Chapter Nine* Meet The Parents

After a (not so gentle) nudge from a friend of mine who shouted across the hall into my office this morning that it was time to write Chapter 9, here I am. :) So, without further ado, this is the story of how my husband and I met, got engaged, and were married within 8 months…

…and lived happily ever after*

After spending an amazing first date and first kiss together I was still a little nervous about where I stood with him and when or if he’d call… but he did call. From that first date nearly 3.5 years ago to today we have never missed a day of talking to one another, be it in person or on the phone. :)

From what I can remember, he called me after work the next day and invited me over for dinner after church the following day. His family lived about a half hour away from where I was living, so one of my best friends, [Monkey Man] drove me out there and we went to church together. He had friends there as well, so we had decided to go together. Monkey Man was always notoriously late, so as a result we arrived after church had already started. We snuck into a pew at the back and I quickly scanned the room for the Hubster. After a moment I spotted him a few rows up in the middle of a bunch of people with girls on one side. Yes, my jealousy flared. ahhhaha He looked so good… he was wearing a black suit with a blue shirt and silver tie. Hubble hubble ding ding!!

A little while later he turned around and spotted me and gave me a huge wink and a smile. At the next hymn I waved him over and he moved to sit with me, as he did for the remainder of the service. My stomach was turning the entire time as the time when I would meet his parents loomed ever closer. I have always been good with parents– mine taught me to be polite, friendly and respectful. But for some reason meeting HIS parents made me especially nervous as I really wanted to make a good impression.

At the time it never really occurred to me how fast things were progressing. In my previous relationships, if I had even met my significant others’ parents it was after several weeks / months. In a matter of 6 days, he had met mine, and I was about to meet his.

When church ended Monkey Man left me with a hug and the Hubster took me to his home. I was immediately impressed with how beautiful it was… his parents home is not large, but his mother is a wonderful decorator. She collects antiques and as soon as you step into their house it’s like moving back 100 years. It’s incredible.

She also immediately put me at ease… as soon as I walked in the door I was greeted with a huge smile and a hug, and she made some light-hearted joke and removed all my butterflies. Well, most of them. :) His dad was working in the States at the time but was home visiting that weekend so I was able to meet them both. As we waited for dinner to finish, his parents, the Hubster and I all sat in the living room chatting. His mom regaled me with stories about some of his recent “first dates” and how I was one of the first girls that he had taken out more than once! As we talked I vividly remember the Hubster taking off his suit jacket, rolling up his shirt sleeves and playing with their new puppy, Toby. As I watched him a feeling of deep affection washed over me and as I look back on it, I think I first really fell in love with him in that instant. Something in that simple action made me feel more at home than I could have ever imagined.

All in all, dinner was wonderful. His family was so kind to me and I was completely at ease. After dinner the Hubster and I watched a movie together– it was scary so I took every opportunity to let him hold me close and protect me. haha! Annnnnnnd… he kissed me again. :) I remember hearing something about second kisses somewhere… it was something to the effect of how second kisses were actually scarier than the first. When I think about it, I think it was. But I am happy to report that it was just as fabulous as the first.

He drove me home shortly before midnight as I had early classes the next day and he had to work, but the moment he left I was already wanting to see him again. After 6 days I was hopelessly falling in love with him and could hardly wait for our next date. :)