Under Different Circumstances

Chapter 31

I nodded, and Jay started the motor.

He found a parking spot a block away from the restaurant. As I got out of the car, I realised that I was on edge. I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Jay met up with me on the pavement and took my hand as we walked.

"Could it be that I'm more nervous about this than you?" I asked anxiously.

"Why are you nervous? Technically, I've already met them," he wondered.

I shrugged and shook my head. "I don't know. I'm excited for you to meet my mum, I'm just not sure about my dad."

He draped his arm over my shoulder and placed a kiss on my hair. "Don't worry. I can't promise that I'll like your father after what I've heard about him, but I can hide my true attitude and be friendly nonetheless."

"You're not the one I'm worried about," I murmured as we turned the corner and approached the entrance of the restaurant.

Inside, we were greeted by a short and chubby waiter. "Hailey! Good to see you!"

"Hey, Martin. I'm glad to see that you're back at work and doing better," I noticed.

"Yeah, thank you. I had food poisoning," he explained. "Not from here, though!" he added quickly and laughed awkwardly, shooting a nervous glance at Jay. "Anyway," he cleared his throat. "Are you here for dinner?"

"Yeah. Could you let my mum know that we're here, please?"

Martin nodded and hurried off towards the kitchen while I led Jay to a table close to the kitchen door and sat down next to him.

"This is a really nice restaurant," Jay observed. "I didn't really have time to take in the decor when I bolted through here three weeks ago."

I smiled in response and enjoyed watching him look around.

The door to the kitchen swung open, and my mother approached us. "Honey! What a lovely surprise," she rejoiced in her soft, melodious voice.

We got up from the table, and I gave her a kiss on the cheek after which she turned to Jay with a warm smile on her beautiful face.

"I'm so happy that I finally get to meet you, Jay!" she crooned and took his hand into both of hers.

"You too, Mrs Upton," Jay replied politely.

"Oh, please! Call me Daphne," she requested and took a seat across from us. "The first time I met you at the hospital, you two made me believe you didn't know each other," she remarked.

"Yes," Jay sighed, "I'm sorry about that, Daphne. It was a very confusing and chaotic night, and I had only met Hailey a few nights before. We thought it would be best if I stayed on the sidelines for the time being," he tried to explain.

"That's alright." My mum waved it off. "It was a very hectic night. I'm just glad that everything worked out, and Hailey finally has a boyfriend again. I was beginning to give up hope."

"Mum!" I protested.

"What, honey? It's true. You've put all of your energy into your work here, and it's been a long while since you've brought someone to meet us," she insisted.

I couldn't argue with that and was thankful when she changed the topic.

"Have you two ordered yet? What kind of food do you like, Jay?" she asked and began going through the menu with him.

With her help, he picked a dish, and I told her to get me the same. "I'll go place the order and see if George will come out to say hello too," she told us and got up.