“I’m sorry, Haven. My family, while wonderful, is….”

Snapping my head around, I filled in the words he couldn’t say. “Is in a higher class than me? Is that? Are you embarrassed to be seen with the girl from the other side of tracks?”

“Don’t pin your insecurities on me.” He paused. Heaving a sigh, he ran his hands through his hair. “We got off track. My parents are conservative, especially my mom. It would save us both a heap of trouble if you didn’t mention we were living together.”

I lifted my shoulder in a shrug. “Sure, whatever.”

“My siblings though have a more modern view on life but most importantly….” He flashed an encouraging smile. “Be yourself.”

Yeah, right, be myself as long as I acted polished and groomed like a Stepford wife. Regret about agreeing to the visit churned in my stomach. The front door to the mansion opened as we stepped out of the car. With his mother’s honey chestnut hair and unlined face, it became obvious where Andrew got his good looks. Behind his mother was Andrew’s father, a man in his early fifties with gray a speckled beard. His hand rested on her lower back.

His mother’s arms spread open. “Andrew!”

“Hey, Mom! Happy anniversary.” He dropped his luggage and folded himself into her embrace. “Thanks for having us.”

Stepping back, his mom cradled his face in her hands. Devotion twinkled in her gaze. “Of course, sweetie. I’m just happy you could make it. I know how busy your schedule is. I’m sorry we couldn’t make it your art show by the way. Your father and I had a work function.”

“No worries.” Andrew smiled at his father. “You look as old as ever.”

“And you look as ugly as ever.”

The two man sealed their inside joke with a hug and clapped each other on the backs. Holding my purse to my chest, I waited for Andrew to introduce us. Snowflakes melted on my exposed feet and my teeth rattled together. I stared at the house longingly, where I imagined a roaring fire and mug of hot chocolate were waiting for me.

Andrew’s mother’s sapphire colored eyes found mine. “Hello! You must be Haven. Andrew told us so much about you.” She glided down the front steps and took my numb hand into her palm. “Oh darling! You are freezing. Let’s get you inside.”

“I’m ok,” I said weakly.

“You are not ok! You are frigid.” She lowered her voice as she winked. “What women do for fashion, huh?”

I immediately felt myself warm toward her. Andrew’s mom was the kind of mother I longed for as a child. Welcoming, kind, and made you feel as if you were part of the family within five seconds of meeting her.

“I’m Candice, but everybody calls me Candy,” she said while ushering me into the house.

“It’s nice to meet you, Candy.”

The nickname was an odd fit for a former Amish girl turned wealthy housewife. I would have to ask Andrew the context behind it later. We stepped into the grand foyer with a double staircase and a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. While there wasn’t a picture frame out of place, coziness emitted from the space. You could tell a lot of memories took place here.

Breathing in the scent of apple cider, I grinned. “It smells like fall.”

“My husband and I met in October so every year for our anniversary we gather the family and make gingersnaps, apple cider, DIY wreaths, the whole nine yards.”

“Wow.”

“You’re overwhelming her, Mom,” Andrew said to my left. “Remember we are supposed to ease guests into our craziness.”

Candy waved away his remark. “You hush. I can already tell Haven is going to be a master gingersnap baker.”

“I thought that title went to me.” A young woman dressed in ripped jeans and a college sweatshirt walked into the room. She looked like Candy’s mini-me except rounder in the face. “I have a trophy to prove it.”

Trophy? Andrew’s family was really into tradition.

His sister glanced over at me and showed off a blinding set of white teeth. “Are you my brother’s new girlfriend?”

That was a good question. Andrew and I hadn’t discussed our official title but considering we lived together, slept together, and had strong feelings toward each other then yes, we were boyfriend and girlfriend. Nonetheless, I didn’t want to make an ass out of myself if that wasn’t the case. Andrew was known for being hot and cold.

Candy chimed in. “No, she is a random stranger off the street,” she retorted sarcastically. “Of course she is Andrew’s girlfriend and she has a name—Haven.”

“Jesus Mom, I was just asking.” Andrew’s sister moaned. “Why do you have to be like that?”

“Like what?”

“Embarrassing.”

Watching their exchange was a hilarious peek into what a healthy mother-daughter relationship was like. I held my tongue to keep from giggling.

“I’m not embarrassing.” She glanced at Andrew and her husband to confirm. They stared at her blankly. “Whatever, I’m nothing compared to Grandma June. Last year, she dressed the pumpkins in lacy lingerie because she thought they needed more spice.”

Andrew, his dad, and sister murmured their agreement. Based upon what Andrew had revealed about his family, my initial perception of them was off base. They weren’t bourgeois or stuck up. They were just like any other close knit family that loved each other. Although, I stood by what I’d guessed earlier. These next two days weren’t going to be boring.

Candy steered her daughter toward the kitchen. “Come on, you have a pot of apple cider to stir.”

Andrew’s dad stepped forward, his handsome face breaking into a warm smile. “I didn’t have a chance to introduce myself earlier. I’m Mark.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too. Andrew will show you where your bedroom is for the weekend. There are extra towels in your bathroom and if you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask us.”

“Thank you,” I said, touched.

“Enjoy the peacefulness while it lasts. My extended family is coming in an hour,” Mark joked.

Andrew and I were the last two in the foyer. He came up behind and wrapped his arms around my waist. Sensing my annoyance with him hadn’t worn off, Andrew apologized again. “I’m sorry. My parents didn’t like Camilla or any other girlfriend of mine for that matter. They never thought any of them were good enough for me.”

Spinning around, chest to chest, I looked into his dark brown eyes. “You didn’t believe I was different?”

“No quite the opposite. I was afraid my family would fall for you and then it would be a thousand times harder to let you go.” Andrew lips quirked at the corners. “Looks like it’s going that way.”

My chest squeezed at the sadness his confession evoked. There were two and half months left before my planned road trip, which was a ways off, however, time slipped by quickly. I would blink and it would be upon us. Leaving Andrew wouldn’t be easy for me either.

“I don’t have to go,” I said without meaning a word of it.

Andrew thankfully shook his head. “No, you do. This has been a dream of yours that I will not stand in the way of. I’ll just have to sleep with your pillow every night and pretend as if you are there.”

“Or you can come with me.” The idea popped out of my mouth before my brain connected. My eyes widened in surprise as did Andrew’s. I backpedaled. “I mean, that is if you wanted to. Obviously, you have work commitments.”

“I can paint anywhere and or get a fresh perspective and start something new like woodworking,” he stated.

“Yeah exactly, but feel free to think about it. We don’t need to make any rash decisions right now.”

“Of course not.” Andrew planted a kiss against my forehead. “Let me show you to your room.”

As we ascended the staircase, my heart fluttered with anxiety. For the past two years, that dream had been mine and mine alone. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to share it with anyone else, even if that person was Andrew.