Chapter 32

“ARE YOU NERVOUS?”

Avery quickly turned to her before looking back at the road. He seemed to be clutching the steering wheel tighter than normal and she was worried.

“I guess I’m a little antsy,” he admitted. “It’s not like I haven’t met your parents before, but I know I’m not exactly what your mom was hoping for in a son-in-law.”

“Don’t worry. They can tell the difference between me now and me eight months ago,” Hailey said as she placed a reassuring hand on Avery’s thigh. “I’m way happier now and anyone who knows me can tell.”

Avery’s cheeks turned pink a bit as a smile grew on his face. “All I want to do is make you happy.”

He stole another quick glance at her and released a deep breath.

“You look beautiful by the way,” Avery said. “You always do, but I really like that color on you.”

Hailey smiled as she looked down at her turquoise blouse and jeans. She was always a little nervous to see her mom and she had to mentally prepare herself for the jabs at her appearance that usually accompanied their meetups.

“Thanks, handsome. Hopefully, she approves. At least this ring on my finger will be a distraction from my outfit.”

He laughed as she peered down at the rock on her hand and felt some of the tension ease out of her. It was a platinum band with a rock bigger than she imagined ever getting and two smaller rocks on either side. Avery told her the band was actually his grandmother’s engagement ring, passed down from her own mother. It was a family heirloom that he had sized to Hailey’s fingers and then added the two smaller diamond on either side.

She was absolutely honored to have it, although it felt weird having it on her hand. She wasn’t a big jewelry person, but she could get used to this.

They pulled into her parents’ driveway and Avery reached for her hand after turning off the car.

“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you,” he said, his eyes showing the truth in his words. How could I not see him this whole time?

Hailey took a deep breath and released it before leaning over to give Avery a quick kiss.

“Me, too. Let’s do this.”

They exited the car and made their way up the driveway and entered the front door without knocking. She had given her parents a heads up they were stopping by.

“Mom? Dad?” Hailey called out.

“In the kitchen!” they heard from deeper in the house.

Her parents were seated at their kitchen table drinking tea. As Hailey and Avery approached, they both got up to say hello.

Her mom was definitely less excited to see Avery than she used to be when she saw Gage, but she seemed content enough.

Hailey hugged her mom and dad hello while Avery shook her dad’s hand and hugged her mom.

“Good to see you Mr. and Mrs. Williams. My mom said to say hello, too.”

Hailey’s mom used to sit with Avery’s during their soccer games in high school whenever there were double header night games. The parents section was always crazy (soccer parents are the worst, after all), but the two of them always got along. Avery’s mom was an absolute sweetheart, so she pretty much got along with everyone.

Her mom softened at that and her dad smiled before saying, “Please, call us Barbara and Bruce. You’ve known us long enough.”

“Do you two want anything to eat or drink?” her mom asked.

Hailey shared a glance with Avery before turning back to her parents.

“Well, actually, we have some news we’d like to share first.”

Barbara looked nervous while a smile grew on Bruce’s face.

Hailey steeled herself, squeezing Avery’s hand with her right hand before holding up her left so the engagement ring was facing out.

There was a tense moment where no one said anything and Hailey’s stomach began to sink so she broke the silence.

“We’re engaged!”

A shriek came out of Barbara’s mouth, forcing both Hailey and Avery to jump back in surprise. At first, Hailey didn’t know if it was a good shriek or a bad shriek. Are there good shrieks?

She got her answer a second later as her mom enveloped her in a giant bear hug and she saw over her mom’s shoulder her dad shaking Avery’s hand.

“Congratulations, Avery. I knew she’d say yes.”

Hailey and Barbara separated at that comment and looked between Avery and Bruce.

“D-did you know he was asking?” Hailey stuttered.

“We had a drink last week and Avery gave me a heads up he’d be popping the question soon. I had a feeling that’s what your news was.”

Hailey turned to Avery, “You asked his permission?”

Avery looked a little sheepish as he looked between the three of them.

“Not really. It was more like a warning. I wanted to prepare him. We just talked about it while we were out for drinks watching the Phillies game.”

Barbara may have shown lots of love for Gage, but Avery and Bruce got along to the point they actually had drinks together every once in awhile.

She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. That whole “asking the dad for permission” thing was so outdated, but a heads up was probably a good idea so her dad could mentally prepare for whatever her mom’s reaction turned out to be.

“Let me see the ring!” her mom demanded with a giant smile while pulling Hailey’s hand toward her. She used her other hand to slap her husband’s arm. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”

“Surprises are fun, though,” her dad laughed.

“Oh, wow. Avery, this is beautiful. How did you even afford it?”

Aaaaand there it is.

“Mom, wrong response. Try again, please.”

Barbara looked around at everyone’s faces as Hailey saw something click in her mom’s head.

“Right. I mean, I love it! I’m so happy for you both.”

She grabbed Avery in a big hug and then hugged Hailey again before bringing her focus back to the ring.

“The ring was actually my grandmother’s and her mother’s before that. My mom gave it to me as soon as she found out Hailey and I were dating since she knew how much I love her. I added the diamonds on each side to make it a little more modern.”

Barbara’s gaze snapped back to Avery and then darted between the two of them, her eyes looking a bit misty.

“That’s so sweet. Oh we need to have an engagement party to tell everyone! Wait until the rest of the family hears. Let’s see, we’ll need a caterer and we’ll want to plan it around your cousin’s baby shower…”

Hailey let her mom go off on a tangent as she grew more and more excited about having a reason to throw a party. She loved entertaining and spreading good news. If she was this excited about an engagement party, Hailey shuddered at how she’d be with an actual wedding. That’s when she was struck with the best idea she had ever had in her entire life, besides saying yes to Avery, of course.

———————————

Later that night after toasting their engagement with a bottle of champagne and some fancy cheese and crackers her parents had in the pantry, Hailey and Avery were back at his house relaxing on the couch.

She turned to him with a playful smile.

“So, what kind of wedding were you thinking of having. Any preferences?”

Avery smiled before heaving a big sigh.

“I’ve always wanted a small wedding since they seem like such a waste of money, but I know my mom would be crazy excited and try to invite everyone she knows. Your mom seems like she’s in the same boat.”

“This is accurate. I’ve always wanted a small wedding, too. Bridget’s wedding was so much work, so much money, and afterward she just wished they saved more money to spend on the honeymoon.”

“Yeah, it seems like a lot for just one day. I don’t really care about all that. I would marry you at city hall with just our closest friends and family if it were up to me, but I just want you to be happy.”

“Same,” Hailey said as a big grin took over her face. “I have an idea.”