More Than a Soldier

Chapter 59 - Meeting the parents

Scarlett's POV:

Y/n and I are patiently waiting for Charlotte and Dale to arrive at the same pub they meet at a couple of days ago. Y/n isn't as nervous as she was the first time she met them, but I know she has new nerves over the fact that they're meeting me. Although I'm going to make every effort to be as nice as possible. I have no issue in standing up for Y/n. Hopefully it won't come to that, and we'll have a nice time together.

When the door opens, I instantly spot Charlotte. Y/n had said it freaked her out how much they looked a like. She said it was weird that she looked so much like a stranger. I can see the resemblance straight away. Although I had seen a photo of them, seeing them face to face really showed how alike they were.

"Y/n!" Charlotte calls out as she spots us. Y/n stands up and gives them a kind smile. One that I can tell she is putting on to hide her nerves. "Hi Charlotte." She returns. Charlotte instantly opens her arms and I watch as Y/n hesitantly accepts the hug. Dale on the other hand holds his hand out to her, which she takes more comfortably. "Charlotte, Dale. I'd like you to meet my wife. Scarlett." Y/n introduces us. I smile and hold my hand out to Charlotte who does a double take. "Oh wow, you're Scarlett Johansson." She says in shock taking my hand.

"Today, I'm Y/n's wife." I return. This meeting isn't about me. I turn to Dale with my hand out. He looks less shocked and seems to notice it before he shakes my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Scarlett." He greets and offers to buy us all a drink. I can feel Charlotte looking at me and it's making me a little uncomfortable. Not because this isn't familiar for me, but because she is here to get to know her daughter. Not gawp at me.

I take Y/n's hand under the table and give it a squeeze. "So, Y/n tells me that you work in marketing." I start up a conversation, hoping to break the awkwardness that is lingering over us. "Yes. I'm the marketing manager at my company. I focus on our advertisement." She returns and I nod along. "That sounds interesting. Is that what you studied at college?" I ask her and she smiles, seemingly happy to talk about it. "Yes. I studied marketing and advertisement. I managed to get an apprenticeship after university and haven't looked back since." She explains. I smile to her, though it is as fake as Y/n's. Does she really not realise how that sounds to the daughter she abandoned when she was at university.

I try not to over think it, wanting to give them the benefit of the doubt. All that matters is Y/n's opinion. They're probably just nervous anyway, I decide. Dale is quick to re-join us, and we thank him for the drinks as he places them on the table before taking his seat. "I must admit, we didn't think we would be getting the chance to meet Scarlett Johansson on this trip." Dale chuckles, taking a sip of his beer. "No, your focus was on meeting your daughter." I say a little sharply, trying to bring the focus back to the real intention of today. "Yes, you're right and we're very grateful to Y/n for agreeing to meet us." Charlotte jumps in, giving Dale a glare.

We chat for awhile and I ask questions of Charlotte and Dale to try and learn more about them. They seem to have done well for themselves in life. Dale owns his own business and Charlotte seems to be doing well in her job. They ask questions of us, about our wedding and how we met. It's when I see a genuine smile on Y/n's face as she talks about our relationship, which makes me smile, happy to see it brings her comfort.

Dale and Y/n somehow get onto the topic of cars. It seems like Dale has a passion for them and Y/n mentions about her mustang. "Wow, those cars are hard to come by. How did you manage to get your hands on one?" He asks excitedly. "It was actually a gift for my 30th birthday from my dad." She responds easily, but I notice how both of their bodies tense up.

"Dad? I thought you said you weren't adopted." Charlotte asks, trying to hide the frustration in her voice. Y/n looks to me and I smile at her reassuringly. "I wasn't as a child. I was adopted a little under two years ago by my parents." She explains, but it doesn't really do much to relax the two opposite us. "It's a bit strange being adopted as an adult isn't it. Surely there must have been some reason for doing it. Was it for a visa?" Dale asks and I see the insulted look on Y/n's face. Her grip on my hand tightening.