Fall for Me (Danvers #3)(35)
Nick’s mother clapped her hands in delight. “This looks great, I’m starving. Did you two cook this on your own?”
Suzy snorted. “You know me better than that. Your son may be talented in the kitchen, but that’s about as far as it goes here. He did make dessert though and I licked the bowl afterward.”
Beth braced as she saw her mother shaking her head before adding, “Suzanna has never been a cook so I hope you aren’t marrying her expecting that, Grayson. She has always had a whimsical nature as is evidenced by her choice of professions.” Beth could see her father nodding his agreement. Her mother might be the more vocal of the two, but her father always agreed with whatever she said.
Gray studied Beth and Suzy’s parents and seemed to choose his words carefully. “I don’t mind if Suzy never cooks a meal. She gives her heart to everything she does and that is what I love about her.” He clasped Suzy’s hand in his own and brushed a kiss on her knuckles.
“Aw, thanks, baby,” Suzy cooed. Clearly trying to change the subject, she looked at Gray’s mother and asked, “So, Vicky, how was your trip to Italy?” Gray’s mother took charge of the conversation, telling everyone about their recent anniversary trip.
Beth was grateful to have a few moments of reprieve from further conversation with her parents. Nick reached under the table and rubbed her leg soothingly as if sensing her turmoil. They had barely made it through the first part of dinner and already she wanted to run and hide. It was starting to seem like a really terrible idea to tell everyone about her pregnancy tonight, but she knew Suzy was hoping for the distraction. She, however, didn’t think there was any possible way to intentionally make herself a target for more undivided attention. A phone call or a text seemed like a much better way to let them know. All too soon, Vicky was finished telling about their trip, and Beth’s father took advantage of the silence to make further, awkward conversation.
“Suzanna, do you and Grayson plan to continue living here after you are married?”
Gray spoke up for both of them. “Please call me Gray, Mr. Denton, and yes, we do intend to make this our home, at least for now.”
Beth’s father frowned and she could see the wheels turning in his mind. “Gray, you do realize the risks of living this close to the ocean, don’t you?” Without giving Gray time to answer, he continued. “The risks of everyday flooding will continue to increase as global warming pushes the sea levels to rise. This whole area could be underwater in the not-so-distant future.”
“Dad—” Suzy tried to interject.
“Suzanna, you need to hear this. I know you don’t like to think about world events, but the location of your home is very important and this one is a time bomb. You must also think about the biggest risk factor here: hurricanes.”
“Myrtle Beach doesn’t have many hurricanes,” Gray’s father offered helpfully.
Not to be deterred, her father leaned forward in his chair and presented his case. “This area does have an active hurricane history. All the way back in 1899, a hurricane called the Halloween Storm made landfall on the North Carolina and South Carolina border, causing extensive damage. Then, in 1906, a severe hurricane hit Myrtle Beach washing away homes and hotels. There were other glancing blows, but Hurricane Hazel in 1954 was one of the most memorable. It made landfall at the highest lunar tide of the year, making it that much worse. Hurricane Hugo in 1989 came ashore as a category four hurricane with up to a twenty-foot storm surge. Imagine living here under those conditions. It’s just a matter of time before another catastrophic hurricane such as Hazel and Hugo occurs.”
When her father paused to take a breath, Beth blurted out, “I’m pregnant with twins and Nick is the father.” She knew she had picked a bad moment to make the announcement when Nick choked a sip of iced tea. She reached over to pat him on the back as he tried to take a breath. She risked a quick look around the table and saw everyone’s eyes once again on her. Suzy looked grateful, Gray looked surprised but amused, and both sets of parents seemed to be in a state of shock.
Finally, Suzy jumped up from the table and grabbed Gray’s hand. “I think this calls for a celebration. Gray and I will get dessert and a bottle of champagne to celebrate.” She dragged a surprised Gray out of the room with her, and Beth had a feeling that they would both be sampling the champagne before bringing it back to the table.
* * *
“I thought they had decided against telling the parents about the pregnancy tonight?” Gray asked in confusion.
Pulling a bottle of champagne from the refrigerator, Suzy said, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. This probably saved our ass.” She handed the bottle to Gray and begged, “Please open this now. I need at least two glasses before I go back in there.”
Gray expertly popped the cork and poured two full glasses. “Baby, if I didn’t love you so much, I would be running for my life right now. If they start in on sex next, that’s probably it for us. I don’t think I would ever be able to get it up again.”
Suzy leaned back against his muscular chest and chuckled. “God, you have no idea. This is actually good behavior for them. I have seen far worse.”
With a look of disbelief, Gray said, “You’re kidding. This is good behavior. I haven’t had a lecture like that since I put a garden snake in my sixth-grade teacher’s purse.”