"Heavens to Betsy, girl," the door is answered by a slender, but buxom blonde woman wearing a baby blue dress that matches her eyes and a white apron starched to perfection. "Get in here its freezing out there."

"Thank you." it really is cold outside today. It's humid and raining and thanks to the immense trees surrounding the town, the fog is dense.

Cole asking me to wear a dress today doesn't help me at all in this kind of weather.

"You must be, Christina Selvey." she closes the door behind her and extends a hand to me. "You are such a pretty young woman."

"Thank you." I say again while shaking her hand as softly as possible. The wedding ring on her left hand is really eye catching. I guess that's what you get when your husband is the towns main doctor and owns the biggest hospital. "I knew that only a beautiful woman like you could have given birth to a handsome guy like Cole."

She beams a blinding white smile at me. "Well, aren't you just precious!"

"Mama, is Christina here?" Cole's younger sister Coraline, walks down the stairs. Just like her mother and almost every other girl in this town, she is wearing a dress. A green one. "Oh."

"Hey, Coraline." I wave.

She finishes putting her sandy blonde hair in a side ponytail and runs down the stairs to collide with me. We hug and laugh in unison.

"I'm so happy that you came, Chris." I'm glad that Cory likes me.

She is around the same age but I'm actually pretty sure that she is the exact same age as Jeremiah. They are in the same grade and every now and then I see them walking together in the halls. She is smart and pretty and just all around a pleasant person to have in your company.

"I'm happy to be here," I respond, allowing Cole's mom to help me out of my Navy jacket. The only not-so-girly thing I'm wearing. It was cold as shit and I refused to let my arms freeze along with my legs. "Where's Cole?"

"Oh, Cole and my daddy are in the backyard having a chat." Cory takes my hand and leads me to the kitchen. "We don't usually bother them when they go out there."

"Oh, okay." I allow myself to be brought to the island in the middle of the kitchen.

She hands me a white apron. "I can tell Cole you're here if you want." she offers.

"No, no," I put the apron over my red tank dress. My dress is just long enough to be longer than the apron. "If it is some kind of unspoken rule not to bother them, then I can wait."

"Okay." she seems relieved that I understood and goes to the counter to retrieve two cutting knives. "You're gonna help me chop veggies and cook dinner."

"Seriously?" I take the knife from her hesitating all the while.

She looks at me puzzled. "Do you not know how? You never cook at your own home? But, Jeremiah said..."

"Oh, yeah, I do." I start, chopping the veggies already on the cutting board. "I just didn't know I would be working because I wouldn't have worn heels."

"But, I like your heels," she compliments, pointing at my scalloped polka dot Mary Jane's. "And besides, me and my mama are wearin' some too. Ladies are supposed to wear heels."

The click clack of a pair of heels enter the kitchen. "That's right, honeysuckle." Cole's mom walks in with that same big smile. Almost everybody in this town smiles without falter. No way it doesn't hurt after a while. "Well, butter my biscuit," she looks at me in awe. "You look just adorable in that outfit."

"Thank you, Mrs. Cooley." I say smiling, awkwardly trying to mirror her extremely happy disposition. Confused because I'm wearing exactly what I was when I walked through the door, save for the apron. "I actually kind of like this cute, Southern housewife look."

"Isn't it nice that heels can make tiny women like us seem tall?" Cory asks while skinning potatoes and handing them to me one at a time.

I'm not tiny. Not in the least. I'm 5'7".

"Um ... Yeah." I say that but I don't really see myself as tiny. I'm not particularly skinny and I'm above average in height."

For around twenty minutes the three of us engage in somewhat meaningless banter. Unlike my mom, Mrs. Cooley doesn't ask uncomfortable questions or say anything unpleasant. Every now and then, Cory might but her mother would always tell her to watch her words and then change the subject.

Right after I pull the chicken fried steak off the stove and put it on a separate plate, deep voices enter the kitchen.

"Oh, Chris," Cole looks at me and walks over. "I didn't know you were here."

