KATE
Snow has started to fall on the freeway, making me secretly glad that Michael insisted on driving to my parents’ house. I am already nervous enough as it is. It feels like we haven’t had a second to breathe between important family events. I had no idea that spending a weekend at Michael’s parents’ house would be so… draining. We had spent most of the day yesterday asleep, and we weren’t asleep we were still laying in bed. Still, I don’t feel like even having most of Sunday off was enough to fully recover from everything, and I was tempted to push back our visit at least another day. Michael had shot down that idea, though. I think he is more nervous than he is letting on.
I wish I could say something useful to him, but I know that anything I say will just stress him out. Instead I lean over and rest my head against his arm, focusing on how tightly his hands hold the steering wheel, battling the falling snow.
“Thank you for coming,” I murmur quietly.
“I made a deal,” he sighs, but I can hear the smile in his voice. “I would have come anyway,” he reminds me gently.
“Good,” I mumble. “I’m going to need you there.”
“I’m nervous,” he admits.
“I am too,” I say. “Not about you, though. I know you’ll be fine.”
“What are you nervous about?” He asks.
“I guess… I don’t know. It’s the same as it was with you at your house. I haven’t been back for a while. And like I said, we’ve never seen eye to eye on certain things. I just want to have a nice holiday.”
“We will,” Michael says determinedly. “We will.”
Traffic is heavy and the snow doesn’t help. The one hour drive takes us well over three, and it is dark when I point out my parents’ driveway. Michael and I both draw deep breaths at the same time, and I take his hand in mine. Remembering the strength his small display of affection gave me before I met his parents, I lean over and kiss his lips softly. Michael draws back, his gaze slightly out of focus. He smiles at me, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“Only for you,” he murmurs, unbuckling his seatbelt and climbing out of the car. I take one more deep breath and follow, threading my fingers through his as we walk up the slippery stone steps. My dad has already put out the Christmas lights, the awful blue ones that I’ve hated since I was a child. Even now they make me grimace, but I smile with some sort of regretful nostalgia. Before I have to make the awkward decision of whether or not to knock, the door opens. Michael steps back, literally steps backwards in fear, and I squeeze his hand, willing him to relax. It’s only my cousin, Britt, and seeing her is a relief. She is only a year younger than I am, and any family event is made a thousand times easier when she is here.
“Britt!” I nearly squeal, pulling her into my arms. Her gaze lingers questioningly on Michael after she pulls away, indicating that she was unaware that I was bringing company, but I flash her and I’ll-tell-you-later look as we follow her through the doorway.
My parents stand from the couch immediately upon our entrance, along with my two aunts. There is an eruption of noise and I hate to pull my hand from Michael’s, but I have to. My mom folds me in her arms and for the first time, I realize how much I have missed her. I don’t call enough.
“Daddy,” I whisper, tears in my eyes as he hugs me tightly, too. Maybe this will not be so bad. I quickly hug my aunts, desperate to return to Michael’s side so he is not left stranded.
“And who is this?” My dad asks loudly, casting his eyes towards Michael. I roll my eyes, I told them he was coming and they know exactly who he is.
