Grant smiled down at her and gave her hand a squeeze. “Don’t worry. It’s going to be alright. I already told Mama about it on the phone. She and Dad are happy for us.”

Tina returned the smile weakly. “I know. It’s just that your mother can be a little intimidating. When I met them the first time I don’t think I made the best impression.”

“Give her a chance. Once she gets to know you better she’s going to love you just as much as I do.”

“I hope so. I want your family to approve of me. Of us.”

Before Grant could answer her the door opened and they were admitted inside the cool, shadowy entryway. Tina blinked a few times to let her eyes adjust now that they were out of the sunlight while Grant said a pleasant hello to the woman who had answered the door. Tina assumed she was the maid, and Grant and the woman kept up an easy banter as she led them to the morning room where Grant’s parents were waiting brunch for them.

The morning room was beautiful and sunny, done up in cheerful colors. Two doors that led out into a garden were open, and a table for four was set on the patio just outside.

Tina was smiling, she heard herself thanking Grant’s parents when they congratulated her and she received embraces from both of them – a warm sideways hug from Beau, her soon to be father-in-law, who was a cheerful, boisterous sort, and a rather more formal quick hug and pat on the back from Grant’s mother, Evangeline.

“I’m so happy for you my dear,” she said with a ghost of a smile, not looking particularly happy at all. She gave Tina a peck on the cheek with cold lips.

“Thank you.”

Beau was slapping Grant on the back and shaking his hand vigorously, looking pretty proud. Grant had told Tina that his parents had been on him for years to settle down, but that he had never met anyone he’d seriously considered spending his life with – until he met Tina.

Somehow, remembering that made some of Tina’s nervousness fade and she felt herself relax. She also knew that Grant’s parents were big on family, and if she wanted their approval she was going to have to start loosening up and acting the part.