It's... it's adorable.

I don't know what I expected, but this is a cute house. White cottage style with black trim and shutters around the windows. The neighborhood is a little woodsy, with trees and space between the houses. There is a full garden in the front that is full of bright and colorful flowers. "Do you like to garden, Lucas?"

"Actually, the lady next door does. She used to have a landscape business and retired but she likes to take care of the yard for my dad."

"That's nice." She should make a trip over to dad's house. I hate working in the yards.

Lucas comes around the front of the truck and helps me out with his hand and I have to ignore the little tingle I feel when he holds me gently. "Listen, uh, I'm not sure how Kat is going to be, but if you want to leave, just let me know and we'll go."

Awesome. Sounds like a good time. Yeah, maybe he should be rethinking his life partner choices. She sounds like a peach. "Sure," I smile sarcastically.

"No, it's not like that. I mean she can be a little possessive or will shut off entirely. If she makes you uncomfortable just send me a signal."

I lean in with a brow arched. "What's the signal? Should I tug my earlobe like we're spies?"

His shoulders relax. "Come on, Allie. Just work with me here."

"It's fine," I lie and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure she'll be a peach." A rotten one, but a peach nonetheless. "Go in with that Lucas-freaking-Kennedy confidence you walk around with regularly. It's your family, Lucas, it's not the Queen of England."

Although I would prefer that at the moment. How long would it take to get to England if I started walking now?

He chuckles and flashes his stupid perfect smile at me. "I like you, Allie."

"I like me too most days. Get Jadon and let's get through this." And here I am, being his support system to meet his family and girlfriend as the woman that had sex with him in the very car sitting in the driveway.

Yay me.

I glare at it as we walk up the bricked walkway toward the front door. Lucas opens it and the inside is beautiful. Dark wood floors throughout, lots of natural light coming inside from the windows. The decor is simple and sweet.

Again, he has the perfect setup. I'll gladly house sit for Lucas if he ever goes on vacation. "Lucas, this is adorable." Freaking picture-perfect is what it is.

"You like it? It's mostly from my mom. My dad and I haven't changed much since she passed." He pulls Jadon inside by the hand while Jadon clings to Lucas like a safety net.

Again, probably won't need me.

"Dad, Jen, we're here."

"Living room," a man's voice calls.

Lucas leads us to the living room where his dad and Jen are seated with wrapped gifts all around. I don't see Kat anywhere. I know she's here since I saw her brand new Mercedes parked outside beside Lucas' bang-mobile.

"Dad, Jen, this is Allie my uh..." Lucas looks at me for assistance.

"How about just Allie?" I say jokingly, trying to make light of the mood. I think it worked since Lucas' dad and Jen both chuckle. "And this..." I gesture to Jadon with my hands on his shoulders, "is Jadon."

Jen comes right up to us and introduces herself. She looks like a young grandmother. Short brown hair with some gray in it. A white t-shirt underneath a cardigan, even though it's hot as hell outside. "Hi, Jadon. I'm Jen, but you can call me grandma Jen," she looks up to me as if asking permission. I just smile and nod at her, which seems to make her happy. "And this is your grandpa Bill," she gestures to Lucas' dad who is slowly approaching us.

I know I recognize him from somewhere but I can't place it. Oh! Wow, this is a small town.

Bill starts tearing up looking between Jadon and Lucas. "He has her eyes," he says as he puts his hand over his mouth. Lucas just nods and pats his dad on the back.

Jadon, being four, waves off his brand new grandparents after a quick introduction and asks if the presents scattered around the living room are for him. Bill and Jen laugh and then lead him over to the couch to help him unwrap gifts.

Not that they needed to do this, but they put a lot of effort into something they only found out last night.

I sit down on a love seat facing the sofa and just watch Jadon open presents. At some point, Bill puts Jadon on his lap and I take a few pictures of all of them together. I get a great picture of Lucas helping Jadon check out one of the many toys they overload him with, and it's a good one. They're both looking at the box intensely, trying to figure the entire thing out before they even remove the packaging.

It's cute seeing Lucas and Jadon pull the same faces.

Bill and Jen got Jadon mountains of clothes and toys. I wonder how they got all this stuff on such short notice. We have been here just over an hour watching Lucas and Bill play with Jadon. Jadon so clearly loves Bill and Jen, even if they kind of bought his affections today, so I'm sure that took a lot of pressure off Lucas. Now he can have a little bit of confidence when bringing Jadon over to his family.

Still no sign of Katrina.

Lucas admitted even he didn't know how she would act, so maybe she just doesn't want to handle this at all. Honestly, if she is going to be mad or hold Jadon and me against Lucas, I would rather she not show her face.

