Melody threw open the door and was wearing the biggest smile on her face. “Well…it’s about time y’all showed up!”

She walked into Scott’s arms and told him how much she loved him and then she turned to me. When she pulled me into her arms, I was momentarily worried she might try to squeeze me to death.

She whispered in my ear, “I was so worried about you, sweetheart. I’m so glad you’re back.” When she pulled back from me, she shook her head. “When I found out what that little evil bitch did to my two boys and how she hurt you…well, let me tell you, it took every ounce of my Southern manners to hold myself back from going and giving her a piece of my mind.”

I just stood there, stunned. Who is this person? Where did Mrs. Tight-Ass Reynolds go? I gave her a weak smile and nodded my head. I quickly glanced over her shoulder, only to see Scott’s dad, Scott, Senior walking up.

He pushed his wife out of the way and took me in his arms as he spun me around. “Jesus, darlin’. Don’t you ever do that to us again.” He put me down and kissed the side of my cheek. “Come on, I’ve got a fire going in the pit on the back patio.”

They both turned and walked into the house. Scott started to walk in, and I grabbed his arm.

“Did you pay them?” I asked in a whisper.

“What?”

“You had to have paid them…or promised them something in return for acting that way toward me.” I looked back into the house.

Scott threw his head back and laughed. “Nope. No promises and no money have been exchanged. It looks like they’ve liked you all along. I told you they liked you.” He shrugged his shoulders and headed into the house, making his way out to the back patio.

I followed closely behind with my guard up. I was ready for what was sure to be an ambush attack from either one or both of them.

We sat for a few minutes, catching up on what had been going on. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I noticed Melody glance down at my hand. She brought her hand up to her mouth, and tears started forming.

Oh shit!

Scott and I seemed to be so shocked by their behavior toward me that we’d totally forgotten about our engagement.

Scott must have noticed at the same time because he cleared his throat and started to talk. “Um…Mom and Dad, I asked Jessie to marry me earlier. Well, really, it was right before we got here. Obviously, she said yes,” he said with an awkward laugh.

I peeked over at him and smiled before looking back at Melody and then Scott, Senior. The smile that spread across Scott’s dad’s face caused me to giggle. Melody then jumped up and started making these goofy sounds.

Okay, clearly, she’s drunk or something.

They both hugged Scott and then me.

Melody said, “Oh, Jessie, sweetheart, welcome to the family!”

Shocked—there is no other word for what is happening. She must be in a state of shock. I know I am.

I smiled and nodded. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Reynolds.”

“Pesh! Good heavens, don’t call me that. I always felt so funny having you call me that. It’s Melody or…or…” Her eyes filled up with tears again. “Mom. You can call me Mom, if you want, sweetheart.”

I felt my stomach drop, and now, it was my turn to have tears in my eyes. I didn’t know what to say. I’d always dreamed of having a mother figure in my life. I’d longed for it really, and now, with the baby…

“Uh…Mom, Dad, that’s not the only news we have for you,” Scott said. “You might want to sit down for this one.”

They both looked at Scott and then me. “Okay,” they said at the same time.

“Well…”

Scott reached over and grabbed me. He pulled me to him and sat me down on his lap. I felt so strange, sitting there on his lap, but at the same time, I felt all the tension just melt away with his hands touching my body.

“Jessie is pregnant. We think she’s a little over two months and—” Scott didn’t even get to finish.

Melody jumped up, screaming, and Scott, Senior stood up. They both threw themselves into each other’s arms.

My mouth dropped open, and I looked at Scott. “What in the hell happened to your parents? These are not your parents,” I whispered.

“Um…I, um…I don’t…” Scott shook his head as if he was trying to clear his thoughts.

After about two minutes of Melody and Scott, Senior hugging and dancing around, they reached for me and pulled me off of Scott’s lap. They each took a turn hugging me, and then Melody wrapped her arm in mine as we started to walk back into the house.

“Oh Lord, we have a wedding to plan and a birth to plan. Oh! Scout’s honor, I promise not to be one of those overbearing mother-in-laws who tries to plan everything…but we need to get cracking.”

I turned and looked at Scott. He was standing there, shocked.

He turned to his dad, and I heard him ask, “How much have you and Mom had to drink today, Dad?”

His father laughed and pulled Scott in for another hug.

The next thing I knew, I was sitting in front of a computer, laughing my ass off and sipping sweet tea, as I began to plan my wedding…with Scott and my future in-laws.

Either I was dreaming, or the pregnancy hormones were affecting Melody and Scott, Senior. Whatever it was, I didn’t want it to stop.

I’d never in my life felt so much love.

“Skip, don’t worry. I’ll take care of it when I get back to Austin. Just let me enjoy my vacation, please. Yep. I know it’s back to work on January fourth. Yes, I know our work doesn’t take a vacation. January fourth, we are heading to Columbia at oh five hundred. I’ll make sure everything is ready to go.”

I heard the buzzer for Scott’s gate go off.

“Listen, Skip, I’ve got to run. If anything comes up, I’m just a few hours away from Austin, and I can get things up within a matter of hours.”

The gate buzzed again.

“Have to run. Stop stressing. Fuck, in our line of work, how have you not had a heart attack yet? Talk to ya later.”

I walked up to the intercom and pushed a button. “Talk to me.”

“Hey, Scott! It’s Azurdee. I’m so sorry that I’m a day early.”

I smiled and shook my head. I glanced at the clock. It was nearly nine, and I was pretty sure that Scott and Jessie were going to be home soon.

“Come on up. I’ll meet you on the front porch.”

“Okay!”