was exactly where she thought he would be. Watching a bull ride on the sports network, relaxing on the couch with a beer.
“So everything is set. The invites have been sent out and accepted. My parents and your parents will both be here tomorrow at seven. Now, we have to figure out what is on the menu.”
“I was thinking, cooked food.”
“Bruce!” Kate exclaimed. He was not taking this as seriously as she wanted him to. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened her eyes again.
“Okay, fine. I will step back off of the menu. It’s not like I’m cooking anyway.”
“Exactly.” Bruce gave her a thumbs up and turned his attention back to the television program he was watching.
Kate shook her head and walked back out of the room. It was no use in trying to talk with him about the menu or stressing over the outcome of the dinner. Their parents would think what they wanted and feel whatever they felt about the fact that she and Bruce eloped.
Besides, what was done was done. It was not a choice she regretted so she decided to focus on other things. Tomorrow night would happen when it happened, the way it was supposed to happen.
*****
The dinner display looked like something out of a homemaker’s magazine.
“I think you have another talent you are not tapping in to,” Kate commented, speaking of the elaborate dishes that Bruce prepared. Accompanied by her eye for decorating, the entire meal looked like something straight out of an ad campaign.
“Maybe a partnership that we haven’t explored yet. Here, sit this bowl over here next to the asparagus.”
Kate made herself busy, trying to make everything perfect.
“Sweetheart, stop fusing over everything. It all looks perfect.” Bruce turned her to face him.
“We are perfect. There is no reason for you to feel otherwise. Let’s just make this happen tonight. Our families will be happy for us and life will be great.”
Hearing those words were like music to her ears. It was exactly what she needed to settle her nerves.
The doorbell chimed and Kate practically jumped out of her skin.
“They’re here!” She smoothed her red, knee length dress and then checked the hallway mirror to make sure not a hair was out of place and her lipstick was perfectly applied.
“You look sensational. I’m here with you.”
Bruce squeezed her hand to reassure her. He nodded in the direction of the door and she walked over to open it.
Her mother’s smiling face was the first thing that Kate saw. “Mom! Hey!”
The women embraced, spreading love. Kate’s father stood behind, waiting his turn. “Daddy, it’s so nice to see you. You look great.”
Kate’s father rarely left the house for social gatherings, so it was a treat to have him out.
“Katie, you look beautiful.” Her father was the only person that called her Katie.
“Thank you, Daddy. The two of you remember Bruce.”
Her father offered Bruce a hearty handshake. Her mother did a polite wave.
Just as Kate was about to close the door, she heard a “Hello!”
“Mrs. Stanger. Mr. Stanger. The two of you are right on time.”
Kate hugged them both and stepped to the side to let them inside.
“Something smells absolutely fabulous here.”
Kate threw up her hands in surrender. “I can safely say I was not the one to cook today. It was all Bruce.”
“I certainly can’t wait to eat then,” Mrs. Stanger commented. Kate directed them all to the dining room.
“Everyone, please take a seat wherever you are most comfortable.” Kate tried to be the perfect hostess.
Their parents took a seat at the table and Kate waited for them all to appear comfortable. Bruce came from the kitchen, holding a bottle of wine.
“If we are all ready, dinner is served.”
“I’ll have some water please. No wine or alcohol for me,” Kate’s father commented.
“Sure thing, Mr. Walker. Let me get that for you.”
Kate almost kicked herself for not remembering to get her father a bottled water since he did not drink alcohol.
“Here you are Mr. Walker.”
“Ah, thank you, Bruce.”
Bruce took his seat at the head of the table. He took the lead and blessed the food. Everyone began eating, commenting on how good the meal was. Bruce took the compliments in stride and everyone continued the friendly conversation. As the meal came to a close, Kate was grateful that their parents were all getting along. She had not known what to expect, but she knew she wanted nothing more than an easy going night.
“If we could all go to the living room, I have a little dessert and coffee. And Bruce and I wanted to share something with you all.”
The older couples gave each other a glance, then got up from their seats to follow Kate in to the living room.
Once seated and comfortable, Kate told them that she would be right back. She went to her room to get her wedding ring. She had not had it on the entire dinner because she thought it best they break the news to their parents on their own accord, not because someone saw the ring on her finger.
She met with Bruce in the kitchen and helped him put the plates with the caked on a tray.
He was grinning. “Are you ready for this?”
“We can’t turn back now. Let’s get in there.”
Bruce followed behind her as they entered the living room. Setting the tray on the table, Bruce then began to serve the cake and Kate poured the coffee. She could not believe that no one had seen her ring.
Bruce and Kate stood there in front of their parents. Kate was hoping Bruce would speak first. But she knew if she did, he would simply blurt out the facts, versus breaking it to their parents slowly and delicately.
She started talking. “So as you all know, Bruce and I have been dating for about a year now. We are happy, in love, and plan to be together forever.”
When Kate looked around, all eyes were on her. But she saw as Bruce’s mother’s eyes zeroed in on her hand. She had seen the ring. Mrs. Stanger looked from Kate to Bruce.