Page 24 of Keeping Happily Ever After

“I sure hope you like him.” Bella grabbed a dish and began to scoop the vegetables out of the box and into it before covering it in foil and popping it in the oven to warm. “But of course, I know you will.”

“I’m sure I will.” Her mother’s smile was friendly. “You just seem so different when you talk about him. Not at all like that last guy. What was his name again?”

“Kyle.” Bella rolled her eyes. She didn’t like thinking about that part of her life, let alone talking about it. It hadn’t been all that long ago when she’d on-again/off-again dated her bandleader at the time. He’d promised her fame and record deals. But mostly what he gave her was heartache, cheating, and general douche baggery.

Jeremy was different in almost every way. Definitely in all the ways that mattered.

“Mom, Jeremy is nothing like Kyle. He was just a...a mistake of the most epic proportions. But that being said, if I hadn’t ever known Kyle and then finally gotten fed up enough with his cheating to quit the band that last time, I probably never would have come to Glacier Falls for Christmas. In fact, I probably wouldn’t be here right now and I never would have met Jeremy, or Steph, and none of this would be happening to me right now.”

Bella let herself think about that for a minute and really soak it in. It was true. Everything really did happen for a reason, and, as much of a pain in the ass that he’d been, her time with Kyle had definitely led her to exactly where she was right now. Still, she thought with a grin, it didn’t mean she was going to be grateful for him in any way.

She laughed at herself and went back to getting dinner ready.

“And what does Jeremy think about the movie?” Her mom asked the question Bella knew she would. “He must be very excited for you.”

Bella nodded but didn’t make eye contact. “He is.” It wasn’t a lie. Jeremy was excited for her.

“And?” her mother continued. “What does he think about that shooting schedule you were telling me about? It sure seems like a lot.”

Bella swallowed hard. She may not have had a chance to tell Jeremy about the upcoming schedule. But shehadtold her mom.

“Well, he’s good with it.” It wasn’t really a lie. After all, Bella was absolutely sure that Jeremy would be good with it. Or at least shehopedhe would be good with it when she finally had a chance to discuss it with him. And hope was almost as good as certainty in this particular situation.

“He is?” Lisa didn’t bother trying to hide her surprise. “Wow. He really must be a special kind of man because I don’t think I know many guys who’d be happy about being away from their new girlfriend for so long at the beginning of a relationship. What is it, three months?”

Bella bit her bottom lip. “Four. But that’s after three weeks of the preliminary stuff in the city.”

Her mom opened her eyes wide but thankfully didn’t say a word. Especially because Jeremy chose that moment to knock on the door.

“Dinner was delicious, Lisa. Thank you.” Jeremy wiped his mouth and dropped his napkin to the plate in front of him. “In fact, that beef tenderloin was almost as good as the one I had at Birchwood last time I was there.”

Next to him, Bella snickered. Jeremy put his hand on her leg under the table and squeezed. She’d let him in on the secret that they’d ordered in food from the restaurant, but when Lisa didn’t offer up the information, he’d made the decision to play with her a little bit.

“It’s funny you say that, Jeremy.” Lisa stood to gather the plates. “Because as I’m sure my lovely daughter has already told you, I’m not much of a cook.”

Bella burst out laughing. “Sorry, Mom. I couldn’t help it.”

Lisa rolled her eyes. “Right. Well, I did you a favor by bringing in takeout, Jeremy. I assure you.” She paused and looked him in the eye, a friendly smile on her face.

He nodded with a chuckle as he pushed back from his own chair. “Well, even if you didn’t cook it, Lisa, you have amazing taste when it comes to selecting takeout.”

“That I do.” She winked at him.

“Please.” Jeremy took the plates from her hand. “Let me clear up. It’s the least I can do.”

She released the dishes to him and sat down. It had been awhile since Jeremy had to try to win over the parents of a girlfriend, and he’d been nervous. Especially because Bella meant more to him than any other girlfriend he’d had in the past. But he needn’t have been worried. Lisa had been gracious and welcoming and just as open and friendly as her daughter.

“Let me.” Bella stood next to him. “You sit and get to know each other a bit more.” Bella smoothly took the stack of plates from his hands. “I’ll clear up.” She winked at him. “Have some wine. You deserve it after the week you’ve had.”

He couldn’t argue with that. Ithadbeen a lot. Jeremy reached for the bottle, topped up Lisa’s glass and then his own. “I can definitely drink to that.”

“Bella told me it’s been very stressful for you lately,” Lisa said kindly. “Concern for a family member can be quite difficult.”

He nodded, not wanting to get into details, but also not wanting to be rude. Lisa seemed to understand his need for privacy on the matter and she smoothly changed the topic. They’d kept the conversation light through dinner, focused mostly on his job, and Bella growing up, and what Lisa and her husband did to keep busy in the city—nothing too deep. Jeremy had been waiting for Lisa to put the gears to him a little bit, and he wasn’t disappointed.

“You seem to be quite smitten with my daughter.” Her smile was warm, but Jeremy could see the caution in her eyes.

Of course she’d be concerned. She was a mother and that’s what mothers did. They were concerned for their children.

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