He kisses my cheek. "I've been here for a while now," I reply while wondering if it's okay that he stay glued to me. "Helping your mom and sister with dinner."

"Really?" he stares, genuinely surprised. "What did you make?" he asks looking over the food already on serving plates.

"The green beans, the cornbread, and the potato salad." I remember how hard it was to do that last one. Everything was done by hand and all the food was fresher that fresh. I'm used to frozen stuff, but apparently they are used to goods straight from the farmers market. "I think I did pretty well."

"It looks good." he states, giving me visual praise.

What, did you think a California girl couldn't cook?

"Thank you." I've never been complimented this much in such short span of time before.

Cole kisses my cheek again. "Chris, I want you to meet my dad, Charles Cooley," he turns me by my waist so that I am facing his father.

Oh, so that's where the C comes from I suppose.

"Nice to finally make your acquaintance, Mr. Cooley." I try to smile just as brightly as his wife. "Cole is always talking about his family and I was ready to meet you in person."

The dad smiles. "So this is the girl my boy's been ravin' about?" he shakes my hand lightly. "You are a mighty fine, young lady?"

What?

"Thank you," I try to hold the smile. "From the looks of you two, I can see where Cole and Coraline get their good looks."

Honestly, between the dad's black hair with white tinge and strong body type and the mom's sunny disposition and perfect figure and face, it is completely understandable that gorgeous children like Cole and Cory were made. The perfect American genes. They'd make the cover of one of those home magazines sold by the register in grocery stores.

"This one's a charmer." Mr Cooley laughs heartily. "Is dinner ready?"

"Just about, darlin'," Mrs Cooley replies. "You boys go sit on down, we'll be out in a minute."

Cole and his dad leave the kitchen obediently and head to the main dining room, rather than the breakfast nook in the corner in the kitchen.

My house doesn't have one of those because it just seemed pointless when we have a perfectly functioning bar.

The three of us take up the food we made and head for the dining room where the men are waiting. Mrs. Cooley goes out first and is followed by Cory, then me. But, right before we exit, Cory turns around so fast I almost drop the food I'm holding.

"Chris, listen to me." her eyes are serious. "Be careful whatcha say around daddy, okay?"

I can guess why.

I nod faster than I mean to. "Okay, I got it."

Not to assume the worst or anything, but Cole had to get his temper from somewhere.

"Good." she turns around. "Now come on." her back straightens and I do the same. "Who's going to say grace tonight?"

Not me. Not me. Please don't say me.

"Does your family say grace, Christina?" Mrs Cooley asks.

Ugh.

Everyone's eyes are on me. "Occasionally. Mostly only on holidays or when family members visit." I don't really know how to respond correctly. "But, my family isn't very religious."

"What religion is your family?" this time the father asks me the question. "What's your daddy's religion?"

He must be one of those types that believe that the dad's religion must be everybody in the house's religion.

"My father was Catholic," I answer quietly, not wanting to talk about him. "But, my mother is Christian."

My mother is probably the least religious Christian in the history of Christians, but I'm just gonna leave that little part out.

"You said 'was'," Mrs. Cooley starts serving her husband his food as he continues to ask me questions. "Where is your daddy?"

She looks up. "I'm curious of that as well." she looks back down but keeps talking. "I thought that Tom fella that I met at the market was your daddy."

Cole nudges me and I start to serve him. "No, Tom is my mom's new husband, they got married a year ago," I'm hesitant. "My real dad was gone when I was eight, so that was around nine years ago."

"Aw, bless your little heart," Cole's mother gives me a pitiful look.

"I didn't know your daddy was gone, Chris," Cory also gives me a look and I don't know why. It's not like my own expression is sad or anything.

Can we please drop this?

I nod. "Mhm, yep," I try not to look up as I finish serving Cole and start serving myself. "My dad is dead and has been for quite a while." my eyes meet no one else's.

"How'd he go?" Mr Cooley chews on a fork packed with like everything on his plate.

You dick.

I stare at my plate for a bit. "Uh... my dad, Cesario Selvey was a specialist in the Navy and died for no good reason." I really don't want to talk about him.

