Sam pulled up to Mara's townhouse. He didn't remember the last time he felt so nervous. It's the first time the situation really hit him. Mara had a whole other life that he was never a part of. It made him sad to think about it that way. But things happen the way they happen and there's not always a good explanation.
If being a cop had taught him anything it was that shitty things happen to everyone. Regardless of what brought them together, Sam wanted to keep it that way always. He knew he had to seal the deal with Jillian. If she didn't like him, Sam was screwed.
He walked up and rang the doorbell. He heard what sounded like two people fighting to get to the door and it flew open. "SAM!" Jillian yelled and she threw her arms around him in a big hug. Mara had lost the run to the door and just stood there watching Sam's face. She wanted to laugh so hard. Jillian was a tornado, she kind of forgot to mention that to him. He put his arms around her to hug her back. "Hi," he laughed. "Jilly," my god, give him some room to breath."
"Oh sorry," she stepped back. She was beautiful. She looked like Mara, beautiful big brown eyes, a cute nose. But her nose was straight, where as Mara had a tiny cute bump. She had a big wide smile and some freckles on her cheeks. Her hair was dark brown, long and wavy. Sam almost thought he was looking at Mara twenty years ago. "Oh crap the pie," he remembered. "I'll be right back." Jillian turned around, "Mom he is hot!" she mouthed.
Mara was blushing and looked like she had the start of a headache when she rubbed her hand on her temple. She was praying Sam was coming back after her daughter just attacked him. Fortunately she saw him walking back up the steps into the house. "Oh, pie, thanks!" Jillian took it from him and went into the kitchen.
Mara walked over to him and took his jacket. " Hi hun," she kissed him sweetly, "sorry I forgot to warn you, Jillian is louder than life." She laughed. He smiled, "It's ok, babe, she's beautiful." Jillian smiled, "Yes she is."
Jillian came back out of the kitchen holding a glass, "Cocktail Sam? It's my latest creation, I'll be 21 in a few months, so I'm practicing my recipes. She laughed. But then she remembered Sam was a cop and got scared. "I mean for when I turn 21, not now of course."
Sam and Mara both looked at each other and laughed. "Ha, it's ok Jilly I'm off duty tonight don't worry." Jillian looked at her mom almost sad, but then she smiled. Mara knew why. Only her and Keith had ever called Jillian Jilly. It was their nickname for her. Sam took the drink from her and tried it. "Whew, that is fruity." He laughed.
"Here let me show you how to make a real cocktail." They both went in the kitchen. Mara was smiling from ear to ear, hoping for the best tonight. She knew Jillian would like Sam. But part of her was nervous when he actually met her daughter, he might not look at her the same. She was hoping that wasn't the case.
The night was going great. Dinner was really good. Apparently Mara had decided to order takeout. Sam was thankful for that. Mara's mom called and was really upset about someone stealing something from her room. She was in an assisted living facility and always thought people were taking things. Mara motioned to them that she would be on the phone for a few minutes and went upstairs to calm her mother down.
Jillian sliced the pie up. She put a couple pieces on plates and brought them on the couch where Sam was sitting. "Oh cherry is my favorite, thank you!" she said. "No problem, your mom kind of told me." He laughed. They both sat down. "Thank god she decided not to cook tonight." Sam almost spit out his food. "Has she made you her chicken tetrazzini yet?' she asked him. Sam smiled a little and shook his head yes. Jillian started laughing hysterically. "You poor thing, wow you really are a keeper!" They were both laughing now.
"So how was Gatlinburg?" he asked. "Oh," she sat up swallowing a forkful of cherry pie. "It was great, I mean I'm not very good at skiing, but my friend Bryan put me on a snowboard. I mean I fell a bunch of times, but it was fun."
"Yeah I've gone there a few times, with some buddies. It's definitely a good time. So you're mom mentioned your friend Bryan, are you guys like a thing?" Jillian blushed a little, god she looked just like Mara when she blushed Sam thought. Then she bit her lip. Ok this is definitely Mara's clone, he laughed to himself. "I mean I want us to be, but…we'll see. I mean we're not hot and heavy like you and mom."
Now it was Sam's turn to blush. His whole face felt red but he hoped it didn't show. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to embarrass you, mom says I talk too much, I get it from my dad." They both laughed. "No, no it's fine. Honestly Jillian, your mom is great. I love every second I'm with her," he said sweetly and truthfully. Jillian looked so happy.
"I don't remember the last time I've seen her so happy, well I mean probably with my dad." Sam felt so happy to hear that, but sad for her. "Yeah, I'm sorry about your dad. Your mom says such great things about him and how much she loved him."
"She did, she does. I mean, sorry. He was the best and he worshiped her. He was gone a lot at the hospital, but he always tried to make it up to us. But when he passed, it's like someone ripped her heart out you know. It killed me to see her like that." Jillian put her plate down on the coffee table. "And you know she's come out of her shell so much since you guys have been together. I can hear it in her voice. She's just happy again, just living."
They were both quiet for a minute. "Just please don't fuck it up, ok?" she said in a trying to be funny sort of way. But Sam knew she was serious. "Jillian I promise you I will do everything not to fuck this up."