Page 69 of Where We Fall

“Oh, yeah?” Pa says. “Your mother must be having a heartache in there.”

I smile. “It was definitely a surprise.”

Luke looks confused. “So, you’re, like, really serious about this.”

I can’t help but crack up at his question. “Yes, you tool. I told you the other day that I was.”

“I know. I just didn’t know you werethisserious about it.”

“Well, you better believe it. I’m completely serious about this.”

Mia comes in with Lexi on her arm.

“Look who I found, boys,” she says while they sit together on the empty loveseat.

“Pa, this is Lexi. Lexi, meet my father, Joe.”

Pa stands up and shakes Lexi’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you,” Pa tells her.

“Nice to meet you, too.”

“I appreciate you putting up with this one over here.” Pa motions in my direction. “All my boys are a little rough around the edges.”

I smile as I swipe away nothing particular on my jeans. It seems to be Pa’s standard line when one of his sons brings a woman home. It’s like he can’t believe any of us can get someone to stand us for longer than a day. I think he just likes to cut through any tension and make a joke.

Lexi chuckles. “Marcus is quite the gentleman. You’ve done a great job with him.”

Pa seems to bask in the pride of her praise. I know he’s proud of all of his kids. He says it all the time.

We get called into the kitchen for dinner. I walk in with my arm around Lexi and grab two seats for us. Gabe, Alexis, Sienna, and Luke sit across from us while Savannah and Mia sit on our side. Ma and Pa are on each end, and little Joey is in his highchair by Ma.

The table is filled with a couple of bottles of wine to be paired with Ma’s chicken piccata and lemon garlic parmesan pasta.

“This all looks and smells so incredible, Patricia. Thank you so much,” Lexi says.

“It’s what I love to do most: feed the ones I love.”

As everybody gets their food plated, I run my hand up and down Lexi’s back in soothing strokes. Her and Mia are laughing about something Mia just whispered. I imagine days like this in the future. Lexi and me showing up for Sunday dinners, living together, creating a life of our own.

It all feels so natural.

“Lexi, tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up?” Pa asks.

“A suburb twenty minutes outside of Chicago.”

“Oh, I just love visiting Chicago. The boys always bring me to the best Italian restaurants when we go there,” Ma says.

Lexi smiles. “They are known for some great Italian food there. Although, I must say your cooking is incredible. You could open up your own restaurant.”

“I think you’re gonna have to marry this one,” Pa jokes.

The idea isn’t scary. In fact, it makes my entire body feel all warm and tingly.

I find myself absent-mindedly playing with her hair and squeezing her neck. I don’t realize I’m doing it until I see Ma staring at my arm and smiling.

“What about your family?” Ma asks.

I want to step in and tell her she doesn’t have to answer that. Tonight is supposed to be fun, and I don’t want her to get sad talking about it, but I’m too late.

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