32. Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

ETHAN

I t's the next weekend, and we're on our way to Mia's parents.

Anxious thoughts swirl as I drive us there. It's about an hour southwest of Detroit, so I have plenty of time to worry.

"Do you think they'll like me?" I ask, my uncertainty clear as day.

She giggles, squeezing my arm reassuringly. "They're academics, so hockey might not be the best icebreaker."

My shoulders slump at her words, but then Mia perks up. "Dad is into classic cars, though. He builds miniatures in the garage."

"Ah," I nod, encouraged. "That could work."

Mia's parents live in an elegant neighborhood, where my Rolls Royce seems to fit right in.

As we turn onto their street, Mia points. "It's the first house on the left, okay?"

"I remember, love…" I say, parking in front of their house.

Before we step out, Mia leans over to me and kisses me so lovingly I wonder what I did to deserve it. I know she's grateful that I'm here to support her as she prepares to tell her parents about the pregnancy.

We hold hands as we walk up the porch. I catch a glimpse of her mother peeking through the curtains as we approach, and she promptly runs to the door to greet us.

"You came!" she exclaims, greeting Mia first. She's a small woman, shorter than Mia, but the two look very much alike. "Oh, my God, you're tall!"

She greets me with a hug and, and I lean forward into it, finding warmth in her embrace.

"I'm Nora Sanders," she beams, ushering us in. "And this is Eugene."

Turning around to find an empty living room, she calls out, "Eugene!"

Mia's father walks in. He is a sturdy man in his sixties, who looks a lot more like a carpenter than an academic. He offers me his hand, and I reciprocate his firm grip.

"I suppose you're Ethan," he says, serious. "Brothers with Ryan."

"That's correct sir," I nod.

"Call me Eugene, kid. I don't like feeling older than I am," he insists, letting go of my hand and settling into an armchair.

"Did you have a nice trip?" Nora shows us our seats and Mia and I sit together on the couch.

"It's not that long of a ride, mom!" Mia says, holding my hand.

"This is going to be confusing…" Eugene says. He's the grumpy type, just like my current coach. I can handle him.

"What is confusing, dear?" Nora plays the peacemaker.

"Our daughter dating the brother of her ex. What's gotten into you, Mia?"

I can tell he's not angry, but Mia is taken aback and flushes red at her father's words.

As her protector, I decide to field the question.

"Well, it could be worse… Ryan and I could be twins!" I offer as a joke, which seems to lighten the mood.

Eugene bends over, chuckling, and I look at Nora, confused.

"I'm a twin, Ethan," Nora explains, lightly giggling behind her hand. "Eugene and I have quite a few stories from when we started dating!"

"Dad used to get them confused," Mia says, sweetly. "But he eventually learned to tell mom and Aunt Nina apart. Right, dad?"

"Right, sweetheart." Eugene taps the arm of his chair, looking impatient.

Mia's mom takes over the conversation once again. "Are you staying for dinner?"

"Of course they are. That's why we invited them!" Eugene says, and I'm starting to love the guy.

They get busy arguing with each other, and that's when I lean over to whisper in Mia's ear, "When do you want to tell them?"

She looks at me with big eyes, as if surprised by the question. "After dinner?" she suggests, defensively placing her hand on her belly.

I nod. "In the meantime, I'll get to know your dad a bit better." I turn to face her parents and clear my throat. "Mr. Sanders?"

I get her dad's attention, and the argument with his wife halts. I continue, "Mia told me you collect miniature classic cars?"

"Yes," the man straightens himself in his chair, looking very distinct for a moment. "Why? Do you have an interest?"

I swirl my keys around my index finger. "Did you see what I'm driving?"

He stands and heads toward the window, and I follow suit. He spots the Rolls Royce, puts on an impressed face, and takes a step back away from me, hands in the pocket of his cardigan.

"Well, I don't have the money for one of those…." He completes the comment with a whistle. "But I have a tiny version of it. Want to see?"

I glance to Mia, and she's smiling, her eyes bright. It seems I'm making a good impression. As I follow Eugene through the house and into the garage, I feel more confident about everything.

"You have quite the setup, Eugene!" I remark, impressed by the walls filled with his miniature car collection, and the well-equipped workshop desk right in the center.

"Eh, could be better," he admits, somewhat disheartened. "I wanted Mia's room when she went to college, but her mother insisted on keeping it as it was."

I'm not sure how to respond to that, but my spirits lift when I see a row of Rolls Royces, from the earliest models to the Phantom I'm driving now.

"It's a beauty," I say, admiring it through the glass.

"Here, kid," Eugene steps forward and opens a display case with skillful fingers, handing me a toy car so I can inspect it up close with my greasy hands. "I built it myself."

"Wow!" I marvel at the intricate details. "The Rolls Royce is my favorite car. Every bit of it is just like the real thing."

"U-hum," Eugene nods, searching for another car on the shelves. "Got one of these in your garage?"

He hands me a vintage Ferrari, a model that looks very much like a Formula 1 car.

"Nope, I've been focusing on newer models," I say, and give it back to him, "Oldest car I own it's from the thirty years ago, a Formula 1. It's currently in my garage."

Eugene makes another impressed sound and returns the little Ferrari back to where it belongs. I look around, careful not to disturb his displays.

It's a good thing I'm not holding one of his car models now because after what he says next, I probably would have dropped it.

"Mia is pregnant, isn't she?" Eugene asks quietly.

My eyes go wide. "How did you know?"

"I've been expecting it since she brought her first boyfriend home." Eugene admits, crossing his arms. "Mostly because I went through it with Nora's father as well."

He chuckles softly, but I know I am not out of the red yet.

"I plan on doing right by her, Eugene," I assure him solemnly.

"I believe you." His eyes meet mine, and for a moment I think I see them tearing up. "And I'm glad it's you, and not your brother. We've had more of a conversation in these fifteen minutes I've known you, than Ryan and I had during all the years he was with Mia."

I chuckle, feeling a bit sorry for my brother.

"Just promise me you won't let Mia get hurt, will you?" Eugene goes on, and I step forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"That you don't have to worry about," I assure him firmly.

"Just don't go calling me dad, okay?" he brushes my hand away from him. "I have one kid, and that's enough for me."

I start to laugh. Nora pokes her head inside the garage, calling us for dinner, and everything seems to be going well.

Until it's time to meet my parents, that is.