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Politely ignoring all her instructions I help her out of the car after opening her door for her

“You look beautiful,” I re her before she eases her hand back fro briskly up to the front door

I look around the slightly overgrown yard I grew up in worse places, but this isn’t where Natasha belongs

Not anymore

She’s waiting by the front door, alh the curtains

I hear her shriek of recognition from inside as I hear the low thud of hurried steps before I finish waving to her from outside

I thought it was Natasha as nervous about her folks co home

The sounds froh and low voices, tellto see hter

Or was she

The front door peels open, and I see Renee first, with open arrabs a hold of Natasha, followed by the man I assume is her father

He’s not what I pictured at all More like a gynition

Like we’ve already met and have known each other for years

I can feel Renee’s eyes onmore than surprise when I decide to join the steps

She grabs a hold ofroom space, which makes the train ere all on just yesterday seem spacious

Before I can be introduced, Natasha’s dad hugs her, and I notice her returning it a little aardly

“How have you been, baby girl?” he asks, his eyes shining, but with the tears of a dad seeing his little girl all grown up

Natasha seems more than embarrassed, but also a little confused

And I have to admit, if this is the reception she was so worried about, Ithe line

“I’my hand

“Michael Michael Stapleton,” I reply before I take a seat,his intense eyes still fresh with emotion

Renee laughs aloud, al to introduce myself

“We know all about you Michael, ere on the train together,” she says, nudging her husband Neil as if to let him in on the secret everyone seems to be aware of except us

Natasha glances around “Where’s Suze, Mom?” she asks, but Renee seems distracted

“Oh, she bumped into us on the way out,” she says

“Literally,” her dad Neil pipes in, rolling his eyes