All Natural (ON HOLD)

Chapter Three

A 2019 Fire Agate Pearl Lexus GX 460 pulled into the driveway. The windows were tinted just enough that Mr. and Mrs. Taylor could not see who was in their drive.

"Momma, do you know these people?" He asked his wife.

"Pappa, that car doesn't look like nobody I know." She replied. If any of their family members had a brand-new car, everybody would already know about it. Curtis stood up from the porch swing and walked over to the vehicle to see if maybe someone was lost. As the door opened, his look of concern turned into a Cheshire cat grin when he saw his baby girl get out of the passenger side.

"Daddy!" She screamed and ran over to him as if she had not seen him in a decade.

"Baby girl. You trying to make this old man die from worry and stress. What took you so long to come home?" He fussed and laughed at the same time. His little girl hugged him like she hadn't seen him in forever. Tears rolled down her cheeks. He stood there and held his child for the time it took for her to stop crying.

"Stop that now. You don't want to worry your mother. You are a big girl now. Enough with those tears." He could barely get the words out as he held his child and kissed her forehead. Even though she was a grown woman, she would forever be the same chubby little kitty kat who stole his heart from the moment she was born. Mr. Taylor made a valiant attempt to provide solace to his daughter.

He was unaware of the young man who rounded the front of the vehicle to stand and observe the interaction between father and daughter. Ari stood in silence because he wasn't sure what he should do.

"Who is this handsome young man?" Mrs. Taylor questioned as she joined the group. Ari turned to see an older woman walking over to him. If he didn't know any better, he would say that it was Cat. The only thing that gave the woman away was the noticeably gray hair which covered her head. He was pleased to see that even once Cat got older she most likely would look just like the woman he knew must be her mother.

"Mommy." Cat screamed and jumped to hug her.

"Girl look at you. You are still a silly little girl. You act like it's been 1000 years since you last saw us." Her mother laughed, hugged and kissed her daughter.

"I missed you guys so much." Her attempt to hold back the tears was non-existent. Cat was a spoiled baby and she knew it. The man and woman standing before her were the best parents in the world. They always did whatever it took to make her life better. She loved them so much it hurt.

After she got the loving embraces she missed and needed, a slight adjustment alerted her parents to her companion. Both of them looked at Cat and then they looked at the young man next to her.

"Mom and dad. This is Ari. He's my fiancé." The words rolled off the tongue easier than she had previously imagined. She looked up at Ari and held his hand. Since she met him, she could not recall seeing him look as nervous as he appeared at that moment. Her parents did not say a word, they just motioned for the couple to follow them.

Ari and Cat followed along the white rock path until they were at the door. Cat motioned for her fiancé to take off his shoes and she did the same. A definite look of worry lingered on his face as they entered the house. He had no idea what Mr. Taylor was thinking about the sudden bomb that was dropped on him. They were directed to sit on the loveseat.

"So, you two want to get married?" The soft smiling Mr. Taylor was replaced with a strict and intimidating father. Ari grabbed her hand a little too tight. He swallowed hard and responded to the question posed by the older man.

"Yes, sir. We came here to... ask for your blessing." His words were forced out as he watched his host's reaction.

"You do realize that this is my little girl, right?" Mr. Taylor interrogated him.

"Yes, sir." Ari felt uneasy with the intensity being directed at him.

"How can I give my baby to you when I know nothing about you?" Her father continued with the questions.

"Well, sir. I came to introduce myself and ask your permission. My life is an open book and I have nothing to hide." Ari stammered.

"How old are you son?" More questions were thrown at him.

"I'm 37, sir." The younger man squeaked out.

"How old is my daughter?" Mr. Taylor ran through a mental list.

"She turned 28 on January 15 and I turned 37 on January 16." Ari was glad they spent time getting to know the intricate details about one another and their families.

"What do you do for a living?" The inquiry continued.

"I'm a surgeon, sir." He tried to remain humble as he replied. Remembering Cat's coaching about not bragging, was important to their goal.

"Do you own your own practice?" Mr. Taylor asked with a noticeably impressed look on his face.

"Yes, sir. I've been in business for eight years now." He continued answering the questions posed by his woman's father. Anything was acceptable just for the chance to make her his wife. Finally, Ms. Taylor stepped in and rescued him.

"Alright, Curtis. You have asked this young man about everything. What else do you want to know? His social security number? His bank account number? His health records? Enough is enough. He will obviously tell you anything you want to know. So, give him a break for now." She got up and walked over to Ari and ushered him to stand. The hug she gave him made him feel like a little kid in his mom's loving arms.

"Welcome to the family baby." She dazzled him with the warmest smile and walked out of the room. Mr. Taylor stood up and extended his hand. With the same uneasy look on his face, he pulled Ari into a hug.

"Welcome to the family son." The biggest smile greeted him when the older man ended the hug.

Ari finally let out a loud breath he wasn't aware he was holding. Cat jumped up. She hugged and kissed him.

"Alright young people. This is a Christian home." Her father stated and they immediately backed away from one another.

*****