Page 4 of Paradise & Vodka

When we pulled up to the doublewide, I wasn't sure it was the same mobile home I grew up in. I had been home a month ago, but since then, my parents had made upgrades. The area by the stairs that led up to the front door was well manicured with flowers and boxwood greenery. The lawn had been mowed, and every weed had been pulled. The outside had been transformed into a Christmas light show with decorations. Growing up, we’d never decorated the outside; we’d only had a fake tree indoors.

"Did you know about this?" I asked, turning to look at Everleigh in the backseat.

She grinned. "Yeah. I helped them."

"Why … Why did they decide to do all of this?"

Her gaze moved to Douglas and then back to me quickly. She shrugged. "Mom just wanted to."

"Okay," I breathed, and we all opened our doors to get out of the car.

I grabbed Douglas's hand as we walked behind Everleigh and up the steps of the small porch. Everleigh opened the front door, and I expected to smell fried fish in the air. Instead, I was hit with the scent of something similar to a pot roast.

"You're here!" Mother gushed and rushed toward us with open arms. She engulfed me. "We've been waiting."

"Sorry." I hugged her. "The Magnolia Inn caught fire, and we had to find another place to stay."

Mom gasped as she drew her head back. "It did?"

"Yeah, the kitchen burned pretty badly, but the rooms only have smoke damage."

Mom and I broke apart. "Where are you staying?"

"They're staying with me," Everleigh stated.

"Yeah, and," I gestured to Douglas, "this is Douglas. Douglas, this is my mom, Dixie."

To my surprise, my mother wrapped her arms around him and gave him a big hug. "It's a pleasure."

Douglas smiled. "Likewise, Mrs. James."

"Please, call me Dixie."

"Dixie it is."

"Where's Dad?" I asked.

"Right here," he stated, coming into the room from the hallway. He had on a collared shirt and tie, and I had to do a double-take.

I looked at my sister to question what the hell was going on. She shrugged with a small smile. I cleared my throat. "Douglas, this is my father, Earl. Dad, this is Douglas."

They shook. "Nice to meet you, sir."

"Pleasure."

Pleasure? Who were these people?

"All right," Mom said excitedly. "I hope you're hungry. I've made my famous chili and cornbread."

"Sounds delicious." Douglas wrapped his arm across my shoulders. Chili was better than anything fried. We were off to a good start.

My mother even served us on her nice china she got from my grandmother.

Dinner went better than I thought it would.

Everyone got along. Dad and Douglas bonded over college football—I had no clue Douglas was into college football—and Mom seemed to fall in love with my boyfriend. Even Everleigh seemed to be head over heels for him.

"I told you everything would be fine," Douglas stated as we unpacked our clothes back at my sister's.