Bless the Broken Road that Lead Me Straight to You

Chapter 36

Erin spent the entire drive trying to avoid the nervous feeling that was slowly creeping in, but as she grew closer to the address, the anxiety settled and her stomach felt tied in knots. She wished Grace was awake to distract her, her daughter being one of the best distractions, but she wasn't selfish enough to actually wake her up.

In the end though, Erin didn't need to be worried. The minute she stepped into the beautiful red brick house, Mrs. Corson enveloped her into a hug and made her feel right at home.

"Erin," she said, releasing her from the hug but still draping her fingers onto Erin's shoulders lightly, as if she was a grandmother saying let me get a good look at you, sweetheart. "I'm so glad to finally meet you." Her smile was wide and gracious, and her demeanor was completely relaxed. Erin felt her shoulders sag slightly in relief, and the knots in her stomach seemed to loosen a little.

Mrs. Corson didn't even let Erin reply before she turned to Grace, "And you must be Grace." She bent down, opening her arms even wider this time. "I'm Gail, but you can just call me Nana."

They were still standing in the large open foyer, and there was something in the way Mrs. Corson carried herself, in the way she spoke so genuinely, that seemed to completely put Grace and Erin at ease. Erin was so stunned and distracted by her presence that she didn't even notice Jay and Maddie walking towards them.

"Mommy!" Maddie cried, "You met Nana!"

Erin froze, her previous nerves returning full force. She looked down at the dark wooden floors, avoiding both Jay and Gail's gaze. "I sure did," she looked up slightly, finding Maddie's eyes only, trying and failing to keep her voice steady and calm.

Okay, Jay thought as he watched Erin shifting uncomfortable near the front door. I probably should have warned her.

He hadn't even thought about it during their brief phone call earlier. After the sudden invitation and the 'mommy' name drop at the picnic table, Danny and Gail just laughed at his stunned reaction. Then they insisted that he stop acting so weird around them. Then they told him they were happy he was happy, thrilled even.

And then they added that Allie would be, too.

At their words, for some reason, all the guilt he had been feeling was washed away and he was left feeling light and happy. The rest of the afternoon, all he could think about was finally introducing Grace and Erin to Danny and Gail. After his mom's passing and breaking off contact completely with his father, they had become like second parents to him. Almost like his version of Hank and Camille.

He walked towards Erin, and slipped his hand into hers, interlocking their fingers, and squeezing them gently between his. Then while Gail was momentarily distracted, leading Grace and Maddie into the kitchen to be her big helpers, he leaned into whisper in her ear. "I love you." Then he slipped his free hand under her chin and moved her face so she was looking at him. "And they are going to love you, too. Okay?"

While his words calmed her slightly, he hadn't even come close to addressing her biggest concern. "Um..." Did he noticed that Maddie just called me mommy? "Maddie just called me-"

His trademark grin spreading slowly across his face, "Baby, she's been calling you that all day."

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"Everything looks delicious, Mrs. Corson," Erin was seated next to Maddie at the large outdoor table. Jay was sitting directly across her, with Grace at his side, and the Corson's were sitting at the heads of each end. The table sat towards the side of the expansive deck, right beside an extra large grill and serving area. Then there was a couch and seating area on the other side of the deck, with potted plants and flowers strewn throughout.