Kylie & Jack 1: Humble Beginnings

35. This is Jack ...

Good Friday

Kylie and Jack were on their Murruma to have lunch with her parents ... and tell them about their relationship. Ever since Amy and Mike had teased them, Jack had returned the teasing fire to Kylie, telling her that he was ready to officially meet the parents.

So after little more than a month, they made their way to Kylie's childhood home. Jack may have been used to this drive, but today he could feel tiny butterflies in his stomach because this time, the destination and purpose wasn't work.

All Janelle and John knew was that Kylie was on her way out for the day - and there was nothing odd about it, because Kylie frequently came out during the holidays.

Jack followed Kylie out of the car, across the backyard and onto the veranda where he unwittingly stopped to take a rallying breath.

Kylie had barely opened the door and stepped inside when they ran into her dad, John who was on his way to the shed.

"Oh look out!" John cried at them both, barely taking in Jack's presence until he sidestepped them both.

"Whoa! Slow down, Dad! Where're you off to in such a rush anyway? It's a public holiday!"

John stopped and eyed Kylie ... and then Jack.

"What brings you out here?" John asked Kylie with a growing twinkle in his blue eyes, scanning Kylie's face before tilting his head to glance at Jack. When John turned back to Kylie, he smirked seeing her cheeks turn pink.

"I want you to meet someone ..."

Jack stepped forward and extended his hand to John. Kylie noticed that Jack, although well over six feet tall, stood straight like a soldier while he addressed John.

"Morning Mr Foley, sir. I'm Jack Brookes."

John eyed Jack for a moment before shaking his hand. "It's John. Uh ... so what's all this about?"

"What's all what about?" Janelle called out from the laundry. Kylie turned to see her mother step over a pile of laundry yet to be washed to say hello.

"Oh - hello, Jack. I didn't expect to be seeing you out here -" Janelle said politely, wiping her hair out of her face.

"- ah yeah, that's why we're here ..." Kylie began to say. She didn't think she would be so nervous and she certainly didn't realise that when Jack discretely wrapped his hand around hers, that it abated her nerves somewhat.

"Oh?" Janelle asked wryly, glancing over Kylie's head at John who raised his eyebrows in reply.

"Yeah ... see, ah ... Jack and I are together. Bit over a month now."

"Oho!" Janelle cried. Her tone and twinkling eyes accentuating the way Janelle was teasing Kylie.

"Why so nervous then?" John asked Kylie. When she turned to face him, her mouth agape she could see her father's face was lit up like a Christmas tree with glee.

"I'm not nervous!"

"You kinda are mate," Jack whispered in Kylie's ear and just loud enough for John and Janelle to hear him.

Kylie's parents both chuckled softly. Janelle stepped forward while John returned to putting his boots on and gave Jack a long, measured look.

"Are ... are we just going to look at each other or is someone gonna say something?" Jack asked slowly, barely moving his head as he glanced from Janelle to John and back.

"Well, you're definitely better than the last one." Janelle said quietly and giving Jack a polite smile. She turned and headed for the kitchen, offering a cuppa to everyone.