Jacqui started moving for the bathroom.
“Give me ten minutes to make myself presentable.”
“You have plenty of time,” he called after her, his tone somehow teasing and irresistible all at once.
Jacqui and Khizar walked into the restaurant right on time. She’d rushed to get ready, glad that at least her hurry distracted her from most of her nervousness. It wasn’t until they got into the car that Jacqui had a few minutes to think, and to get anxious.
She hadn’t done the whole ‘meeting parents’ thing since, well, high school. And all those meetings had generally been before a dance or homecoming, some occasion that she looked back on now and realized just how easy those encounters had been.
Now, Jacqui was meeting her future in-laws, who also happened to be royalty. The combination was more than a bit intimidating.
When they arrived at the restaurant, they were shown to a table in the best part of the dining room, a large curved booth with a view of a park across the street. As they approached, Jacqui saw an older couple sitting at the table, who she assumed were Khizar’s parents.
When the man and woman stood up and greeted Khizar with warm hugs, she knew she was correct. Khizar hugged each of them and then turned to hold a hand out to Jacqui.
“Mother, Father, I’d like you to meet Jacqueline Bauer. Jacqui, these are my parents, Adil and Sonja Jamshidi.”
Khizar’s mother held out her arms to Jacqui, who found herself enveloped in a hug as Sonja said, “Jacqui, it’s a pleasure to meet you. We’re delighted that you’re here.”
Jacqui hugged her back.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. I’m so happy to be here.”
Adil shook her hand and ushered them all back into the booth, Jacqui and Khizar sitting on one end of the half-circle and Sonja and Adil on the other.
“Did you enjoy seeing the city today?” Sonja asked Jacqui, as their server poured sparkling water in each of their glasses.
“I did. Al Nud is such a lovely city,” Jacqui replied.
“We were a bit surprised when Khizar arranged dinner,” Adil added. “Not that we’re not happy to see him, but he’s been a bit preoccupied lately. I guess I can see why, now!”
Jacqui smiled. She wasn’t sure how much Khizar had told his parents about her great-uncle, so she kept her response somewhat vague.
“Our visit was a bit of an impulse, I know. I’m so glad you were able to have dinner with us.”
Khizar squeezed her hand under the table and Jacqui looked at him. He raised his eyebrows, then looked down at her ring, asking her silently if he could share the news. Jacqui nodded and Khizar cleared his throat.
“Actually, we have some news we’d like to share,” Khizar said. He picked Jacqui’s left hand up and rested it on the table, keeping her hand covered with his.
“I know this will come as a surprise, but I couldn’t want to wait any longer to tell you. I’ve asked Jacqui to be my wife, and she said yes. We’re getting married!”
Jacqui watched Khizar’s parents closely for their reaction, and although they were certainly stunned, she could tell they were also genuinely pleased.
“Oh, my dear boy, that’s wonderful!” Sonja exclaimed, and leaned over to hug Jacqui.
Adil reached across the table to shake his son’s hand.
“We’d hoped it was something like that. Congratulations to the both of you.”
Adil called the server over and ordered something sparkling to toast the new couple with. Sonja admired Jacqui’s ring, and Adil nodded approvingly at Khizar when he got a chance to inspect it as well.
“So, when is the wedding?” Sonja asked.
Khizar laughed. “We don’t have any of the details yet, Mother.”
Jacqui added, “We have a few details to work out, still.”
Khizar gave her a puzzled look, but nodded.
“We do, so as soon as we know, we’ll tell you.”
Sonja patted Jacqui’s arm.
“I’m so pleased, Jacqui. Khizar has always been a bit hard to pin down, and you appear to have focused his mind on the important things.”
Adil chuckled and pointed as his son.
“I can’t wait to tell your uncle. He despaired of you ever settling down; said you were going to be attending wild parties when you were fifty.”