Fall for Me (Danvers #3)(37)
Beth’s father sputtered, “Now, listen here, young man.”
“No, you listen here,” Nick hissed. “I have always wondered why someone as beautiful and special as Beth would have so many self-esteem issues, and now I know. Have you ever just once praised her or Suzy for anything? Did you actually try to help her eat healthier, or did you just ridicule her for being overweight? Didn’t it ever occur to either of you that she might be using food to escape from her life? As my mother will tell you, Gray and I were both heavier when we were young. Not once did our mother insult or criticize us. Instead, we learned to cook our own healthy meals and we took up a lot of hobbies as a family such as biking and swimming. Never did she say we were doing it because we were obese.”
Beth wrapped her hand around Nick’s arm, trying to calm him down. She had never seen him this upset before. “Nick, it’s okay. Really I’m fine.”
Nick looked down at her and cupped her face lightly with his hand. His gaze locked on hers and in a softer voice he said, “No, princess, it’s not okay.” Then, closing his eyes briefly, he murmured, “I can’t sit here and let them treat you like this. Are you ready to go?”
She slid her hand into his outstretched palm and let him pull her to her feet. Her mother and father sat across the table staring daggers at both of them. Gray and Suzy stood at the same time. Gray looked around the table and settled his gaze on Beth and Suzy’s parents. “Linda, Harris, I completely agree with my brother. Your daughters are two of the most amazing women I have ever had the good fortune to meet, and I ask that you not upset either one of them in my home again.”
“Now, see here, Grayson—” Harris began.
“No, sir,” Grayson said firmly. “I’m not interested in continuing this conversation. Out of respect for your daughter, my fiancée, I’m going to let this go without further comment, and I expect you to do the same. There will never be any other remarks in my home that involve any type of negativity concerning Suzy or Beth.”
Beth looked over to see that Suzy was suspiciously close to tears. She knew exactly what her sister was feeling. When had they ever had anyone stand up for them? To have the Merimon family defending them now was something that she would never forget. She and Suzy had learned to let their parents vent long ago. Suzy would rebel in some way later, but during a lecture, they just wanted it to be over. Vicky and John had remained quiet through the confrontation and she was surprised and relieved to see the smile of support that they bestowed on her.
Nick clasped Beth’s hand and they walked to the head of the table to give Suzy and Gray a hug good-bye. Suzy whispered in her ear, “Same old shit, different day.”
Beth hugged her tighter and whispered back, “I didn’t think I would make it through a meal without a fat comment.”
Nick’s mother walked over to embrace Beth, and said, “You take care of those babies. John and I are here for you if you need anything.” Vicky hugged Nick next and Beth couldn’t hear what she said to him, but she saw his lips curve into a smile. Nick’s father hugged them both next and invited them to Charleston for the weekend.
Beth then turned to her parents and gave them a tight smile. “Mom, Dad, it was good to see you again. I hope you have a safe trip home.” Her parents gave a polite nod in return and Nick and Beth were soon out the door and walking to Nick’s car. Even after the altercation with Nick, she knew her parents would stay until the official end of the evening. They might not say another word, but they would never disregard polite social rules and leave early. She felt sorry for Suzy, Gray, and Nick’s parents, who could possibly have to endure another few hours of her parents’ company.
Chapter Nineteen
Never had Nick felt more fortunate to have the parents that he did. He’d always thought Beth and Suzy were kidding when they talked about how uptight their parents were. Hell, uptight was too good for them. They were downright obnoxious. He couldn’t remember one polite word that they had uttered the entire evening. Every word and every eye roll from them was critical. No wonder Beth was so damn terrified to put a bite in her mouth. He could only imagine the criticism that she had endured growing up. It probably wouldn’t have mattered if she had been thin; they would still have found something that didn’t measure up to their standards. What was surprising was how well she and Suzy had turned out. They could have ended up being cold, uptight clones of their parents instead of the warm, loving people they were. Sure, they both had some quirky personality traits, but that only made them more unique.
Beth hadn’t said a word since they had gotten in his car. He had let the silence linger, thinking that she probably needed time to come to terms with the evening. Truthfully, he was a little afraid of what her reaction was going to be. He had told off her parents without even realizing he was about to do it. There was that saying: I can talk about my family, but no one else can. He may well have pissed her off and caused a bigger rift between her and her parents. When he had felt Beth shrinking into herself as her mother and father told the entire table about her weight battles, he had just snapped. This beautiful woman was carrying his children and he would not allow anyone to humiliate her in any way, even her own parents.
He could tell that his own parents were appalled as well. When he had hugged his mother, she had whispered in his ear, “My mixing bowls will be waiting for you when you are ready.” Almost every decision or heartache he’d had when he was growing up had been talked over in the kitchen. His mother had taught Nick and Gray to cook at an early age, and they both continued to go home when their problems were overwhelming. They both knew that the baking pans, and their mother’s and father’s listening ears, were always there waiting for them. Damn, he was blessed.