“Picking up, actually. New customers are coming in, and we seem to building some word-of-mouth buzz.”
“That’s great, Jacqui.” There was a pause on the other end. “Hang on, your mother wants to talk to you.”
There was the sound of shuffling from the other end of the phone, and then Jacqui heard her mother say, “Hi, sweetie. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, Mom. I’ve just been swamped with things. Good things, though.”
“Well, that’s good,” her mother said. “Why don’t you come over for dinner this weekend? Maybe on Sunday after you close up?”
“That sounds great, Mom.” Jacqui had an impulsive thought. “Hey, do you mind if I bring someone with me?”
Jacqui could practically hear her mom’s thought process through the phone.
“Sure, sweetie. Is it Lyssa, or one of your other friends?” she asked with a hopeful note in her voice.
“Subtle, Mom. No, actually, I’ve been seeing someone and I thought I might introduce him to you and Dad.”
“Oh, we’d like that, Jacqui. Of course. Bring your young man, and we’ll have a nice dinner.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll bring dessert from the bakery. See you Sunday night.”
“See you then, sweetie. Take care of yourself!”
“Bye, Mom.”
Jacqui hung up. Then, she had a moment of second thoughts. She hadn’t asked Khizar if he wanted to meet her parents, but he was so interested in her family that she couldn’t imagine him saying no.
When he got back into town the next day and stopped by the bakery, she proposed the idea to him during a lull in business.
“Of course, I’d love to meet your parents,” Khizar answered. “I can make reservations for us, if you’d like? I want to make a good impression.”
Jacqui shook her head. “A good impression is easy. Show up, let them tell you embarrassing stories about my teenage years, and praise my mother’s cooking and my father’s garden.”
“I do hope that those stories come with pictures,” Khizar said, grinning.
“Oh, there will be pictures. Of that, I’m certain.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I’d like to show you where I grew up. It’s no palace or anything, but it’s home.”
Khizar chuckled. “Palaces can be overrated. I’ll be delighted to see the place you call home.”
Jacqui told him he didn’t need to bring anything, but of course, when he picked her up at her apartment that evening, he had a large bouquet of flowers for her mother and a bottle of expensive wine.
Jacqui’s parents greeted them at the door with enthusiasm, and Jacqui watched them closely for their reaction when she introduced Khizar.
“Mom, Dad, this is Khizar Jamshidi. He’s the CEO of Jamshidi & Company, and he’s from Nudushan, where his uncle is the ruling sheikh. Khizar, these are my parents, Alan and Michelle Danvers.”
Her mother raised her eyebrows and gave Jacqui a look that said they would talk later about this little piece of information Jacqui had neglected to provide.
But all Michelle said out loud was, “Khizar, it’s so nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Danvers. Thank you for inviting me to dinner.” Khizar handed her the flowers and wine. “For you, a small token of my appreciation.”
“They’re lovely, thank you!”
Alan Danvers shook his daughter’s boyfriend’s hand, adding, “Our girl doesn’t bring too many guys home, so you must be something special.”
Jacqui blushed. “Dad!”
Khizar looked at Jacqui. “It’s an honor to meet you both. And if I may say, Jacqui is the one who is something special.”
Her mother looked like she approved, but Jacqui’s cheeks felt like they were on fire. To cover her blush, she held out a cake.
“Here, Mom, I brought your favorite.”
“Oh, thank you, sweetie. Why don’t you put it on the counter? I’m going to get these in some water, and maybe you can help me finish up dinner?”
“Khizar, why don’t we let these lovely ladies catch up? Come on, I’ll show you what I’m working on right now, and we’ll get out of their way,” Alan said.