That was a good question. Andrew and I hadn’t discussed our official title but considering we lived together, slept together, and had strong feelings toward each other then yes, we were boyfriend and girlfriend. Nonetheless, I didn’t want to make an ass out of myself if that wasn’t the case. Andrew was known for being hot and cold.
Candy chimed in. “No, she is a random stranger off the street,” she retorted sarcastically. “Of course she is Andrew’s girlfriend and she has a name—Haven.”
“Jesus Mom, I was just asking.” Andrew’s sister moaned. “Why do you have to be like that?”
“Like what?”
“Embarrassing.”
Watching their exchange was a hilarious peek into what a healthy mother-daughter relationship was like. I held my tongue to keep from giggling.
“I’m not embarrassing.” She glanced at Andrew and her husband to confirm. They stared at her blankly. “Whatever, I’m nothing compared to Grandma June. Last year, she dressed the pumpkins in lacy lingerie because she thought they needed more spice.”
Andrew, his dad, and sister murmured their agreement. Based upon what Andrew had revealed about his family, my initial perception of them was off base. They weren’t bourgeois or stuck up. They were just like any other close knit family that loved each other. Although, I stood by what I’d guessed earlier. These next two days weren’t going to be boring.
Candy steered her daughter toward the kitchen. “Come on, you have a pot of apple cider to stir.”
Andrew’s dad stepped forward, his handsome face breaking into a warm smile. “I didn’t have a chance to introduce myself earlier. I’m Mark.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too. Andrew will show you where your bedroom is for the weekend. There are extra towels in your bathroom and if you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask us.”
“Thank you,” I said, touched.
“Enjoy the peacefulness while it lasts. My extended family is coming in an hour,” Mark joked.
Andrew and I were the last two in the foyer. He came up behind and wrapped his arms around my waist. Sensing my annoyance with him hadn’t worn off, Andrew apologized again. “I’m sorry. My parents didn’t like Camilla or any other girlfriend of mine for that matter. They never thought any of them were good enough for me.”
Spinning around, chest to chest, I looked into his dark brown eyes. “You didn’t believe I was different?”
“No quite the opposite. I was afraid my family would fall for you and then it would be a thousand times harder to let you go.” Andrew lips quirked at the corners. “Looks like it’s going that way.”
My chest squeezed at the sadness his confession evoked. There were two and half months left before my planned road trip, which was a ways off, however, time slipped by quickly. I would blink and it would be upon us. Leaving Andrew wouldn’t be easy for me either.
“I don’t have to go,” I said without meaning a word of it.
Andrew thankfully shook his head. “No, you do. This has been a dream of yours that I will not stand in the way of. I’ll just have to sleep with your pillow every night and pretend as if you are there.”
“Or you can come with me.” The idea popped out of my mouth before my brain connected. My eyes widened in surprise as did Andrew’s. I backpedaled. “I mean, that is if you wanted to. Obviously, you have work commitments.”
“I can paint anywhere and or get a fresh perspective and start something new like woodworking,” he stated.
“Yeah exactly, but feel free to think about it. We don’t need to make any rash decisions right now.”
“Of course not.” Andrew planted a kiss against my forehead. “Let me show you to your room.”
As we ascended the staircase, my heart fluttered with anxiety. For the past two years, that dream had been mine and mine alone. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to share it with anyone else, even if that person was Andrew.
My bedroom for the weekend had black stained hardwood floors, white walls, and original crown molding. A plush duvet was thrown over a four-poster bed and covered in a million pillows. My feet sunk into a fake bearskin rug as I approached the fireplace. Looking at the remote on my nightstand, I tried to make sense of which button controlled what. I gave up with a sigh and sat crossed legged on the floor. With thirty minutes until I had to go back downstairs, I pondered Andrew’s and my future. Up until two weeks or so ago, I didn’t have to factor anybody into my life plans. Although Andrew hadn’t asked me to, as a couple you made decisions together.
My road trip around the United States then Europe didn’t have an end goal. Basically, I would go wherever the wind blew me, which would put the kibosh on our relationship if he didn’t join. It wouldn’t be fair of me to ask him to wait around. Meanwhile, the idea of taking this journey solo seemed lonely all of a sudden. I had gotten used to Andrew being my partner in crime. A knocked sounded on my door.
“Come in,” I yelled.
Andrew stepped into the room, looking dashing in a sweater and faded jeans. His hair slightly damp from the shower curled at the base of his neck. Happiness warmed my stomach. I didn’t know whether or not Andrew belonged in my dream but I did know he belonged in the here and now with me.
“Hey, my mom wants to know if you are up for a bake-off between my sister and you?”
“Seriously?”
“My family is competitive.”
The last competition I’d entered ended in tears and humiliation. Granted, my mom’s idea of entering me in a spelling bee at six years old wasn’t the best idea. I was a horrible speller but that didn’t matter. My mom had her eye on the thousand dollar grand prize. When the judge had asked me to spell fragile, I threw up on the stage. A thousand people staring at my puke-stained clothes was mortifying. If that happened in front of Andrew’s family, it would be scarring.
“I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to pass. I’m not a baker,” I said.
“How do you know that if you haven’t tried?”
“I have tried and it’s not pretty.”
Andrew wasn’t a man to give up. That’s where we were similar. “There has to be something you’re good at making.”
“Yeah it’s called poor man’s chocolate croissants and I don’t think your family wants toasted white bread with melted chocolate.”
“What are you talking about? That sounds great! Make that.”
In that moment, I wanted to squeeze the daylights out of him. His encouraging nature was incredibly enduring. I felt as if he would support whatever hair brained idea or dream that manifested during our time together. Conceding, I got to my feet and brushed past Andrew into the hallway. The sounds of a large party happening downstairs were filled with joy.
“Is the apple cider laced with alcohol by chance?” I asked Andrew.
“Of course. My mom may have been Amish once, but she isn’t anymore.”
“Alright then I’ll do the bake-off.” I waved my pointer finger at him. “But only once I have a drink in me, and only then.”
“Your wish is my command.”
Grabbing my hand, he tugged me into the middle of the gathering. Little kids ran free squealing, while the adults nibbled at appetizers and sipped their chilled glasses of wine. There had to be at least thirty people milling around the house. Mark wasn’t kidding when he said to enjoy the silence while it lasted. Andrew’s dad’s side of the family was huge.
I must have appeared as overwhelmed as I felt because Andrew’s thumb begun to knead my palm. “Relax,” he whispered.
“I’m relaxed.”
Andrew glanced over his shoulder, his eyebrows raised. “Then lessen up on the steel grip, Rocky.”
My hand went lack as I mumbled an apology. Crowds of people weren’t my forte. Walking into the kitchen, Andrew’s mom and sister stood kneading bread dough on a marble slab. Flour dusted their aprons. They glanced up at our entry.