the front door as soon as we pulled up and each gave Parker a warm hug. Watching them, you could see the closeness and love that the family shared.
“You must be Avery!” his mom said as she embraced me. I tried not to show how awkward I felt as I hugged her back. They were obviously as affectionate as Parker was. His dad must have sensed my unease, because he shook my hand, instead, when he welcomed me.
Parker wrapped his arm around me and led me into the house. He fit this place and seemed more at ease than I had ever seen him. The smell of a home cooked meal hit my senses as soon as we walked in the door, and I suddenly felt my stomach growl. Parker had eaten all our loot from the trip and it hit me how hungry I was.
“You two haven’t eaten, have you?” his mom asked as she started taking pans out of the oven.
“Are you kidding? I’m starved!” Parker answered and planted a light kiss on her cheek. I excused myself to the bathroom, partially to freshen up and partially to get calmed down. As ridiculous as it sounds, I felt overwhelmed by the love in this place. It was real and honest, and I had never experienced anything like it.
They were already around the table when I came out of the bathroom and tried to quietly join them, but my chair scraped across the floor as I did. Parker quickly stood up to help me get settled. He reached for my hand and then took his father’s. Next thing I knew, we were all holding hands to say grace, but it was more then just blessing our food. They thanked God for multiple things, even my being there with them. It was authentic, and despite my lack of experience regarding this sort of thing, I felt good when they finished.
We said, “amen” and started passing the food. I started to mentally brace myself for the onslaught of questions that always seemed to follow, but they didn’t come this time. Instead, Parker’s dad told stories about campers in the woods, and they talked about the missionary work Parker’s older brother and family was doing overseas. I found myself slowly starting to relax, enjoying their easy mannerism as they shared their life with one another. I even found myself laughing and asking questions, as if I had known them for years. It was the first time, since I could remember, that I didn’t notice what others were eating or how they were eating it. I didn’t even really register my food, only the company, and the freedom in that felt so amazing I wanted to cry.
We were finishing up when his dad leaned back in his chair and said, “Well Avery, this is the part where we go around and tell each other a high and low for the day. Think you can come up with one?”
I shot a concerned look to Parker, unsure exactly what they were asking me.
“Its easy,” his mom said, reassuring me. “I’ll go first. My high today was when you and Parker pulled in the drive. And my low was burning my finger on the pan. Ok Frank, you’re next,” she said looking at her husband.
“My high will come later when I beat this knucklehead in a game of darts,” he teased as he lightly punched Parker in the shoulder. “My low is going to be the dishes I’m sure I’ll have to do after dinner.” He shot his wife a sad face and she promptly responded, “You’re darn right!”
Parker geared up for his turn, but shot me a mischievous look as if to convey his actual high was not going to be mentioned. I blushed as I recalled the heat we generated in the car.
“My high is this wonderful meal. Thank you, Mom. And my low is knowing in two days we have to leave this place, and I won’t see Avery for a whole week.”
I felt embarrassed by his verbal affection and looked down at my plate.
“Ok, we all did ours,” Parker said nudging me.
I smiled, enjoying this game more then I was letting on. “Well, I know exactly what my low is. Parker beating me in the last round of Gas Station Scavenger Hunt.”
The entire table erupted with laughter as his mom asked, “Did you really make her play that game with you? Avery, Parker used to make us play that every road trip