"You didn't tell me he was in the Navy." Cole leans over. "You haven't told me anything about the man actually."

"I don't make a habit out of discussing the dead," I reply.

"That's good," Mr Cooley nods. "My mama always told me that we should let the dead rest."

You asked the most questions, dude.

"That's a good philosophy to live by," I reply.

I try to mimic Mrs Cooley and Coraline. They both have impeccable table manners.

For a while, no serious conversation takes place. Only meaningless talk. Stuff that a family like this would usually talk about. Grades, the children's progress in their extracurricular activities, and other stuff. I zone out a few times. Playing with my food or absentmindedly eating while I think about my own affairs, like if I finished my English report or not.

When I am almost done eating, I am glad, because that means that it is almost time for me to go. It's not my intention to stay any later for family game night or whatever they do.

A cough grabs my attention. It's the dad and I think grabbing my focus was the purpose of the obviously exaggerated action.

"What do you do, Christina?" he asks me. His own plate has no food on it.

"What do I do?" I repeat the question like an idiot. "Um..." my answer is embarrassing. "Nothing really. I go to school when we have to, I get picked up and taken home by Cole, and then if my mom isn't home, I do all the housework."

I'm not sure but it looks like Coraline breathes a sigh of relief at my answer. Is that really the answer parents want from someone dating their son?

"That's good." Mr Cooley replies. "Any plans for the future?"

What is it with parents and asking stuff that people never want to talk about?

"Actually..." I can feel Cole staring at me. He's finished with his meal as well. "After graduation... I thought about going to New York for a while. Maybe, Manhattan."

"What?" Cole sits up with a start almost making me jump out of my chair, but I remember where we are and keep calm. "When did you decide this?"

I attempt to meet him in the eye. "I told you when I decided this, it was like two months ago when Christiane told me of the beauty school there."

He bites the inside of his cheek making me look away from him and at the scraps in front of me.

"Remember? I said I wanted to be a fashion figure when I graduate?"

"No, I don't remember that." he practically spits venom at me. "Why can't you go to a school down here for that?"

I knew you weren't listening.

"Because, the schools around here that offer the beauty technician classes aren't as advanced nor do they make the graduates qualified enough to work with important people." I reply, not as calmly as I wish I did. "If I go to a school down here, I'll end up working in a sad, little beauty salon, dyeing old lady's hair blue and pink."

"How are you gonna even pay for this trip?" he asks. "Riding a plane to New York ain't cheap and neither is living there."

My mouth dries. "I was thinking of getting a job..."

His hands slap on the table and he gets up.

"Cole!" a shiver runs through me making me drop my silverware.

"You never tell me anything, Chris!" he points a finger at me. "We talked about this all day yesterday! What's with you and keeping secrets?!"

I stay seated. "I never brought it up, because it was just a concept, nothing is set in stone," only just now am I remembering that his whole family is here. "I would've told you if it was." I lower my voice.

"I'm done listening to all these excuses from you!" he storms out of the dining room.

"Cole!" I do stand at this point, but I'm plopping back down in my seat the moment I decide it would be better not to chase him. "Oh, God..." I sigh putting my face in my hands.

The table is quiet.

I seriously want to just go home.

"Christina," Cory stands up and grabs her plate. "Come help me wash dishes."

I sniffle. "Huh?" she takes my hand and almost drags me from the table. "Wait." I hurriedly grab my dinner plate and glass.

"I'll getcha some pie, darlin'," Mrs Cooley stands and gathers what's left of the dinner dishes.

The three of us walk into the kitchen and Cory immediately starts running dish water. We are silent as she starts to wipe away the food and I rinse them before putting them in the dishwasher to dry. That is, until Mrs. Cooley comes back in the kitchen from giving her husband pie.

"Goodness gracious, that little debacle had my heart thumpin'." her voice sounds nervous. "You really worried me there, Christina."

Cory and I exchange a look.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Cooley," my tone meek and my eyes plastered on my hands. "Next time, I'll try to take it somewhere else."