Page 25 of Finding Basil (Foggy Basin Season Two)
His mother still looked skeptical. “Herb…he was hired to help you. Please tell me you were not ignorant enough to let someone into your life that might want you for…well, you know…”
“What your mother means, son, is—”
“I know what she means, Dad. And the two of you better get that out of your heads fast. He’ll be here to meet you soon, and if you are rude to him in any way, you may as well go back home. You will be uninvited to the wedding.”
“Herb!”
“Yes, Mother, you heard me right. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. He is…well, wait until you meet him. I don’t have to talk him up. He’ll do that himself.”
When the knock on the front door came, Herb smiled automatically. He rushed to the living room and heard his parents cautiously moving behind him. Basil came in and hugged him close, telling him, “I saw the car. Are they here?”
Herb nodded and then turned Basil to them as they emerged into the living room. “Mom, Dad, this is Basil. Basil, this is German and Katherine Buffet.”
Basil didn’t shake their proffered hands, no. Instead, he went to each of them and hugged them, kissing their cheeks.
German was so shocked, his face looked as though he’d seen a ghost, and there was a blush over Katherine’s pale cheeks. “It’s so nice to meet you! My parents have met Herb, of course, and they adore him. They said he must have amazing parents to raise such a wonderful man.”
Katherine’s hand covered her throat, and her eyes welled a little when she heard that. “Well, give them our thanks.”
“You can give that yourself. They’ve invited you all to brunch. Herb can cook, but…we cook better.”
Herb was thrilled, but both his parents looked nervous. He told them, “It’s true. They’re wonderful cooks.” To Basil, he asked, “Anything…not spicy?”
“Duh. Mom made roasted chicken, and Daddy is cooking carne asada and spiceless steaks. There're fresh breads, and tortillas Abuela made. It’ll be fine.”
When they were driving Herb’s parents to the Jimenez home, Basil turned to speak to them, telling them all about the farm, and how fast Herb was taking to it. They didn’t have a lot to say, but when Herb glanced into the rearview mirror, he saw their shells cracking a bit.
Overall, the drive was nice, and he also caught his mom gazing out at the scenery, and her face was as calm and smooth as he’d ever seen it.
She was the type of person that always had those two lines between her brows showing deeply, always worrying, or judging, or just annoyed.
Not on that drive. She saw what Herb saw every day, and it had a way, to take the stress and make a person just feel… soft.
The entire family was gathered at the Jimenez house, and they took Herb’s parents to different areas immediately. German was taken to the huge barrel grill, and Katherine was pulled into the kitchen. Basil held him, smiling. “They’ll be one of us before the end of this brunch.”
“I love you and your optimism. They’re probably scared to death.”
“I doubt that. You don’t give them much credit.”
Herb just knew them. Basil took his hand, and Sabrina leaned over her huge belly to kiss his cheek. “The folks meeting. How nervous are you?”
“It doesn’t show?”
“You keep it chill. Cordelia is here, and Lila. Thought a few white faces might make them feel more at home,” she said with a giggle. “Now, I’m heading into the kitchen to meet your mom and see what’s finished so I can pick.”
“The doctor said not to gain over five pounds in the next two weeks.”
“Yeah, and can you believe my horrible husband hasn’t let me come to my mother’s house all this time because of all the food around all the time? Torture!”
Basil laughed and told her, “You eat, Sabrina. I want my nieces all fat and cute.”
Herb tensed as they entered the kitchen, and then he got the shock of his life. His mother was giggling as she was scarfing down tortilla chips and salsa.
“Herb! Have you tasted this? It’s marvelous!”
“Isn’t it hot, Mom?”
“I eat Indian and Thai. I’m not a total wimp, son.”
“Yeah,” Michelle agreed. “Let her eat!”
The women were all giggling and then glaring at the two men in their midst, so Basil and Herb took their leave and the second they were out of the kitchen, a roar of laughter followed them.
Basil was joyous, but Herb was just shocked. “That cannot be my mother.”
“It is. Our parents have different sides to them. Let’s go see your Pops.”
“As long as you don’t call him that.”
When they got to the grill, he saw his father with a beer with a lime shoved in it in one hand and a bottle of tequila in the other. That was enough of a shock, but he also saw German pointing to the carne asada and telling Michael to add more red peppers. “Make it nice and spicy.”
“Dad? You know how hot that already is?”
“Son, do you think this is the first time I’ve eaten Mexican food? I’ve lived in California all my life, and your mother and I have vacationed there countless times. We love spicy food.”
“See what happens when you only get to know the surface of your parents and not all the parts of them?”
Having to agree, he smiled and said, “I forget that they’re real people and not just the people who brought me into the world. I doubt I’m alone in that.”
“I doubt that too. Don’t worry. It’s not too late to get to know them better. I’ll help.”
“I’m sure you will.”
The brunch was fabulous, with salads, steaks, chicken, iced tea and beer, tres leches cake for dessert. He was so full, he could barely move.
“I am sure my parents would like to get back to my place to settle in.”
They agreed, but before they could get up from the cleared and clean table, Michelle said, “Okay, tomorrow the boys are going to have their bachelor party, and since we have no bride, we are having a party for the ladies, and putting together the gift bags along with drinking a lot of wine and eating food we won’t work off for months.
Katherine, I’ll pick you up at six, before they get started.
The rest, remember what you all are supposed to do.
Juan, pick up the tuxedos, May, get the gowns to steam.
Everyone, it’s almost time. Don’t mess up this wedding for me! ”
Michael leaned in to correct his wife. “Honey, it’s their wedding.”
“Oh…right. Don’t mess it up for me or them!”