Beauty and the Beat

Beauty and the Beat (41)

I sat in front of Ethan's parents' house for what felt like hours but i was pretty sure it was only a few minutes. I was afraid of what might have happened once I talked to him.

I was also kind of scared to face his parents. I knew his mother was okay with us being together, but I had no idea how his father felt. And I also hadn't even seen them since Ethan and I had been together.

Slowly, I made my way out of my car and up the pathway to the front of his house. I remembered when I had lived here for a short period of time. Maxine had lived here also and she ended up marrying Ethan's brother. That didn't necessarily mean I would marry Ethan, but I could always hope.

I knocked on the front door and waited, holding my breath. I hoped Ethan would answer the door so I wouldn't have to face his parents. I needed less awkward situations in my life.

But when the door opened, I was faced with what I didn't want. It was just my luck. Ethan's mother was standing there before me, and I couldn't help but notice how much older she'd suddenly gotten in the time I hadn't seen her. Was it stress?

"Hi, Mrs. Deveraux," I greeted, my heart nearly stopping when I saw her. I forced a smile. "How are you?"

Her eyes went wide when she saw me. "Sadie! What are you doing here?"

"I, uh... I..." I had no idea what I was even supposed to say to say to her. I was there to see Ethan. It was as simple as that. But for some reason, I just couldn't find my voice.

Mrs. Deveraux was like a second mother to me. She was the mother of both of my brothers' best friends, her daughter was married to my brother, and before Ethan and I had gotten caught together, she and her husband were best friends with my parents. But now my mother had cut off all contact even though they were family.

"I'm... uh... Is Ethan home?" I asked, and I couldn't help but feel like a little kid asking if their friend could come out to play.

Mrs. Deveraux's face softened at my question, and I gulped. Ethan hadn't left yet, had he? His car wasn't in the driveway, but it could have been in the garage... He couldn't have left early, right?

"He's out getting some last minute things for his trip," she informed me, stepping out of the way and beckoning me inside. "Come on in. He should be home any moment."

I thanked her and made my way inside, just like I had so many times before. This house was almost like a second home to me. It had been home during the short time I had lived there...

As she shut the door behind us, a silence that fell between us was awkward, and I absolutely hated it. I used to never feel awkward around Mrs. Deveraux, but everything was different now. Everything about my life was different.

"So... you want to see Ethan?" she asked, trying to make conversation even though she already knew the answer to that question since I had asked if Ethan had been home.

I nodded. "Um, yes. I do."

She nodded as well, and it went silent between us again. I looked around the quiet house and hoped Ethan would get home soon. I didn't know what time he was going to leave, but I really hoped it wasn't soon.

"I haven't seen you in a while," Mrs. Deveraux said as she led me into the living room. "It was really unfortunate that we haven't seen you in so long."

I gulped. "Yeah, well..." I stammered, not really sure what I should have said. "I didn't really know if I was wanted or not."

Mrs. Deveraux seemed insulted. "Oh, dear," she frowned, placing her hands on my shoulders. "You could never ever be unwanted here! You're like the daughter we never had!"