Page 66 of Trusting Fate (Hope Falls: Brewed Awakenings 2)

Mom?

Dad?

It looked like Grace was going to meet the parents. And she was doing it in Easton’s shirt, slippers and nothing else.

* * *

Easton’s brainwas still trying to process what he was seeing when Grace stepped to the side and his parents walked into the B&B. One of his brothers must have told his parents that he was here.

“Easton?!” his mom exclaimed when she saw him. Her reaction was not someone who knew that he would be there. “Easton?!”

Okay, maybe his brothers hadn’t told her that he was here.

His mom dropped her bag and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He hugged her tightly as she cried against his shoulder.

He looked up at his dad who had a confused look on his face.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

Before he could answer, Shelby walked in and shut the door behind her. “Hi! Sorry, I didn’t think you’d be here for another hour or so.”

His mom ignored Shelby’s entrance completely and stepped back and cupped her hands on his face. “What are you doing here?”

“Yeah, what are you doing here?” his dad repeated his question.

“I um…”

“Oh, you didn’t know he was here?” Shelby looked confused as she looked up to his dad. “I thought you said it was a surprise.”

“It was a surprise for my wife.”

His mom sniffed as she wiped her face. “I got a little homesick in Palm Springs, so your dad surprised me with a flight to Tahoe so we could come here and have Thanksgiving with your brothers and he booked a room here because he knew that I’ve always wanted to stay here.”

“Oh,” Shelby looked at Easton, her eyes wide, before looking back at his dad. “I thought you meant it was a surprise for Easton.”

“I didn’t even know he was here.” His dad motioned to Easton.

“I’m so sorry,” Shelby started to apologize to Easton and his parents, obviously uncomfortable being in the middle of this family mishap.

“Don’t worry, it’s fine. We’ll figure it out. Thanks, Shelby.” Easton smiled at her.

“Are you sure?” she looked between everyone before taking a step toward the door. “Okay, well if you need me, just call. Oh, and I didn’t get to tell you last night because things were crazy at the bar, but good luck on the show you guys. The whole town is going to be voting for you!”

“Thanks,” both he and Grace replied.

As soon as the door shut, his mom turned to him. “What show?”

“What are you doing here?” his dad spoke at the same time.

He figured he’d start with his dad’s question. “You know the day I called you a few weeks ago and you told me that you were in Palm Springs?”

“Yeah.” His mom nodded.

“I was at your house. I was going to surprise you, but I got there and you weren’t there, so I called and—”

His mom slapped his arm. Hard. “You’ve been home for three weeks?!”

He rubbed his bicep. “Yes. I didn’t want to interrupt your vacation because I’m going to be here for a while.”

---