One Long Flight 💙

Family Dinner

"You know you really didn't have to do that, Aisling."

She nodded, holding the cake box in her hands. "I know. I wanted to. It's the first time I'm meeting your mother. I want her to like me." Aisling shrugged with a playful smile. "All women love sweets."

Chris chuckled, agreeing. He opened the front door and gestured for her to enter the house first, where they were greeted by Scott.

"Scott, hi." Aisling smiled as he kissed her on the cheek in greeting.

"Hey, guys." Scott's gaze shifted to the cake box. "What's that?"

Chris took the box from Aisling's hands, "Aisling wanted to make chocolate cake for Mom."

Scott nodded, his expression thoughtful. "But Shanna always makes her cake every year."

Aisling felt a pang of concern, her smile faltering. "I'm not overstepping, am I? Chris didn't tell me that." She playfully hit Chris's chest and held the cake box protectively. "It's bad enough you spring the fact that your family dinner is your mother's birthday, but now I've overstepped, and your sister is going to hate me."

Chris lightly hit Scott's arm, giving him a push to leave the foyer. "She won't. It's fine. It's a nice gesture, Aisling. Just come on."

Sighing, she followed Chris into the kitchen, where Tara greeted her with a smile and introduced her to her husband. Aisling's attention was then drawn to the counter where there was already a cake. Chris guided her closer to his mother.

Chris gestured towards Lisa, "Aisling, this is my mother, Lisa." He placed a reassuring hand on Aisling's back. "This is Aisling."

He pointed out his sisters to Aisling: Carly and Shanna. However, both sisters seemed less than thrilled to have her there.

With a friendly smile, Aisling extended her free hand to Lisa. "It's nice to meet you. Happy birthday." She held up the cake box. "I wanted to make you a cake."

Lisa smiled, accepting the box. "You made this?" She opened it and placed it on the counter, next to Shanna's cake which was more obviously homemade. "It looks like a bakery cake."

Aisling nodded, a bit relieved by Lisa's response. "I like to bake. It's a hobby. I hope it's okay." She glanced at Shanna, who only managed a half-smile. "Chris didn't tell me you already had a tradition of doing it."

Lisa reassured her, "It's fine, dear. Thank you."

Aisling let out a small sigh of relief, but she still felt the tension in the room. Feeling nervous and awkward under everyone's gaze, she excused herself and walked into the empty living room.

Chris followed her, sensing her unease. "It's okay. No need to be so nervous."

She shook her head, her anxiety evident. "I don't know if I can do this. They all look at me like I don't belong. Maybe I don't."

Chris sighed in frustration. "Of course you do." He pulled her close, trying to soothe her racing thoughts. "You always belong here, with me." He took her hand. "Come on, let's go sit down."

Reluctantly, she followed him back into the dining room, where he seated her next to him. The atmosphere was tense and mostly silent as everyone took their places. Feeling the weight of their gazes, Aisling finally broke the silence. "Okay. Let's have it." She glanced at Tara and Scott, both of whom seemed amused. Scott's nod was a silent signal for her to stay calm.

Chris let out a soft chuckle, his hand on Aisling's thigh, feeling her tension as she prepared herself for the incoming barrage of questions.

Lisa spoke up first, "So, you guys met in London?"

Aisling shook her head, "No, actually we met on the plane to London. He spilled his drink on me in the lounge. I sort of snapped at him, and then we found out we were seated together. We talked the entire time."

"The entire flight from New York to London? You bothered him the whole way?" Carly interrupted.

Sensing Aisling's unease, Chris laid his hand reassuringly on her thigh. "She didn't bother me."

Aisling nodded, "He was very kind and kept me engaged throughout the flight."

Chris nodded and leaned over to kiss her temple, offering comfort.

Shanna scoffed, "Do you always need constant attention?"

Aisling stumbled over her words, "I... I don't..."

Chris jumped in, "She doesn't. She's a nervous flyer and was anxious about going to London."

"But isn't she from London?"

Chris shot a pointed look at his sister, his face showing signs of irritation and embarrassment. "She is right here. No, she's from New York. Her parents live in London." He squeezed Aisling's thigh gently as she took deep breaths to calm herself.

Shanna pressed on, "Then why were you nervous about going to London?"

Aisling looked to Chris, silently asking for his help in answering.

He nodded, addressing his sister again, "Her grandmother was dying, and she wanted to be there in time to say goodbye."

Aisling kept her gaze fixed on her plate, the room hushed by the revelation. Lisa's sigh broke the silence, "Aisling, I'm sorry. Were you able to get to London in time?"

She nodded softly, keeping her eyes downcast.

Shanna didn't let up, "I don't get it. You just met her? Yet you took her to a premiere, introduced her as your girlfriend, and now she's moving here to Boston?"

Aisling was about to respond when Chris jumped in again, his patience wearing thin. "Sometimes, when you know, you just know. The premiere was a spontaneous decision because I wanted to bring her into my world and see how she'd handle it." He turned to Aisling with a soft smile. "And she handled it amazingly well, by the way."

Aisling blushed at his praise, but she could sense the undercurrent of anger in his words. His eyes, usually a clear sky blue, were now darkened like an ocean in a storm.

"Chris," she whispered, touching his hand, hoping to calm him down. But he locked eyes with his sister.

"She might not fully grasp what you're trying to imply, but I do, and I won't stand for it. I brought her here because I love her, and I wanted her to meet my family. She's moving to Boston because she's made that choice, and she's staying."

Aisling sighed, her voice tinged with exasperation. "Chris, I get what she's implying. I'm not naïve, and I can stand up for myself." She took a breath, "Yes, I am moving to Boston. I was already planning to before I met Chris, by the way. I just need to find a place."

Chris let out a frustrated noise, his patience wearing thin. "You have a place, you just need to accept it."

Aisling shook her head, looking at him with a mix of exasperation and affection. "Chris, not here."

He shook his head, turning to face her fully. "Yes, here. Move in with me!"

The room fell into an astonished silence, forks suspended mid-air, as everyone stared at the couple, waiting for Aisling's response.