Sweet Caroline

#70 Meeting grandma Storm

"Don't be nervous," Nathan whispers when we get out of the car. "Mom will love you."

Rose is already running to the house in front of us, jumping up and down when she sees her aunt Jennifer waving at her from the threshold of the front door. Jennifer hugs Rose closely, picking her up and swinging her around. Rose has been talking about seeing her and 'grandma Storm' ever since we told her we were going to drive up here. We haven't told Rose that I'll be moving in soon, but we're planning on doing so on the drive back home. That is... if things go well today. Nathan insists that his mother will love me and that he'll move me into his place during spring break even if she hates me, but I'm not so sure about either of those things.

"Caroline!" Jennifer says with a smile, pulling me in for a hug. "Good to see you again. Rose tells me that you and her daddy are really gross, kissing all the time."

I laugh and roll my eyes. Nathan and I only give each other the occasional peck on the lips with her around, but she still thinks we're the most disgusting couple ever. I can't wait to see her all over some boy one day. I'm sure going to remind her of what she thought about PDA back when she was 8.

"Little bro."

"Big sis."

Nathan and Jennifer hug as well, laughing when Rose calls from inside the house to hurry the fuck up.

"Language!" I yell back. "Don't you run your mouth at us, missy!"

Jennifer chuckles. "You've got a good one here, Nathan. Maybe your next kid won't have a mouth as foul as Rose. Although... the next one will still be growing up around you, so maybe not. Even Caroline isn't a miracle worker, after all."

Nathan and I smile at each other. It's hard to believe that not that long ago, he freaked out because we were getting so serious so damn fast. I'll be moving into his house soon and people joking about us having kids doesn't scare us anymore. I'm not in a hurry to get pregnant – not at all, I'm not crazy – but we both know that it's where our relationship is heading eventually.

"Let's go in before Rose scolds us again," Nathan decides, grabbing my hand to ease my nerves.

In the living room we find Mrs. Storm, sitting in a comfortable chair, her long gray here pulled into a tight bun. She's got the same green eyes all the Storms have, but other than that she looks nothing like Nathan and Jennifer. They must take after their dad. Her wrinkled face looks up at me and she tilts her head to the side.

"The infamous Caroline Collins," she says by way of greeting. "We meet at last. I'd stand up to greet you, but my legs still refuse to carry me, so you'll have to come over here to hug me, dear."

I do as she says, putting my arms around her carefully. She sounds so strong, yet feels and look so frail. From what Nathan has told me, she hasn't fully recovered after her stroke and refuses to go out in a wheelchair because of her pride, so she basically just sits around and agues with Jennifer all day.

"Sit down," Mrs. Storm tells me, pointing at the couch. "Nathan, go get your girl a drink. And bring me a fresh cup of coffee while you're at it. Jennifer, go get that cake we baked yesterday. And Rose, how about you go help your aunt cutting it?"

It's obvious that she's sending everyone out of the room and into the separate kitchen so she can talk to me on her own. The thought makes me nervous, but I know that this is it. My chance to win her over. I smile at Nathan as he walks out, feeling better when he winks before leaving the room with his sister and daughter.

"My son loves you very much," Mrs. Storm tells me, her eyes boring into me with the intensity I've come to know so well over the past months. It's obviously a family trait.