Page 18 of A Tall Order (Shade Grown Coffee Boys #1)

"Are you sure this is okay?" I ask once again, standing at the mirror. I run my hands down my shirt and fidget with the bowtie around my neck. The shirt is a pale blue button down, bowtie a soft pink. Remi surprised me with yet another gift, this one a new pair of dress shoes and matching belt. The shiny brown stands out nicely against the black trousers.

"You look handsome, baby." Remi walks up behind me and lays his hands on my shoulders. He runs them down my arms and then back up before kissing the side of my head. "Everyone is going to love you. You'll most likely get pulled away the second we walk in the door."

I know he can see my eyes widen at that. He lets out a low chuckle and spins me around so I can't continue to fuss at how I look. His arms wrap around me and I melt into his warm embrace. "You are perfect, Aussie. They're going to love you."

I bite my bottom lip, still worried but trying to believe him. He's wearing a nice outfit himself. A dark blue button up with a suit jacket and black pants like mine. He's recently dyed his beard, covering his age he said, and he went to a barber yesterday. The lines are clean. He looks amazing.

"We have a long day ahead of us," Remi says. "Let's get going, okay? We'll need to stop by your place and check on everything."

"And grab my stuffies!" I call out when he's by the bedroom door. I have Koka, Kola, and Barry with me, but I want to bring Pam-da and Elle too. And Rascal and Pennie, the rabbit and penguin Daddy got me last weekend. We're going to have a whole weekend of Little time with friends. Quinton and his Daddy are coming, Rachel and Luke, and Garrett says he's bringing his dog. Remi says he was talking to someone at the club on Tuesday, but Garrett wouldn't tell him what happened after they walked out of the room together.

"And grab your stuffies, of course. We'll need to make sure we pack everything we need this weekend because we won't be able to come back and there's no store near there."

"Yes, sir." I playfully salute him before he disappears down the hallway. I give myself one more check in the mirror before heaving a deep breath and walking after Remi.

He helps me into my coat and then opens my door for me since I'm holding the quiche that we made together. It's a twenty minute drive from his house to his mom's and we spend the time between talking and listening to the radio. It's cold outside, but the sky is clear and there's no wind. For late November, it's not a bad day.

The house Remi pulls up to is nice. It's two stories, like his, but is wider. The front lawn is mostly dead grass by now and the driveway is connected to the front porch by a stone walkway. The porch spans the whole house and has a swing on one end and a table and chairs on the other. A white railing goes all the way around to keep anyone from falling the two feet to the ground.

"It's nice," I say, glancing over at Remi. "This is where you grew up?"

"Yep," he says with a smile. A smile that tells me he's thinking of all the memories he made growing up. "I'll show you my old bedroom. Mom turned it into a craft room years ago. There are still embarrassing baby photos of me and my siblings all around the house, though."

"I can't wait to see them," I say honestly. I wait for him to come around and open the door for me. His mom is standing on the porch when I turn back toward the house. She's petite, with silver hair and a warm smile. Her dress goes to her shins, a deep maroon color that brings out the brown in her eyes. The same eyes as Remi.

"Austin, this is my mother Gwendolyn."

"Oh Austin, look at you. You look handsome. Come in, come in." She steps aside and Remi holds the screen door open for me to step through. The house is filled with noise. Conversations, laughter, cooking, and toys. It's warm, too, and smells amazing. The front door opens to a hallway with French door to the right and a closed door to the left. There are stairs starting beside the door and I can see at least two more doors upstairs. Remi leads me further in the house. The hallway gives way to a nice sized dining room with a table large enough to fit eight people. To the left is the kitchen.

"There's a bathroom off the back of the kitchen here," Remi says. "Or there's also one upstairs if this one's occupied."

"Thanks," I whisper. His mom walks into the kitchen behind us at the same time the woman I'm assuming is his sister turns around from the stove. It smells like cinnamon in here and my tummy rumbles.

"Oh, Austin. You're here." Her smile is wide and genuine. I can see the similarities in facial features between her and Remi. They both have the dark brown hair, soft eyes that dip just the tiniest bit at the outer corners. It's been a while since the one time I met her, but her features are familiar. "I need to finish cooking these apples, but please, set the dish down wherever you can find room. How are you? Both of you?"

"Austin, this is Wendy," Remi says. He takes the dishpan from me and moves a few things around on the table to set it down. With my hands free, I shrug out of my jacket, which Remi takes as well. "I'll be right back. Just going to put these in the coat room."

"Okay." My voice is small and I know my nervousness comes out in that one word. He bends down and kisses the top of my head before walking out of the room.

"It's nice to meet you. Again," his sister says. I move slowly around the circular table in the kitchen to lean against the counter. I'm out of her way, but close enough we can talk without her having to look over her shoulder the whole time.

