Love Thy Neighbor

Chapter 22

My family spends the day touring Toronto while I crunch numbers at the office. I'd told Shawn to arrive around 4:00 PM and he was perfectly punctual, arriving minutes after I'd gotten home.

I answer the door and smile at him. He looks so handsome. He's wearing a olive green v-neck sweater and black jeans. The sweater is tight enough to accentuate his impressive arm muscles.

"Hey you," I say as I step aside so he can come in.

As he walks by me, he gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and whispers, "I've missed you," in my ear as he hands me a big bouquet of flowers.

My family is standing in the living room, lined up, ready to meet Shawn.

"Mom, Dad, Elsie...this is Shawn."

My dad steps forward and extends his hand, "Please call me Jacob. This is my wife, Ellen."

Shawn shakes my dad's hand, then my mom's, and then turns to Elsie.

"You must be Elsie," he says warmly, extending a hand.

Elsie stares at his hand for a second before taking it. She's uncharacteristically shy right now.

"I have something for you since I hear you are a fan," he says, and he reaches inside his jeans pocket. "I used these on my last tour."

He hands her several guitar picks.

"Oh my god! Thank you!" she screeches.

My dad gets us all drinks and we sit on the couch. My parents ask Shawn all about his career, and he's more than happy to share with them. He also asks them what they do and seems genuinely interested in their answers. He even asks Elsie several questions about high school and what kind of music she listens to (other than his).

My mom stands. "It's time."

We all go over to the counter where the menorah stands. My father lights the shamash and my mother recites the prayer. My father lets Elsie light the candles.

Once we're done, my mom goes into the kitchen to prepare latkes, which are a type of potato pancake. I take the roast chicken out of the oven and prepare some asparagus. Elsie sets the table. By table, I mean a folding table my parents brought, plus some folding chairs. I don't have a dining room, so the makeshift dining area is off to the side of the living room. The table has a lovely blue tablecloth, so you can hardly tell it's not a real table. My dad and Shawn about how Shawn found his condo. Dad can talk real estate for hours.

When we're all seated at dinner, I explain to Shawn that this is a fairly typical Hanukkah meal. Traditionally you have a fried food, which the latkes are in this case.

Every bit of food is eaten, which bums me out slightly because I love leftover latkes for breakfast with a fried egg. We go sit in the living room again and my dad pours everyone a small glass of aged port wine.

Holding his glass up he says, "Here's to a happy Hanukkah surrounded by family and those we cherish."

My mom then goes to the closet to get tonight's gifts.

Elsie and I each get a sweater. My dad gets a tie. My mom gets some stationery.

My mom also has something for Shawn.

"You can't celebrate with us without getting a little something," she tells him as she hands him a small box. Inside are guitar shaped cuff links. I'm rather shocked that my mom got him something so perfect.

"These are amazing, Mrs. Levine," he says. "The next time you see me in a tux on the red carpet, I will be wearing them."

I always give my parents and Elsie gifts on the last day of Hanukkah because that's how my family has always done it. Everyone gets one gift each until the last night when it's more of an exchange between everyone. Because of this, I told Shawn not to bring anything. It would just be weird.

My dad goes into the kitchen to do the dishes since my mom and I cooked. Elsie should be helping him, but asking her to leave the room Shawn is in just seems cruel.

We've had a drink before dinner, wine with dinner, and the port after, so we're  all feeling pretty relaxed. I'm normally kind of uptight around my parents when it comes to guys, but I move closer to Shawn on the loveseat we're sharing. He puts his arm around me and pulls me in even more.

He tells some stories about his craziest experiences on tour. Many of them involve weird foods he's been afraid to try. He explains that he never wants to hurt anyone's feelings, but he's terribly afraid of getting sick while touring. Canceling a show and disappointing thousands of fans would destroy him.

My parents then tell several embarrassing stories about me. Goodness knows they have plenty to choose from. I'm glad they pick some of the milder ones. Shawn certainly enjoys hearing them. I think he's happy it's me this time and not him.

"We should get going back to the hotel," my mom says around 11:30.

My parents get their jackets on and walk to the door.

"Shawn, it was wonderful meeting you," my mom says, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"We'll see you again this visit, right?" my dad asks, looking from Shawn to me.

We had not discussed this, but I am not opposed to the idea.

"Can you come another night?" I ask, kind of putting him on the spot.

"I have a hockey game with the guys tomorrow night," he says. "I am free the next night, though."

"That's perfect!" my mom exclaims. "The last night is always the best. I'll be making brisket. You'll love it."

"I'd love it you all could come by my place so I can reciprocate your hospitality. Could we do dessert there? I can't make anything but I can buy something good," Shawn offers.

My parents both smile, obviously pleased by his offer.

"We'll take you up on that," my dad says.

I look over at Elsie and she is trying to stifle a huge grin. I know she is flipping out about the prospect of going to Shawn Mendes's condo. Knowing her, she will faint if she gets to pee in the same toilet he pees in.

My parents leave. I assume Shawn will follow, but he goes back into my living room and sits on the loveseat.

I walk in the room and stand near him, raising an eyebrow.

"I want just a few minutes alone with you," he says.

As if on cue, Elsie yawns. "I'm going to bed," she says. "Goodnight Jessie. Goodnight Shawn...see you in two days."

The door shuts to my bedroom and I climb onto Shawn's lap.

"Alone at last," he says.