Page 44 of Motown
Tessa straightens her spine, puts a hand on her hip, and tosses her hand out, exclaiming, “Fine!I don’t want fine, Motown.I want warm, inviting, and loving.My mom will be great.She’s like that.You know, go with it.”She twirls her hand in the air for flair.“But Dad, he’s…” She struggles to find the words.
“He’s a father who loves his daughter and wants you to have it all,” I finish for her, crossing the room and touching her cheek lightly.“Let him do his thing.You might be surprised by how well it will go.”
The doorbell chimes, and Tessa jolts.She scurries to the door to let her parents in.I can’t help but chuckle.Tessa’s adorable all the time, but she’s so damn cute right now that I wish no one was coming for Thanksgiving and I could have her all to myself.I’m a selfish man when it comes to her.
“Mom, how much stuff did you bring?I told you all we needed was you,” Tessa says, taking packages from her mother.
“I bought the bread you like so much.I know how you love fresh rolls.And I picked up some of your favorite jams and jellies from Mrs.Tallis’s shop.You love your jam on toast,” her mother replies.I come to take the boxes out of Tessa’s hands so she can give her mother a proper hug.
“I’ll take those, babe,” I say, then I look at her mother.“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
“Mom, this is Matthew Motown Hockley, my boyfriend,” Tessa introduces me proudly, her face beaming.
Mom takes one look at my massive frame, and her jaw drops.It takes her a second, but she finally says, “Hello, Motown.It’s nice to meet the man who’s stolen my little girl’s heart.”
“The pleasure is mutual, Mrs.Honeybush.”
“Danielle.Please call me Danielle,” Tessa’s mother says sweetly.
“Danielle, can you move inside so I can carry in the forty suitcases you packed for a week’s trip?”comes a voice behind Tessa’s mother.
“There are two, count them,twosuitcases.And one of them has your clothes in it, Peter.I’m hugging my daughter.Do you mind?”
“She’s my daughter too, and I’d like to see her as well,” Peter retorts.Danielle quickly moves out of the way to let her husband through.
Danielle is petite, like her daughter, with delicate facial features, but her hair is a lighter shade of brown than Tessa’s dark brunette.Peter is a tall man, and apart from the slight belly he has from eating his wife’s good cooking, he’s fit.Tessa has his eyes, but that’s about as far as the resemblance goes.
“I can take those,” I say, reaching for one of the suitcases.He reluctantly releases his grip and lets me take it from him.
He’s sizing me up.Normally, I wouldn’t give a shit what people think of me, but this is Tessa’s father, and she loves him, which means I’ll make an extra effort for my girl.
“We have the guest room made up for you,” Tessa jumps in, and quickly leans into her dad to give him a kiss on the cheek.“Motown will take the bags into the room while you relax for a while.How was your trip?”
I’m happy to give the three of them time alone.I drop their bags in their room and give them a few more minutes before joining them.As I walk down the hallway, I hear Tessa say, “Dad, I love him.I get that you’re being protective, and you only want the best for me, but promise me you’ll get to know him.”
“Who said I wouldn’t?”he exclaims gruffly.
“Pete, I swear to God, if you cause problems on our first visit after your daughter has gone to all this trouble to introduce us to her man and their friends, you’ll be sleeping in the spare room for a month,” Danielle warns.
“I haven’t said two words to the man, and suddenly I’m the villain,” Peter responds.
“That’s right, you didn’t.You didn’t say hello or even a simple thank-you when he took our bags.That’s just rude,” Danielle carries on.
“Dad, all I’m asking is for you to talk to him before you pass judgment.But no matter what you think, he’s the man I love, and he’s in my life,” Tessa states.
I make sure they hear me coming as I return.“The guys will be here soon, Tessa.What do you need me to help with?”
Peter stands up.“I was hoping you’d show me around the neighborhood.Been sitting for too long.I need to stretch my legs.”
And there it is: the talk.
The look of suspicion on both Tessa’s and her mother’s face was priceless.I thought Danielle was going to reach out and throttle her husband, but she kept her fists tightly clenched in her lap.
“We’ll be back soon,” I tell Tessa, then bend to kiss her sweetly and whisper, “It’s going to be okay.Relax.”
Tessa gives me a nod, but she’s not relaxing until we return.I grab my jacket and follow Peter out the door.We get as far as the sidewalk when Tim, the kid next door, sees us and comes running over.
“Motown!Motown!”He waves me down.
