MEET THE PARENTS
He was early. There was still plenty of daylight left, and he was able to watch as a few families came home from a long day out. Several kids barely peeled out of their school clothes before they jumped on bikes and skateboards. Neighbors stood around and laughed with one another, which made it even harder for Chuck to believe that no one on a street of ten homes heard and saw nothing. Incredible.
Chuck grabbed his phone and called Dara. Her voice was like butter. I’m at Hope Freeman’s for a working dinner. It’s strictly business. He didn’t know why he told her all of that. It just felt good to think she might care.
“Maybe, if you’re up to it, we can get together for coffee afterwards?” he stammered. “Although I must warn you, it may feel like I’m interrogating you.”
She chuckled. “I think I’ll survive.”
*
Chuck could smell the steaks on the grill when he approached the Freeman’s front door. He didn’t want to be there, but the promise of good food and information was too much for him to resist. Hope opened the door wearing her biggest, brightest smile.
“I hope you brought an appetite.” She laid it on thick when she wanted to seal the deal.
She was cute, plain and simple. Not long ago, he would’ve chased after her, but things had changed. Dara was the complete package, and that’s what he wanted. He congratulated himself. The pressure was off. Now he could do his job effectively.
Hope led him through the house to the backyard. Chuck was able to quickly take in some of their belongings. The Freeman’s didn’t display items as fancy as Tonya’s, but it was very far from shabby.
The oblong glass and pewter colored lawn furniture was decorated with an array of yellow and white utensils.
“Chuck,” she beamed. “I’d like for you to meet Lawrence and Helen Freeman, my parents.”
Lawrence stood and shook his hand. “Have a seat son.”
“Oh honey, we’ve already met,” Helen giggled. “And we had a nice time, didn’t we?”
He was early. There was still plenty of daylight left, and he was able to watch as a few families came home from a long day out. Several kids barely peeled out of their school clothes before they jumped on bikes and skateboards. Neighbors stood around and laughed with one another, which made it even harder for Chuck to believe that no one on a street of ten homes heard and saw nothing. Incredible.
Chuck grabbed his phone and called Dara. Her voice was like butter. I’m at Hope Freeman’s for a working dinner. It’s strictly business. He didn’t know why he told her all of that. It just felt good to think she might care.
“Maybe, if you’re up to it, we can get together for coffee afterwards?” he stammered. “Although I must warn you, it may feel like I’m interrogating you.”
She chuckled. “I think I’ll survive.”
*
Chuck could smell the steaks on the grill when he approached the Freeman’s front door. He didn’t want to be there, but the promise of good food and information was too much for him to resist. Hope opened the door wearing her biggest, brightest smile.
“I hope you brought an appetite.” She laid it on thick when she wanted to seal the deal.
She was cute, plain and simple. Not long ago, he would’ve chased after her, but things had changed. Dara was the complete package, and that’s what he wanted. He congratulated himself. The pressure was off. Now he could do his job effectively.
Hope led him through the house to the backyard. Chuck was able to quickly take in some of their belongings. The Freeman’s didn’t display items as fancy as Tonya’s, but it was very far from shabby.
The oblong glass and pewter colored lawn furniture was decorated with an array of yellow and white utensils.
“Chuck,” she beamed. “I’d like for you to meet Lawrence and Helen Freeman, my parents.”
Lawrence stood and shook his hand. “Have a seat son.”
“Oh honey, we’ve already met,” Helen giggled. “And we had a nice time, didn’t we?”
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