Loss and Longing

 Three nights later Stevie was a little nervous as she waited for Grant to arrive at her house. Her mother had spent the afternoon in the kitchen. Stevie had done what she could to help and she could tell, her mother was going all out to impress him. She smiled to herself as she was shooed out of the kitchen and she went to check she had packed everything she’d need.

Stevie had told her mother two days ago that she’d be staying at Grant’s house and apart from giving her a smile, Nina had offered no comment. No one needed to be anywhere in the morning so Stevie was happy as she could be on that score, about not being there. She was certainly looking forward to waking up with him. But first she had to get through this meeting and as the door bell rang, she prayed they’d all like him.

Stevie opened the door and smiling at Grant, she said “hey.”                                

“Hi” he said and he bent to kiss her.

As she shut the door, he said “you still staying over?”

She grinned and nodded.

“Good” he said with a smile.

“Come in and meet everyone” she said as she grabbed his hand and led him down the passage “hopefully they’ll behave.”

Grant chuckled “you make them sound like kids.”

“Two of them are” she said.

“Ah, good point” he said with a laugh.

Nina met them at the kitchen door and Stevie watched her mother’s face with amusement as she introduced Grant. She expected some surprise, she was still a little surprised herself when she looked at him. He was so gorgeous. And she certainly got that, but Stevie had also expected to see approval. However that was not what she saw on her mother’s face and she frowned. Taking Grant into the living room to meet her siblings she left him there for a minute, to get some drinks and took the opportunity to have a private word with her mother.