Unexpected

Part XII: Home Sweet Home

"Kris!" My mom exits the house and greets me at Kate's car, which she had so graciously let me borrow for the weekend. Mom throws her arms around me and squeezes my body against her small frame. She stands a few inches shorter than me and her grayed, blonde hair tickles my nose.

"Hi mom.," I say, giving her a one armed hug. She pulls away and her brown eyes meet mine, she places a manicured hand on my cheek.

"I've missed you," she says.

I close the car door and stretch, straightening out my sundress and adjusting my jean jacket. I grab my pink overnight bag from the backseat and follow mom up the bricked front steps into the house.

My dad is sitting at the table in the small 80's style kitchen, enjoying a cup of coffee while and reading. I throw my bag into my old bedroom and return to the kitchen, giving my dad a quick peck on the cheek. He looks up at me, his gray eyes peeking over the rim of his glasses that are perched at the tip of his nose. His brown hair is brushed across the top of his head in an attempt to conceal his balding scalp. I can't help but laugh each time I see it, every visit there's less and less hair there to work with, but he hasn't given up hope yet.

"How's work, Kristine?" he inquires, turning his attention back to the novel in his hand.

I sigh and pour myself a cup of coffee. I sit across the table from him, stirring a spoon around in the mug. I listen to the soft clink of the spoon against the ceramic and watch the brown liquid as it swirls.

"It's good," I answer at last. "Julia has kept me fairly busy, the cases don't seem to stop flooding in. We had our first meeting with some lawyers yesterday, though. We're working pretty closely with a legal team for this particular case."

Oh, and I'm repeatedly sleeping with one of them.

"Oh, lawyers?" Mom raises her eyebrows and places a hand on my shoulder. "Any of them unmarried?"

"Mom!" I brush her hand off of my shoulder, bringing my hand up to pinch the bridge of my nose. "Can we not talk about my single life, and dating for, like, one visit?"

She scoffs, "I'm just trying to help, dear..." She busies herself behind me, preparing lunch for the three of us.

Dad and I continue to talk about work. He asks about the development of the case and how our assistance with the lawyers has progressed. I ask him about his book and he dives into an ongoing ramble about the latest non-fiction series he's found. The doorbell rings and interrupts our conversation. Mom rushes to the front door, opening it quickly and welcoming someone inside. I stiffen and groan, knowing what type of situation I've just found myself thrown into. A tall, blonde haired man enters the kitchen, following behind my mother as she bounces into the room.

"Jacob, this is my daughter Kristine." she says motioning in my direction, "Kristine, this is Jacob. His mother started working at the bank with me recently so I thought it would be a great idea to invite him over for lunch while you're in town."

I clench my jaw and shoot my mom a nasty look, I then glance over at my dad. He meets my eyes and shakes his head slightly as if to tell me he had nothing to do with the set up. I look back to my mother and the unwelcome stranger.

"It's very nice to meet you, Jacob." I force a smile and extend a hand to him. He firmly grasps it and gives it a quick shake before letting go and shoving his hands into his pockets.

"I've heard a lot of great things about you Kristine," he replies.

"Oh great." I mutter. "Mom, can I see you in the living room for a moment?" I politely smile in her direction concealing the murderous look in my eyes.