Secrets of the Great Oak

Chapter 25

After a weekend of being tangled in each other, Monday rolled around and Anna rolled out of bed to greet the day with an ear-to-ear grin plastered on her face. She dressed in that green top that Jake loved and made her way down the kitchen to have breakfast with her parents. Anna spent so much time at Jake's over the weekend that she hadn't seen her parents since they caught her and Jake in the alley on Friday.

The morning sun bathed the kitchen in light through the window and sparkled on the granite countertops as Anna turned the corner. Her parents were seated at the island, talking over plates of bagels and eggs.

"Good morning," Anna called as she walked past them to the fridge.

"Well, look who it is," her dad joked, "The unseen daughter."

Rolling her eyes, she responded, "You're seeing me now, drink it up, Dad." She toasted him with her carton of orange juice. The kitchen erupted with laughter. It was then that Anna noticed the fourth place setting on the island. "Are we having someone over for breakfast?"

Her parents exchanged a look.

"I think I'd like to have a chat with my daughter's new boyfriend," her dad supplied.

Anna froze. "Dad, be nice. You love Jake."

"I do love Jake, but I love you more and he needs to know--" he was silenced by the hand her mother gingerly placed on his arm.

"What your father is trying to say, Sweetie is that we want to make sure Jake understands the ground rules now that the dynamic has shifted."

Anna reached towards her back pocket for her phone to send Jake a warning text, just as a knock sounded at the door.

"I'll get it. You guys stay put." Anna rushed to the door and met Jake's dashing smile with a grimace. He bent to kiss her but stopped when he saw the look on her face.

"What is it?"

"It's my parents," Anna whispered, "they want to talk to you."

He smiled and caught her chin with his fingers, planting a light kiss on her lips. "Then let's go talk to them." He grabbed her hand and led her through the living room into the kitchen where her parents sat waiting.

***

The Matthews loved Jake. They'd known him since he was five years old. Sure, now that he and Anna were dating, things were a bit different. But, he still knew how to woo parents. It should be all the easier when they already approved of him.

Jake flashed them a welcoming smile as he entered the kitchen.

"Good morning, Mr. Matthews," A strong handshake to her father, "Mrs. Matthews," A hug for her mother. Nothing about their demeanor was alarming to Jake at all.

"Good morning, Jake." Mr. Matthews' eyes traveled to the hand Jake wrapped tightly around Anna's.

"Jake, it's so good to see you. We made you breakfast. Please, take a seat," Mrs. Matthews said warmly while Mr. Matthews gave Jake an assessing look. Jake and Anna took seats next to each other in front of the still warm breakfast.

He knew this was going to revolve around sleeping in the alley with Anna the other night, so Jake decided it'd be best to start off with a direct apology to her father.

"Mr. Matthews, I already apologized to Mrs. Matthews, but I wanted to apologize to you as well. I'm sorry for being irresponsible and falling asleep in the alley with Anna the other night. It shouldn't have happened and it won't happen again. You have my word."