Mr. Gardner

Pain

"Hey, I was thinking you could meet my parents this weekend? They have been dying to meet you." I say to Gwyneth as we are walking hand-in-hand through a park. Although, for some reason, she is more focused in her thoughts than what I have to say. "Gwyneth?" She blinks and looks at me with a smile.

"Sorry, what did you say?" I give a small smile and repeat my question. "Oh, Nate I would love to meet your parents, but unfortunately I have prior commitments this weekend..." She gives me an apologetic look.

"Oh, it's okay. Some other time then?" She nods her head with a small smile before we walk in silence again. 

Christmas is in only a few weeks, surely we should meet each other's parents before then, right? It's only normal so that the holiday isn't awkward with meeting for the first time.

"Are you doing anything tonight?" I ask, not really having a good time walking in the freezing cold with no contribution to the conversation from her. 

"Yeah, remember the girls asked me to go out tonight?" She said and I furrow my brows.

"Oh, I don't recall but that's okay. Have fun tonight, then." 

"Thanks." She simply says and it goes quiet again. I internally roll my eyes, tired of carrying the conversation lately.

"Everything okay?" I ask, not able to stand it anymore. We stop walking and she releases my hand and gives me a confused expression.

"What do you mean?" She asks, playing dumb. I sigh.

"I've just been noticing you haven't been engaged in conversation lately. I mean, when we first started this, you finally fended off that asshole who was harassing you to get back with him. Our talks were deep and meaningful, never dry. You actually wanted to spend time with me and not lost in thought when we would hang out. What's going on?" I explain, probably too much for her to handle but I want to put everything out there before anything gets messy. 

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Nate. Maybe I start to get a little distant as we progress in our relationship than when we first started? I can assure you nothing is wrong, though." She says and I just let it go. How would I know how she acts? Before we started dating I only saw her at lunch, I can't tell what she's really like, I guess. I just have to get used to this so there aren't any issues that arise. 

The last thing I need is another complicated relationship ending badly for one of us...

~

"So... What are the plans for Christmas, dad?" Susan asks as she stirs the pasta in the pot whilst I grab some juice out of the fridge.

"Uh... Well, what do you wanna do? I'm obviously inviting gram and papa."

"I'm wondering what you think about me seeing mom for a little while either Christmas Eve or Christmas?" Susan asks cautiously, not wanting me to flip out.

"Suzzie Q, that one is completely your choice. I know me and her don't get along, but if you wanna see her you go right ahead. You're an adult, I'm not gonna prevent you from seeing someone you wanna see unless I know they'll harm you." Susan smiles at me.

"Thanks, dad. I'm not set in stone on it but, I do feel bad that I don't see her, no matter how crazy she is." We both chuckle at Susan's words. 

"Like I said, I don't care who you see. Just know I'm not going anywhere near her." She playfully rolls her eyes.

"Yes, dad, I know." She tends back to the pasta she is making as I finally pour some fruit punch in two glasses. "How's Gwyneth doing? I haven't seen her in awhile." She suddenly asks and I shake my head.