No Matter How Far I Roam by Maria Albert

Author:Maria Albert [Albert, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub

AN HOUR and a half later, Sean clutched the vase tightly to his chest, relieved for the shield it provided, as Jeff rang the bell. He could hear Stormy and Derrick whispering nervously from a couple of steps down, behind him. They were going to try to spread the surprise a little, hoping Jeff’s mom wouldn’t see them at first.

“Hello? Jeff!” a voice cried out in surprise from behind the door, which opened. “Oh! Oh my word! Just look at those flowers. What’s the occasion? Oh, you’re Jeff’s young man, Sean! Jeff’s told me all about you and shown me so many pictures. I’m so glad I finally get a chance to meet you!” the matronly African American woman said warmly, as Sean peeked timidly out from behind the flowers.

“And we didn’t come alone Mom,” Jeff said, as he and Sean stepped aside so she could see.

“Hi, Mom,” Derrick said sheepishly.

“Derrick? Oh, my baby boy!” she said, her eyes filling with tears as she rushed down the steps, arms outstretched. “You’re home! I can’t believe you’re home!” she said, hugging him. Then she pulled back. “Just look at you! You look just like your daddy. Oh sweetheart, I’ve missed you so much.” Then she turned to the woman next to him, “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude.”

“You couldn’t be rude if you tried, Mom. Mom, I want you to meet someone very special. This is Stormy, Stormcloud Swifteagle. She’s my wife,” Derrick added quickly, as if saying it fast would soften the blow, as he took the cake from Stormy’s hands, freeing her up to greet his mom properly.

“It’s so good to meet you, Mrs. Jeffries,” Stormy said, holding out her right hand for a shake.

“Mrs. Jeffries? Now, there will be none of that. Didn’t my baby boy just say you’re married?” Mrs. Jeffries ignored the offered hand and embraced Stormy instead, and then pulled back. “You call me Mom, Stormy, or Janet, if you’re not comfortable calling someone other than your own mother Mom, but I won’t be Mrs. Jeffries, not to my new daughter. The same goes for you Sean. But I’ll be having a word with both of you young men, later, Jeff and Derrick. Don’t let me hear you knew about this, Jeff, and didn’t tell me,” she scolded, as she waved them into the house.

“No, Mom, at least, not until this afternoon,” Jeff said, in his defense. “Derrick surprised me at my house; they both did. I had no idea Derrick was coming to town, and he’d never mentioned Stormy to me, either. But I spent a good part of the day talking to them both. She’s wonderful, Mom. I couldn’t be happier for him,” Jeff said in support of his new sister-in-law.

“Well of course she is. I can see that just by looking at him. I’ve never seen him look so happy, even if he was scared out of his mind to see me again. You can just see the love between them.

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