"You as well," I say lamely. I fold my hands together in front of me. I look around the kitchen. There are bowls and bowls of food, all breakfast items. There's also sliced ham with some sort of glaze on it. Maybe honey. It all looks delicious. I spot the plates on top of the microwave, grateful that they're sectioned.

"You're going to meet quite a few people this morning," she says. "Don't let them intimidate you, though. If you need us to bat them off, just say so. The kids will be running around and it'll be a full house soon."

I don't know what to say and I'm grateful that Remi comes back then. "I hope my sister isn't annoying you yet."

"I'm not that bad of company," she says, sending a glare to Remi. He sticks his tongue out at her like they aren't thirty-four and forty-one. It makes me smile. "I was just giving him the heads up on the fam before they all pile into the house."

"The only one you have to watch out for is her," Remi says as he moves me away from the counter and takes my spot, pulling me back against him. It's so casual and in front of his family. Like him saying 'hey, this one is mine'. I should probably not find such a caveman thought sweet, but I do. I let my head drop back against his chest. His mom walks back into the kitchen and gives us a quick glance before moving to the fridge.

"Austin, sweety, I have all kinds of drinks in here. Tea, water, soda, juice, even Kool-Aid if you prefer that." His mom turns around with a can of Pepsi in her hand.

"Mom, seriously? It's eight in the morning." Remi lifts a hand and motions to the soda.

"Listen here young man," she says. I smile at her tone and the way Wendy snickers. "I am seventy-two years old. I've had two cans of soda every day for the last fifteen years and my doctor says I'm as healthy as expected for my age."

I let out a small 'ooh, she told you' and his mom gives me a wink. It makes me laugh. Remi raises both hands and I take the moment to move between his mom and sister to grab my own drink. I don't want Remi to go Daddy on me in front of his family, so I stick with the orange juice. He gives me an approving nod.

"There's vodka in the freezer if you want to make that a Screwdriver," Wendy whispers. Remi's answering grunt tells me he heard that. Before I can say anything, she's already talking to Remi. She points the spatula at Remi. It's comical and I'm just standing there with the juice in my hand watching them. "If he wants a drink, he can have one."

"I actually better not," I say, to save Remi. "I have to see my family after this and I'd rather do that sober."

"Ooh, double feature with the fams." She finishes stirring the apples and Remi hands her a bowl to transfer them out of the hot pan. He hands me a plastic cup next. "Okay, that was the last bit. Now we just have to wait for the others to show up and we'll be ready to eat."

As if summoned, a commotion by the front door hits my ears and soon I'm being introduced to him and her and this cousin, that uncle. It's a lot of names and I try my best to keep them straight in my head. There are just as many kids running around as adults. Toys get pulled out and played with in the hallway, a couple of the teenage kids are braving the cold outside on the porch. The TV is playing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. It's a lot of noise, but I love it. It's family and fun.

By the time we're all gathered around the kitchen table and out into the dining room, someone gives a short toast and another passes out plates. Remi points out what each dish is. His family can definitely cook. I put enough to fill my plate and follow Remi to the table. The other seats are taken quickly and conversations pop up around bites of food.

I have two sausage balls, mini chocolate chip pancakes, two different types of quiche, glazed ham, and a spoonful of corned beef hash on my plate. I'm mindful of the lunch we're going to be eating in a couple of hours too.

"So, Austin, how did you and Remington meet?" Frank, an uncle to someone, asks when we're all mostly done with our plates. All eyes turn to me and I have to keep myself from shrinking back and hiding behind Remi.

"We, uh, met through a mutual… friend." I look at Remi, not sure how much to reveal. "I've known him for years but we only recently made things official."

Remi takes my hand under the table and squeezes. He looks at everyone around the table. They are a great family and I know they don't know our history. It's an innocent question.

"Official, huh?" The lady beside Frank says. "I don't know if you know this, Austin, but you're the first person Remington has brought home to any family function in a good while."

I didn't know that. I know Remi has past relationships and I just assumed he brought them around his family. Remi smiles at me and leans over to kiss the side of my head. I blush under the eyes of his whole family. "He's special. Figured he should see what he's getting into if he plans on sticking with me for a while. Just watch out for Willow over there. She's a little crazy."

Some type of food gets thrown across the table and smacks Remington. The whole table erupts in uncontrolled laughter and conversations turn back to school for the kids, what the plan for Christmas and New Years is. I'm included in these future events like I've been part of the family for years instead of one day. Remington gives updates on his job, Danielle and Yvonne announce that they're going for their interviews to become foster parents. For the most part, I just sit and listen, but I'm included in most of the questions aimed at Remington.

Remi's family is great. They're warm and accepting, clearly care about each other. I finish all the food on my plate and drink all of my juice. Remi smiles at me and mouths, 'Good boy', before taking my plate to the trash. We all move to the living room. His mom has two couches on either side of the living room. There's a real log fireplace with a TV mounted on the wall above. Most of the seats are taken already but Remi pulls me down onto his lap in the recliner chair. It's an older chair and I feel like it was most likely his dad's and they never got rid of it.

