Page 43 of Destiny

“Okay, great. Can we plan to meet up at The Pub?”

“Sure thing. But what’s the occasion?”

“There’s somebody that I want you to meet. Well, see again. Don’t freak out, but it is a man.”

“Freak out? Who? Me?”

I laugh. “There may be a few rumors about you waiting for my dates with that old dusty gun of yours.”

“Nah. That must have been someone else. That doesn’t sound like me.”

“Maybe not now. But you used to be a helicopter parent.”

“Well, I was just worried about you and your blood sugar. I had to have a talk with any young man who was going to take you out to make sure they were responsible enough to get you to a hospital if need be.”

“I know, daddy.”

“Wait, so you seemed to imply that we already know this fella. Who is he?”

“You’ll see.”

“Well, that isn’t mysterious at all.”

“You’ll find out tonight. Six o’clock at The Pub. Got it?”

“Yes, dear.”

“Okay, see you then. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

After hanging up, I take a deep breath in and out. At least that part was over.

“No way! Mr. and Mrs. Carter are finally going to be introduced to Marco as your boyfriend?” Micky exclaims after I tell her about the plan.

“Yeah. I’m nervous.”

“Nah. It’ll be fine. You’re going to be showing up with an attractive, successful man. Sure, he might be older than you, but at least he’s just one person. If I wanted my parents to meet my partners, they’d have a whole line of people.”

That did make me feel a little better.

“But in all seriousness, I’m glad you’re finally ripping that Band-Aid off. They deserve to know. And I know they worry about you, but they’ll be fine with this. Trust me.”

“I hope you’re right.”

***

“Come on, Beatrice! You aren’t even going to give me one hint!” my mom says after she comes into the store later that day for some more paperwork.

“He’s handsome, and he treats her well,” Micky answers for me.

I look over at her and smile. Both of those things are accurate.

“Oh, well, that’s good to hear. Now, if only I had a name of this eligible bachelor . . . I thought I knew about all of them in this area.” She grasps her chin and looks up as if she’s sorting through the rolodex in her mind. “Ah! Is it James Butler?”

“. . . the guy who has taxidermized animals all over his house? I think not.”

“Hmm. Mel Johnson?”

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