Aurora's POV:
My heart skipped a beat as I glanced up from my book to find Adrian eyeing me expectantly. His question about meeting his parents, one I had repetitively avoided, echoed through the air of their hotel room. Pouting slightly, I responded, "Uh, not yet. Let's give it some more time."
The truth was, meeting his parents made me nervous. I wanted everything to be perfect.
Adrian sighed softly, his eyes filled with a longing for me to embrace this milestone in their relationship. "C'mon, it's been three days now! Stacey really wants to meet her grandparents, and I want you to meet them too," he pleaded, his voice laced with heartfelt sincerity.
I weighed his words, realizing that it was only fair for our daughter, Stacey, to have the opportunity to bond with her extended family. Relenting, I finally gave him a curt nod, conceding, "Okay."
His face immediately lit up, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Tonight, it is?" he asked, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Caught off guard by the suddenness, I blinked in surprise. "What?" I stuttered, struggling to process his proposed plan.
Taking my hand in his, he explained, his voice warm and reassuring, "Let's have dinner at my parents' place tonight. Stacey and Annabel are coming with us. It'll be a chance for both our families to finally come together."
Caught in a moment of internal conflict, hesitated briefly before reluctantly conceding, "Fine." Though I tried to mask it, a hint of uneasiness lingered in my voice.
As Adrian began making arrangements for the evening, my mind shifted to the task of preparing myself and Stacey for this significant family dinner. Racing against the ticking clock, I immersed myself in choosing the perfect outfit to make a lasting impression on Adrian's parents.
I scanned through my limited options, wanting to make a good impression.
After having a tough time all day picking my outfit, I settled on a knee-length, navy blue dress with delicate floral patterns. It was elegant yet not overly formal, a perfect balance for the occasion. I paired it with a dainty necklace and silver heels, giving my ensemble a touch of sophistication.
Next, I turned my attention to Stacey, who sat contently on the hotel room floor, her playful giggles filling the air. I gingerly picked out a pretty blue dress adorned with tiny white stars, lovingly coaxing my daughter into wearing it.
Time seemed to slip away as I struggled to tame my unruly hair into a neat updo. Once satisfied with my appearance, I diverted my attention to Stacey's blonde curls, carefully brushing and arranging them into a cute ponytail, securing it with a bow that matched her own outfit.
With our outfits chosen and hair elegantly styled, Stacey and I slipped into our shoes. After a final touch of lip gloss, we were ready to head out, anticipation filling the air.
Satisfied with our looks, I smiled at Stacey, who beamed back at me. Then I caught my own reflection on the mirror, reminding myself to exude confidence and warmth as I embraced this important milestone with Adrian's family.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation - a realization that this evening might just be the beginning of building lasting and meaningful connections and a sense of belonging.
As we walked towards Adrian, who was patiently waiting at the door to our hotel room, I couldn't help but feel a mix of nerves and excitement.
He took Stacey into his arms and grabbed my waist, then he planted a kiss on our cheeks. "You both appear stunning as usual, tonight." His eyes sparkling with pride as he took in our outfits.
My cheeks were getting heated up already by his little affection. "I will say the same. You don't look bad either," I replied, admiring him, head-to-toe.
It seemed he didn't want to feel left out, so he got dressed in a blue three-piece Armani suit and a pair of black suede shoes.
"Thank you." He smiled, then a slight frown grew on his face. "Isn't Anna here yet?"
"Well, you know she doesn't have friends aside us, and she isn't ready to meet new faces. So I didn't bother asking her."
"Ok, that's quite understandable. Maybe another time," he insisted.
"Yeah. I could convince her then."
"Can we go now, daddy, please?" Stacey pleaded, her eyes shining brightly.
"Aww, someone is so eager to meet her grandparents." He pulled her soft cheeks. "Of course, sweetie."
Together, our small family embarked on the journey to Adrian's childhood home, eager to unite with his parents and begin the next chapter of our lives.