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I’m a bit on high alert due to the fact that on the drive over here, Autumn told me how strict her parents were when she was growing up.

Said they wanted the very best for her and it took years of convincing for them to understand that, as an adult, she had to do what she had to do for herself without weighing their constant input.

They’d lived their lives. It was time for her to live hers.

Still, that hadn’t stopped them from trying.

When she decided to move to Arden, that took a lot of convincing.

When she dated her last boyfriend – that was an issue, though they were right about him – he wasn’t any good.

I’m hoping they look at me and see how much I love their daughter.

That’s my goal for this dinner – to show them that I’m in this, and I’m not playing games.

“Ready?” she asks right after I press the button to shut off the engine.

“As ready as I’m going to be.”

“It’ll be fine. I already told them a little about you, so—”

“Wait, what?”

“Judah, it’s fine,” she says, reaching for the door handle.

“No, wait—I need to make sure we’re on the same page. What have you told them?”

She smiles, her cheeks dimpling when she responds, “I told them I love you.”

“You did?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Did you tell them about—you know…?”

“I didn’t mention anything about your health, Judah, because that’s nobody’s business but ours.”

“Okay.”

She leans over, plants a kiss on my lips, then wipes off the gloss with her thumb and says, “Okay, let’s go.”

We get out, head to the door. Her mother opens it quickly and says, “There’s my baby. How are you, darling?”

“I’m good, Ma. How are you?”

“I’m doing just fine, baby. And who do we have here?”

I smile and say, “Good evening, Mrs. Pemberton. I’m Judah Westinghouse.”

“Hi there,” she says, bypassing my extended hand for a hug instead.

“How you doing, babygirl?” Her father says emerging from the kitchen with a dish towel.

Autumn hugs him and then he turns his attention to me and says, “Judah Westinghouse—the man my daughter loves . Bring it in, son.”

Son .

I’m beyond confused. I didn’t think they’d be this receptive of me, but so far, we’re off to a good start.

“Come on back and have a seat,” her mother says.

We walk into the dining room where her parents have everything laid out – food, place settings – it all looks fancy. And the dining room is decorated with black and teal accents. They have a lovely home. I can feel the love here.

We fill our plates and start eating. Her father says, “So, my daughter has told us a little about you, Judah. Why don’t you fill in the blanks and tell us a little about yourself?”

“Well, um, I live in Arden. I have a degree in economics—just landed a good job here in Asheville, actually.”

“Are your people from Arden?”

“They are.”

“That’s interesting. I went to school with some Westinghouses. What’s your father’s name?”

“My father’s name is Presly.”

Her father’s eyes light up. “Are you kidding me?”

“No, sir.”

He takes a napkin, wipes his mouth, and says, “We went to high school together.”

“No way,” Autumn says.

“Yeah, I think he was a year ahead of me, but we both were on the varsity football team. Yep. Presly Westinghouse. You favor him, too.”

“Well, ain’t that something,” Mrs. Pemberton says. “It really is a small world.”

“Apparently,” Autumn says.

“How’s Presly doing these days?”

“He’s doing great—carrying on the family business.”

“Nice.”

“How long have you two been dating?” Mrs. Pemberton asks.

“Um…a couple of months,” Autumn says.

“You know, me and your father dated for a few months before we got married.”

“Ma!”

“What?” she smirks. “I’m not trying to insinuate anything. I’m just saying.”

Her father says, “We don’t want you to run the fella off.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” I say. “I’m not running from this woman no matter what. I’m running to her—to be her support, to take care of her through sickness, health and everything in between.”

“Well, alright, then,” Mrs. Pemberton says, smiling.

A fter our meals are finished, her mother goes to get dessert. When she does, I take a moment to ask to speak with her father in private. We take a step outside via the front door. It’s dark as the time approaches ten.

“So, what did you want to talk to me about young man?”

I slide my hands into my pockets. I’m not nervous at all because I’m confident about my relationship and my love for Autumn. I do, however, want to go about this in the most respectful way possible.

I say, “I want you to know that I love your daughter very much. Since I met her, my life has changed for the better—not to say I didn’t have a good life, but it wasn’t as good as it could’ve been.

Autumn is the light that brightens the path to show me how wonderful my life could be.

She’s special to me and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. ”

“Are you asking me for my blessing, son?”

“I am.”

“Well,” he hesitates. “That’s difficult considering I just met you.”

“I know, but I also know that I cannot go another day without forging this path for us. I knew Autumn was my other half when we met and nothing has changed, sir. I promise you that I will treat your daughter with the utmost respect. I will love and cherish her every day until she’s smothered with it. ”

Mr. Pemberton chuckles. “You might not want to go that far, Judah. See, there has to be a balance with women. Sometimes if you go all in, they resist.”

“Not Autumn. I know that for a fact. She wants everything I have to give and then some, and I’m going to give it to her because she deserves it.”

“Well, I can’t argue with that can I?” He looks me dead in the eyes and says, “If you’re standing here on this porch proclaiming your love for my daughter and you promise to treat her with love and respect for the rest of her life then you have my blessing.”

A smile appears on my face. I reach to shake his hand but he hugs me and pats me on the back. “She deserves the best.”

“That’s what she’ll get, sir. That’s a promise.”