"Have you had a good time?" Remi whispers in my ear as everyone's attention is on the TV. The Rockettes are dancing right now. I turn my head to face him and smile.

"The best time," I say. "Your family is great."

"I'm glad," Remi says. He pulls me closer to him and we settle in to watch as much of the parade as we can.

We hit a bit of traffic on the way to my family. I'm still full from the breakfast, but I'm looking forward to the mashed potatoes my mom makes every year. They're my favorite dish. I pull my phone out and text my sister, letting her know we'll be a few minutes late. I don't get a response but I can feel this pit growing in my stomach as I watch the world outside passing by.

"Aussie, baby, what's up?"

"Nothing," I say with a sigh. "I'm just… anxious."

"What for?" Remi takes one hand off the steering wheel and squeezes my knee. His hand is heavy and warm on my leg and I focus on it instead of what's to come.

"My family isn't like yours," I say. "They're more… formal, I guess. It isn't multiple conversations going on at once or th rowing food at each other. We don't sit in the living room together to watch a parade."

"It'll be fine, Aussie. If it becomes too much for you, though, we can leave."

"No, it'll be fine." I put my hand over his and sink back into the passenger seat. "I'm just being dramatic."

"You are so not dramatic," Remi says with a short laugh. The GPS gives more directions and after another ten minutes, we're at my Mom and Dad's. It's not our childhood home like Remi's, but I know there are still pictures of the family through the years on shelves around the living room. I take one final, deep breath before we walk up to the front door.

It's unlocked and there is sound coming from the kitchen. The house isn't big, since myself and my sister moved out and my parents downgraded. It's just my parents, sister and her husband and Charlotte, and me and Remi. It's much smaller than Remi's whole family.

"Hey, Mom." I call out when I open the front door. The front door opens immediately to a set of enclosed stairs. To the right is the living room, the left is a hodgepodge of dining room table, my dad's office, and a nook set under a tall window over looking the backyard. The door to the bathroom is against the back of the house as well. "We're here."

"In the kitchen."

My mom cooks the whole meal for us so we didn't need to bring anything. I take Remi's hand in mine and we walk through the dining room to get to the kitchen. The whole house is laid out in a circle, walls and empty doorways that lead from one room to the next. Upstairs has two bedrooms on either side of the landing and a bathroom between .

"Hey, Austin." She wipes her hands on her apron and holds her arms out for a hug. I drop Remi's hand to hug her back. "It's so nice to see you. It's been too long for us living in the same city. Look at you. At least you're not wearing jeans to Thanksgiving lunch today."

I ignore the comment and smile and tell her I know, that I've been busy. In my head, though, I'm thinking that cars work both ways. It's been almost a year since she came to my house. I always lock up the extra bedroom, claiming that it's simply old storage.

"Mom, this is Remington. My boyfriend." I see her expression morph from calm to slight shock but she hides it quickly and holds her hand out to shake Remington's.

"It's nice to meet you, Ma'am." Remington puts on a voice I haven't heard at all today. He's definitely trying to impress. "The food smells amazing."

"You two just came from your house, correct?" When Remington nods, Mom turns back to the stove and continues talking. I take Remi's hand again. "I hope you didn't eat too much while you were there. I made enough for everyone to take leftovers home."

"Mom is the queen of leftovers," I say. "I put mine in a disposable muffin tin and usually eat on it the next day."

"Sounds yummy," Remington says.

"Is that my brother I hear?" My sister's voice calls through the house. It's a few seconds before she comes into view. "Sorry, this one had to use the bathroom."

I squat down to my niece's eye level. She waddles over to me, still a little unsure on her own feet. "How's my favorite girl? You're getting so big."

"Um, Austin, I think you're burying the lead here." Bea says. I pick up my niece and see my sister's eyes flick to Remington. Chandler pops around the corner as I start to introduce everyone.

"Remington, this is my older sister Bea and her husband, Chandler. Bea, this is my boyfriend." I wave a hand between all of us to symbolize introducing each other. Remington holds his hand out first and Bea shakes it and then Chandler.

"It's been, what, three years since you've brought anyone to a holiday dinner?" Bea looks back at me. I can feel myself stiffen. Remi's hand goes to my lower back. "It's nice to see you're getting back out there."

"It just kind of happened with us," I say, looking at Remi. I can't help but smile at him and lean my body into his side. "And this cutie is Charlotte. Can you say hi?"

Charlotte ducks her head onto my shoulder and I can't blame her. I am the same way when I meet someone new. New people can be scary until you get to know them.

"Okay, this kitchen is getting too crowded. Please, go sit in the living room and chat or something." My mom shoos us out of the kitchen. My dad is in the living room, watching something sports-related.

