Hetty and Ryan: Overcome

Family Lunch

That weekend, Hetty attended a luncheon with Cooper's family, who lived just over an hour away. They had invited the couple over to celebrate the big news of the baby.

It became quickly apparent to Hetty that her future mother-in-law was anxious for the pair to begin planning the wedding. Several not-so-subtle hints were dropped within the first half hour of their visit.

Hetty had spent limited time with Cooper's family up until this point. She had never felt a particularly genuine warmth towards her from his mother, Eloise. But she had convinced herself that the uncomfortable chill between them was all in her head.

The truth was, Hetty's reference point when it came to boyfriends' mothers was... Lilly. She now reminded herself that it was unfair to compare Eloise, or anyone else for that matter, to Lilly. Ryan's mother was one-of-a-kind, and Hetty's relationship with her had been truly special.

"How have you been feeling, Hetty?" Eloise asked her.

"Not so great, to be honest." It was true. Hetty had felt like absolute crap for the past couple weeks. She found herself vomiting into the toilet several times a day, and literally no food on planet earth was appetizing to her.

She picked at her plate, which was scattered with petite roast beef and turkey sandwiches, grapes and tiny portions of several types of salad.

"Now that you two are pregnant, when will you begin wedding preparations?" inquired Eloise, sounding serious rather than excited over the prospect. Hetty felt queasy.

"We have both been pretty busy at work, mom," replied Cooper. "Hetty just started her counseling job at the middle school, and I've been out of town constantly now that I'm managing my own team."

"Well, now is the time to buckle down and get a move on things, don't you think?"

Hetty disliked the way she was speaking to them. All she could picture in her head was Lilly's unjudgmental communication style.

She had greeted Hetty warmly in their very first encounter eight years ago, when Lilly discovered Hetty seated in her kitchen, home alone with her son after finishing a school project.

Lilly had imparted wise, open-minded perspectives about sex with the high school couple, after she had caught them - once again - unexpectedly home alone. Just minutes after they had gloriously climaxed together, still clothed, on the family room sofa.

And just two weeks ago, Lilly had showered her in love and care on their dinner "date," gently guiding Hetty to follow her heart. Hetty trusted Lilly completely. Just as she had always trusted Ryan.

Cooper's phone began buzzing. He glanced down, hesitated, then stood up to take the call. He retreated down the hall to a vacant bedroom. Hetty was left alone to face stiff, awkward conversations with Cooper's parents about her new job.

"You're not hungry?" asked Eloise after a few minutes.

"Not really."

"Well, with this appetite, at least you won't be gaining a bunch of baby weight!" The comment hung in the air like a heavy raincloud.

"What?" Hetty said. Not because she hadn't heard, but because she thought the comment was ridiculously stupid. She felt hot anger overtake her. Cooper returned to the table with a strange expression on his face.

"Everything okay, son?" asked his father, Harrison.

"Yep. Just work."

Hetty got up to use the restroom, needing a respite from the suffocating conversation with Cooper's family. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her complexion was rosy and she looked pretty, despite how she felt. Hetty imagined Ryan looking at her, taking in her glowing cheeks and bright green eyes. She imagined how much she turned him on - how every tiny thing she did could get him going.