Page 46 of Just Is Not Enough

At the top of the bridge, we stop and lean over the edge of the wall. Luke now holds my free hand with both of his, rubbing his thumbs across my knuckles, his smile aimed right at me. “Your smile is as bright as the sun above us right now, you like roses that much?” My reaction to the rose gesture intrigues him.

“Growing up my father would buy my mother a bouquet of roses once a month, without fail. Every time there were 12 red roses and one white.”

“Was there a significance of the one white rose?” Luke’s genuine interest in everything we talk about gives me those warm fuzzy feelings. Nothing is more attractive than a man that shows he is truly engaged in your conversations instead of half-listening.

“When I was about 11 years old I asked my father the same question. He said the white rose represents love and loyalty. My parents met in middle school and became instant friends. Well, you can see where that led to.” I motion to myself to show proof. “They’ve been married for almost 30 years. He still buys her those 13 roses every month. I don’t think he’s ever missed a month all these years.” I feel my cheeks starting to hurt thinking about how special their love story has been.

“That’s really nice. I’m glad you had such a strong example of love growing up.”

My anxiety ramps up from his words and solemn tone. “Luke, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject.”

He squeezes my hand, forcing me to look his way with a tug. “Don’t ever apologize for sharing a happy memory. My weird family dynamic is not your fault. You don’t have to walk on eggshells because of it.”

With a nod of acknowledgement, I take my phone out and lean in close to him. I don’t want to linger on the subject and make him uncomfortable. We hold numerous poses while I snap away. I licked his cheek in one of them, telling him he’s now mine. He didn’t bother to argue knowing it would be pointless. My favorite is of us sharing a kiss and the sunrays are shining right above us, the smiles on our faces gleaming with love. I would gladly spend the rest of my life showing him the love he deserves if he’d let me.

Whoa.

We arrive at my parents’ house a little after 4 p.m., just in time to help my parents with dinner. My mother was so excited to hear I was bringing Luke to meet them, finally, she said he better be ready for some of her basic cooking. She downplays her dishes that are always delicious. When we walk in the house I smell garlic cooking right away. It’s truly my favorite aroma in the world. Mom puts garlic in everything, so the smell of it cooking always feels like home to me.

The creak of the floor in the hallway leading to the kitchen alerts my parents who quickly come around the corner. If someone asked me to describe my mother’s expression, pure exhilaration would be an understatement. I think she may scare Luke off before we even get a chance to eat.

“Hello parental units. I beg you, please don’t embarrass me.” My parents being two of the most unserious people in this type of situation both react as expected.

“Who us? Honey did he call us weird? Should I be offended?” My father always looking to my mother for guidance is one of the funniest things to me.

“You know, dear, I think you’re right. We should probably be offended. Kaden, whatever do you mean? You don’t want me to show Luke those pictures of you dressed up like candy corn for Halloween when you were seven because you loved those dreadful things so much? Oh, maybe you don’t want me to tell him the story about when you saw the huge spider in your room, then lost sight of it and wouldn’t go back in there for a month? That one is a little embarrassing I am sure. We’ll keep that one to ourselves, Jim.”

“You kind of just told him, mom. Thanks for that.” Joint laughter fills the room from their antics.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Parker. And I happen to agree with you on those abominations they call candy that taste nothing like corn.” I can’t tell if Luke is trying to win over my mother or not with his statement, but I agree with them now as an adult. I have no idea how I thought those things were good at the time. I get nauseous just thinking of them now.

“I can see how this night is going to go already.” I drop my face to my palm, knowing Luke has a similar sense of humor as my parents. I suppose that explains why I’m so comfortable around him.

“It’s nice to meet you, Luke. Hope you brought your apron with you tonight. I can always use an extra set of hands in the kitchen and from what I hear you may know your way around one.” Mom is a hugger, of course. Luke doesn’t shy away, enveloping her tiny stature is his arms.

“Hey, you need to shake a man’s hand before you go wrapping those arms around his wife. She might start expecting me to do this hugging thing all the time now.” My father jokes like he doesn’t spoil my mother in every way.

“My father is just as much as a hugger as she is, don’t let him fool you.”

“There he goes, giving away all your secrets, Jim. We may have to make him eat dinner on the back porch if he keeps it up.”

“Luke, meet my parents, Claire and Jim Parker. Standup comedians. They’ll be here all night.”

Luke’s apparent amusement of our banter makes me smile more so. “My apologies, Mr. Parker. I hope you won’t hold it against me.” Seeing my father shake Luke’s hand does that flippy thing to my stomach.

“Okay, enough with that Mr. and Mrs. nonsense. It’s Jim and Claire. Now let’s go, we have some work to do in this kitchen.” Mom playfully shoves my dad towards the kitchen, gesturing for Luke and me to follow them.

My parents lead the way, my dad throwing some aprons our way as soon as we enter the kitchen. My mother starts doling out tasks for each of us. Luke is put on searing the chicken breasts duty which makes perfect sense. Dad has the menial task of watching the roasted garlic potatoes in the oven, because mom doesn’t trust him in the kitchen all that much. He’d have to survive on cereal and take out if something ever happened to my mother.

“Hello family!” Lanie’s lighthearted greeting excites me, until I see who is with her. When Jackson walks in the kitchen behind her I turn to see Luke’s reaction. He told me the other day Jackson hasn’t mentioned anything about us to him, yet.

“Hey brother, they have you cooking already?” Jackson greets his brother without even a hint of a question in his eye, mutual backslaps exchanged.

Luke doesn’t miss a beat, “Well someone has to help cook and I know it isn’t going to be you.”

“Ha ha.” Jackson turns my way and catches my cautious stare. “Hey Kaden. Good to see you again.”

“You, too, but stop hogging my sister for yourself.” I haven’t spent a lot of time around Jackson, hence making it clear I’m joking with a smile.

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