Page 28 of A Night To Remember

“Who is she? What woman wouldn’t want you? I don’t think I like the sound of her,” Moira huffed indignantly.

“Take it easy, Mom,” Jake laughed at his sweet-as-pie mother turning into a fierce lioness. “Remember, you were the one who taught me anything not worth fighting for wasn’t worth having.”

“I know, but really, Jake, I can’t see how anyone could turn you down. I remember when you were a teenager and all the young ladies would call asking for you. It drove your father and me nuts. You were voted nicest smile, eyes and hair in your senior class. Is this woman blind?”

He wished she hadn’t reminded him. Those superlatives had been embarrassing enough in high school, and to this day, his brother and sister still teased him about it. “Mom, that was years ago, and looks aren’t everything.”

“I know but I don’t ever recall you having problems with a lady before.”

“You can’t always get want you want, I suppose,” he said, his throat tightening.

“Well, I guess all I can say then is good luck.”

“Thank you. Can I bring something for dinner tonight?” He changed the subject.

“No, we have it covered.”

“Okay, Mom, I’ll see you guys tonight. I love you.”

Later that night Jake lay in bed trying to sleep. It was good spending time with his parents. His mom had cooked his favorite dish of spaghetti and meatballs. He was actually glad Carl and Helen hadn’t shown up with their families. It wasn’t that he didn’t adore them and his nieces and nephews, but at times he felt a little out of place.

Lately, he had started to feel envious of them all. He wanted what his parents and his siblings had. He wanted it all, companionship, love, and a family to fill his big empty house. The problem was he had found that one person to share his life with and she ran the other way whenever he was near.

For the past three years, he wondered what it was about Charlie he simply couldn’t forget, but when he held her in his arms again, he knew. He was in love with Charlie Brown. His father was right. When you found that special someone, you knew right away.

Chapter Nine

Saturday morning the doorbell rang insistently.

Charlie grumbled with irritation. She had really been looking forward to sleeping in. Her daughter shared her loved for sleeping in as well, so Charlie was a little peeved that she had to get up so early. Glancing at her nightstand, she noticed it was only seven thirty in the morning. She grumbled all the way down the hallway.

Standing at the door were her parents.

“Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?” Charlie asked wiping the sleep from her eyes.

“We came to visit. Are you going to let us in or what?” Delores placed her hands on her hips.

Charlie stepped aside to let them in. Her father engulfed her in a bear hug. “What are you still doing in bed so late in the morning?”

“Dad, it’s not even eight o’clock yet. Not many people are up this early on a Saturday morning.” She exchanged hugs with her mother next.

“Where’s my grandbaby?” Keith looked around as if expecting to see his granddaughter right away. He had a teddy bear in his hand. Charlie groaned. Whenever her parents were around, they spoiled Kristy like crazy.

“She’s sleeping,” Charlie said in a whisper so they would get the hint.

“Well, go wake her up. We can’t wait to see her,” her mother insisted. Charlie sighed. This was going to be a long weekend. She almost wished she hadn’t answered the door.

“Let me get you guys some coffee. Kristy should be up in another hour or so.” They both looked a little disappointed, but didn’t argue. She should have known they’d do as they pleased anyway, because when Charlie came back from the kitchen with coffee in hand, Kristy was in the living room swinging around her new toy.

“Mom, Dad, why did you wake her?” Charlie asked irritably.

“Stop fussing, girl. We don’t get to see our grandchild that often,” her father chided gently, looking proudly at Kristy.

He had a point. Charlie knew she was being grouchy because she had been woken up early. Her parents adored Kristy and she couldn’t begrudge them that. Kristy enjoyed the attention that her grandparents lavished on her.

“Look, Mommy. Look at Teddy.” Kristy ran to her mother in order to show off her new toy.

Charlie inspected the big fuzzy brown bear. “Wow, he’s something else. What are you going to call him?”

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