"She's beautiful," the woman who was still holding onto my waist after our hug called out to whomever was behind her in the home, and I finally pulled away from her grasp. This was getting to be weird.
I had about two seconds of not being touched by the woman before she linked arms with me and pulled me into the foyer, which I didn't even get a chance to really see, then into the living room that was just right of the foyer.
A large brown sectional couch sat against the walls of the room, and each and every pair of eyes that inhabited that couch were set on me. People came out of the kitchen that was attached to the living room to get, what I assumed was, a closer look.
What was going on?
I willed my eyes to stay their normal size when I realized, not only was I being stared at like a pig in a fishbowl, no one in the room was remotely close to my age. Where was Harry? And what kind of house party was this?
"Josie," an adorable old woman wearing a silver and pink tiara said as she walked toward me and took both of my hands into her own. "It's wonderful to finally meet you. You've made all of my birthday wishes come true."
That was it. I had officially entered some insane alternate universe, and I was maybe never going to find my way out.
"Oh ... Josie," a voice that I finally recognized said as Harry came up a set of stairs that was between the living room and the foyer. "I was downstairs playing ..." Harry let his voice trail off because he must have known what he was playing was nowhere near as important as telling me what the heck was going on. What had happened to the house party? And why was I being treated like some prodigal daughter returned?
"I see you met my mom," Harry said as he looked at the woman who had yet to drop my arm, "And my grandmaw." Harry then looked at the woman who held my hands.
"Uh huh," was all I could get out. I was living in a state somewhere between shock and cluelessness.
"Let's eat," Harry's mom called out as she tugged me away from her mother and toward the kitchen. "Call the kids," she directed Harry, sending him away.
My eyes trailed after Harry as he did exactly as his mom had asked, leaving me alone once again.
"Ah, young love," his grandmaw said from behind me, proceeding to pat my bum.
What?
"You can sit here next to me and Maw." Harry's mom sat me in a seat and finally let go of my arm, which was beginning to feel sweaty from all of the contact. "Harry gets you all of the time. We should get a turn."
Harry what? They knew this was a first date, right?
The way both women looked at me expectantly, their matching blue eyes filled with hope, told me that they didn't.
It was once I was sat at the table that I began to notice the decor of the room. Silver number eighties that matched the plastic of Harry's grandmaw's tiara formed a table centerpiece along with a huge birthday banner on the white wall to our left. The enormous dark wood round table was set for sixteen, and I began to see this for what it was. Harry had invited me to his grandmother's eightieth birthday party.
I closed my eyes, willing the nightmare to go away, and then opened them again. But there was mom and grandmaw still looking at me like I had hung the moon and stars. Part of me knew I could walk out of there and never look back, but how could I leave them like this?
Besides, I understood big family events and really wanting someone by my side at them. My three siblings were all married with kids of their own, including my baby sister. My own mama had practically given up on me ever finding a man—she was one of the ones who’d arranged a good number of my first dates—so I could see why Harry would bring a date and let his family think we were maybe a bit more than we were. But I should have been clued in!
Harry slunk into a seat on the other side of the man who I had to assume was his daddy. The man looked just like Harry and had taken the hand of Harry's mom after sitting down next to her.
Harry was cute. He had the same blue eyes that his mom and grandmaw had and the same dark hair of his daddy. He was a little on the thin side and his face was a little long, but the latter could have been because he was worried about the situation. At least I hoped he was worried.
But he had to know that his cuteness couldn't save him after all of this. I thought I'd experienced the worst of the worst when it came to dates, but this was living proof that I'd only hit the tip of the iceberg. I had a feeling we'd be going even deeper into the crazy as the evening went one. But I still couldn't get myself to leave.
A plate of spaghetti was set in front of me before a kiss was placed on my cheek.
This time I couldn't school my features, and my eyes finally went as wide as saucers.
"Oh don't worry about your Aunt Ellen. She's a bit affectionate," Harry's mom said with a pat on my shoulder. "I know she's not technically your aunt yet, but the ring is just a formality at this point, right?"
A ring? I felt the urge to scream but swallowed it down, settling for sending a singeing glare in Harry's direction instead.
We'd only been texting back and forth for a couple of weeks. Had he somehow created the illusion of a relationship worthy of marriage in so short a time?
Harry met my eyes for a split second before looking back down at his plate. I was going to kill him. And while I was at it, I might as well kill Whit too. What was she thinking setting me up with this guy?
My mind had officially been blown.
"So I've been told you know all about us," Harry's mom said as she set a hand on my hand. Man, this family liked to touch strangers. "Let's hear all about you."
Did I know all about them? I tried to glare at Harry once again, but he wouldn't meet my eyes.
"I'm not sure what to say," I began because that was definitely the truth. The events of the evening began to hit me again, and I suddenly felt my stomach turn. I had to get out of there.
"Do you mind if I go to the restroom?" I asked, quickly standing before waiting for an answer.
"Sure, Sweetie. It's out that doorway and to the right," Harry's grandmaw responded kindly.
It took everything in me not to run to the bathroom. I slid to a stop in front of the mirror of the small half bathroom and shut the door behind me, leaning against it as I tried to catch my breath.
I should just leave. I was pretty sure the hallway from this bathroom would also take me to the front door. I could leave now and avoid having to kill Harry. But then again, I would still have to kill Whit, and if I was already going to prison for one murder ...
I let my head hit the door behind me. I couldn't actually leave. But then again, could I go back out there and pretend that I was dating Harry? That I was about to marry him?
A soft knock sounded on the other side of the door.
"I'll be just a minute," I called out because I still had no idea what I was going to do.
I couldn't leave. Not on the poor woman's eightieth birthday. Sure she was a little handsy. But she seemed sweet, and it wasn't her fault she had a lying, conniving grandson. No, I couldn't leave Harry's grandmaw. But Harry on the other hand?
"Josie." His soft voice sounded on the other side of the door, and knowing he was right there made me fling the door open and face the man who had put me in this predicament.
I stood as tall as my five foot one frame would allow me, thankful for my three-inch heels, and glared at Harry. How could he?