"Hey, Dad." My dad, Billy, opens his arms for Charlotte to climb into the chair with him. He looks up and smiles at me, then gives Remington a curt nod. "This is Remington."

"Nice to meet you," my dad says and he doesn't hide his lack of interest at all in his tone. I give Remi a tight-lip smile and we sit down on the opposite end of the couch. I immediately curl into Remi's side and his arm goes around my shoulder.

We don't really talk much. No one asks Remi about his life like his family did with mine. Remi's family all know I work at the coffee shop, half of them promising to stop by and see me if they're in the area. The silence is awkward here. I want them to ask questions, to talk to Remi. I'm so proud of all his work he's done to build his business. Everything he's done for me.

It's only ten more minutes until Mom is calling us back to the table. Everything is set and I sigh internally that my family loves to use actual plates instead of disposable.

"Billy, can you say grace?"

We pass the food around after Dad blesses everything. I get a scoop of each dish, still full but knowing my mom will comment if I'm not eating something. My plate is full and it's stressing me out a bit that the gravy is starting to run onto the green beans and roll.

Our conversations aren't as hectic over this meal. One meal with Remi's family and I want that, not this half silent, shallow topics only talk. Bea gives us an update on Charlotte's milestones and Dad talks about his work. He's worked the same job for forty years, refusing to retire because, "I'll just be bored".

"Remington owns his own property business," I say with a smile when there is a lull in the conversation. "He built it himself from the ground up."

"Is that right?" My dad, at least, seems interested in that fact. I can see my mom and Bea sharing glances and it's making me uncomfortable. "How is that going in this economy?"

While Remington answers, he leans back in the chair and casually puts his arm over the back of mine. His fingers graze over the back of my shoulder. I could listen to Remi talk about his job all day long. He is such a hard worker and I really hope that the trip this weekend is successful for him.

"Austin, do you mind helping me get the dessert?" Bea asks. "I think Mom made a couple of pies. "

"Yeah." I stand and take Remi's plate this time. He thanks me quietly and goes back to talk to my dad. At least they have something to talk about, I think as I walk into the kitchen. Mom is following behind me. "What kind of pie did you make?"

"Austin." My mom's voice catches my attention. It isn't a question and I'm not sure how to read her tone. I tilt my head and look between both of them. I get the sense that I'm being cornered right now.

"Remington seems nice," Bea cuts in. "He's… older than I expected."

"Okay? He's only ten years older. It's not that bad, considering I'll be thirty-one in February." My fingers graze over the buttons of my shirt and I want to pull the bowtie from around my neck.

"But he's…" My mom starts and stops, her mouth fishing as she tries to find whatever words she thinks isn't going to hurt my feelings.

"Are older men your thing?" Bea asks outright. My mouth is gaped in disbelief that she even asked that. It didn't matter, did it? Nothing I was doing was hurting anyone. "I just mean—" She looks over at our mom, like they've had this planned and were tag teaming. "He's older than your last boyfriend."

"Fiancé," I correct. "Paul was my fiancé, not just a boyfriend. Yeah, Remi's older but I don't care. I like him." I'm not about to tell them I love him. Not when I have a sinking feeling where this conversation is going.

"Whatever he was," she dismisses and it stings. Paul was my love and now Remi is as well. I won't have them dismissing that or questioning it. It's my life, anyway. "Isn't he… "

"He's older than your sister, Austin. That isn't strange to you?"

"No, it isn't. He's my boyfriend and we're happy together." I know I'm getting defensive but I don't like them talking about myself and Remi like we're wrong for being together. I cross my arms, hoping it comes across as annoyed when really I just want to curl in on myself.

"But what happens when he gets older?" Bea asks.

"What do you mean by that?" I look over my shoulder. I can hear the guys still talking but I want to make sure Remi doesn't hear this conversation. I don't even want to hear this conversation.

"We're just concerned, Austin." Mom says. I can feel tears of frustration hitting the back of my eyes. "You need to think about what your future is going to look like. You're so young, sweetie. Think about what's going to happen when he— When you outlive him."

"Think about it? Mom, I lived with it. For three years. This is the first time I feel happy since Paul died. I'm not going to focus on forty years from now when something could happen tomorrow. I'm learning to take joy in each day. Remi taught me that."

I don't stand up to my family. Not growing up, not even with Paul. For three years, I've heard them dismiss my past relationship. I knew they weren't a fan of the age gap between Paul and I. This is exactly what I was worried about bringing Remi over. We had such a good time this morning with this family. My mom's face says everything I need to know. Nothing I say will change her mind just because of some shallow reasons.

I turn my back on the two women and walk into the dining room. The second Remi sees me, conversation stops and he's out of his chair and holding me. I hug him back for a minute before I look up at him.

"Can we go home now?"