Lucas heads to the kitchen to get Jadon some juice and a snack when heavy heels hit the floor and Katrina finally decides to make an appearance. She walks into the living room wearing a tight, white, spandex-looking dress with her cleavage popping out of the top. Her hair is curled perfectly, and her makeup looks like she's going to the Oscars or something. I see her wearing another pair of fancy pumps like the other day, and she's dripping in expensive jewelry everywhere.

Yes, she's glamorous, but it's a little much to meet a boyfriend's son, I would think.

Bill and Jen glance over at her for a second before turning their heads and rolling their eyes. They don't even acknowledge her, so I'm unsure of how to formally introduce myself and Jadon without Lucas here.

Lucas is still in the kitchen, so he hasn't noticed her just yet. Katrina looks over at me and gives me the fakest smile ever, and then drops it into a scowl as soon as she starts walking for the kitchen. I am well aware that the entire time she stood in the living room wordlessly, she didn't even look at Jadon.

We can all hear her walk into the kitchen and greet Lucas. I don't know what exactly she does, but I can hear him speaking low and with mild irritation or something.

"Kat, stop," he whisper-yells at her. I know he is trying to make a good impression on Jadon and me so that Jadon can come and spend time with him more, so I'm just glad he is trying to keep her under some control.

But I've decided I don't like Katrina. My dad hates her dad, and maybe I'm just destined to not like her either.

Bill and Jen seem to ignore Katrina, and just focus on Jadon who, thankfully, didn't notice her rudeness. While Lucas and Katrina are in the kitchen, Jen turns to me and starts to attempt small talk. "So, I hear you work at the school, too. How do you like it?"

"Oh, it's great, actually. I'm the Principal's assistant and it's just until I graduate college and get my business up and running."

"Oh!" Jen sounds excited. I like this woman. "That's incredible! Working and going to school while raising a kid?" Lucas and Katrina join us in the living room, and Lucas sets down Jadon's snacks on the table for him. Since the sofa is full, Lucas sits on the other side of the love seat as far from me as possible.

"Yeah," I say, trying not to focus on Katrina's piercing gaze on me from across the room. She saunters over to sit in Lucas's lap, facing me. Yep, I'm officially uncomfortable.

I smile back at Jen and try not to grab my earlobe, but maybe I should have agreed to a gesture or code word.

"It's been a struggle but my dad has been really helpful with Jadon and my boss is really relaxed when it comes to my school and anything with Jadon," I say, trying not to notice Katrina's eyes on me. I can tell she is sizing me up, but I'm not sure why. We aren't competing for the same thing, here, so there's no need to be territorial.

"So what kind of business are you trying to start?" Bill asks me.

I wonder if he remembers helping me buy my car.

"I'm starting my own catering business," I say, trying to keep it simple. Every time I open my mouth I can actually feel Katrina roll her eyes.

"Catering? That sounds fun!" Jen pipes up trying to draw my attention from the insecure Barbie doll beside me. Lucas isn't stopping her or doing anything. He's just sitting there like it's normal for her to be murdering people with her eyes while sitting on his lap. If she starts rubbing herself on him, I'm grabbing Jadon and we'll walk home.

Maybe steal the neighbor's plastic deer as consolation or something.

"Yeah, my friend Charity is actually becoming an event planner and is already booking events for me starting next year."

"What? That's awesome. You didn't tell me," Lucas suddenly reminds everyone he has a voice, even with the adult child on his lap.

I look at him from the corner of my eye. I have a feeling if I look directly at him, Katrina will start peeing on him just to make sure I know he belongs to her, and I would rather just not today. "Yeah, it just sort of happened in the last few days."

"So Allie," Jen speaks up again, trying to draw the attention from the silent, possessive, girl sitting next to me. "Do you like to cook a lot? What does your menu look like for this catering business?"

"Well, yes, I have always liked to cook and bake. The menu has a lot of traditional items on it, but they are all vegan."

Jen and Bill give me that oh, vegan...great look. I'm used to it, since not too many people actually are vegans. I don't hold it against anyone.

"Dad, Jen," Lucas uses his voice again, "Allie, and Jadon are vegans. It isn't a fully vegan menu. Although, I've had some of her food, and it's actually good," Lucas says. Big mistake. I can hear the alarm bells going off in Katrina's head and see the steam coming from her ears.

Does Lucas not realize she is plotting my murder right now by admitting to eating some of my food? I couldn't stop the day he came in during my lunch and asked to try my leftovers.

"And when exactly did you taste her food?" Katrina asks, trying her best to sound like it doesn't bother her.

"Just the other day. She made pasta that was the best I've ever had," he holds his hand out. "Also, she makes these cookies that are to die for." Great. Well, Lucas, you may be a single parent after this when your girlfriend is in prison for murdering me.

"So..." Katrina turns everyone's attention to her. She presses her hand up against Lucas' chest and rests her head between his neck and shoulder. "Will you be willing to cater our wedding when the time comes?"