Blended Love

Chapter 8: Meet the family

"Okay, my parents said they're going to be getting in at 8pm tonight," I tell Steve over the phone.

"Cool, I'll leave at 7:00 then. You'll come here later at 5 today, with all of your things to stay with the kids, while I pick them up."

"Perfect. Thank you so much for picking my parents up."

"Pshh. I wasn't gonna let my woman go out after nightfall, pregnant," he says, "Plus I'd do anything to show you the benefits of living together. Free parent pickups and drop-offs at the McCormick house."

I laughed. "You really are trying to sell this moving in thing."

"Isn't your lease up soon? Like in February."

"Yeah, but Alanna lives with me now, I wouldn't want her to have to find a place on such short notice because I decide not renew or move with her. She did me a real favor by moving in here when Michael bailed on me. I don't want to return the favor like that."

"She can move in too, until she finds a place that works for her- I wouldn't even charge her rent," he paused, "I just want you home with me and the kids. You're gonna have the baby soon, you need to be thinking about night feedings, diaper changes, sleeping, eating and a whole baby. I want you here, where I can help you."

I smiled thinking to myself about all the things he was saying. Raising the baby with Steve and the kids would be nice. He was right, I mean of course he was he had two kids himself.  He knew how hard it was.

"Listen, you don't have to answer now. Just know I will keep saying something. So, you know, think about not renewing your lease babe. I promise I will make it all worthwhile."

"Deal. Lets just get through this holiday and gender reveal," I said with an exasperated giggle.

"Deal. Well pack up I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I love you too."

I hang up the phone and begin moving about my room in the bathroom packing my things to stay at Steve's for the week. I pack up my makeup bag, facial cleansers, and hair products. I move back into my room and zip up my suitcase that I had packed earlier.

I walk out into the living room where Alanna is. She's boxing up some items for the gender reveal. The baby's theme was a Winter Wonderland gender reveal. She was using her cricut machine to cut out snowflakes on glitter card stock paper.

"Heading over to Steve's?"

"Yes I'm gonna head over earlier to spend time with them before he goes to gets my parents. I'm a little nervous."

"Why girl?"

"Cause my parents haven't met Steve yet and I wonder if they're gonna like him once they actually meet him. Telling them about him is so different from actually interacting with him."

She shrugged. "I like Steve. If they don't see that this a good man and that they're daughter definitely did good, then I don't know. Maybe your parents are morons," she says casually.

"Alanna!"

"What?! I mean maybe they're- uh- stupid?"

I roll my eyes at her.

"Okay what's the better word for it then? Cause he's a good man. Let me tell them," she huffed, "Let me tell you, not once did he complain or say he couldn't do it when I sent him invoices for this gender reveal."

"What invoices did you send?"

Alanna and I had gone over the list and eliminated certain things that were out of the budget. She had shown me some of the things we had to purchase; cake from the baker, chairs and tables from the rental company, some platters and drinks for guests. She had gotten all of the supplies for cute decorations she was making. I know she said my parents wanted to pay for treats to go on a treat table. And Steve gave me a thousand dollars against my wishes, that I used to pay for the stuff she had sent me.