My Father's Best Friend novel Chapter 45

Lance squeezed Andrea's hand for the last time and let it go. They have talked about telling her parents the night before and Andrea was excited and confident about it, but as they walk towards the front porch of Andrea's childhood home, he could feel her reluctance.

Or is it me? he thought.

"I'll ring the bell," he announced in cool, and for him, surprising manner to which Andrea nodded to with a well put straight face.

After a minute of waiting for someone to get the door, it opened, revealing a surprised Pamela wearing a black-and-white knee length dress with tulip sleeves.

"You should have just come in," she said as she moved to her daughter and gave her a hug.

He noticed Andrea froze a little but recovered and gave her mom the hug with the same intensity.

"Well, come in," Pamela ushered the two, positioning herself between them and guided them to the living room.

"I never expected you two coming, in the middle of the week, what a surprise," Pamela gushed as they sat down on the elegant cream and white colored couches.

Lance sat beside Andrea, a very unsuspicious move considering he always sit beside her.

"I'm ordered to stay away from work for the week while my papers are processed for promotion," Andrea finally spoke.

Pam clapped her hand together, "Promotion? This early? Wow... That's fast," Pamela said.

And suspicious, Lance thought.

"Yep," Andrea nodded.

Pamela looked at Andrea for quite a bit longer then, averted them to Lance, "What about you, old man?" she said with a teasing tone.

Lance rolled his eyes. Trust Pamela to remind him he is in fact old and not fitting for her daughter.

"I just want to get away from work for a while," Lance said with a staged smile.

Pamela smiled back, "Well, aren't we all?" she said, gesturing with her hands.

"By the way, Victoria's engaged," Andrea suddenly changed the dying topic.

Pamela's eyes widened, "When's the wedding?" she asked, her interest piqued.

"No date yet but the engagement party will be at her parents' house here in Beverly on Friday," Andrea informed.

Pamela smiled, "That's fantastic," she said with genuine happiness in her face.

"Where's Simon?" Lance inquired, cutting the women's conversation.

Pamela rolled his eyes to him, "He'll be here in an hour. Would you like some snacks?" she asked.

Andrea smiled sheepishly, "Chocolates, please," she said.

Her mother smiled at her affectionately and turned to Lance.

"Coffee will do me good," he said.

---

"Gone all out with dinner, aren't we, Pam?" Simon commented with a mock serious tone after they finished eating dinner.

"Well, our daughter's visitations are fairly scarce, plus a week on the job already got her a promotion, aren't all that reason enough to go all out?" Pamela said after she sipped some tea.

Andrea fiddled with her teacup, watching the brown liquid dance at her slight movements. She's slightly scared with what will the turn out of the night be, and as she snuck a glance at Lance's direction, across the table, she tried hard to be able to emanate the same staged confidence, if not real, that he projects.

Lance caught her eyes and at that slight moment, she felt secure.

"Lance and I have something to tell you," Andrea blurted out as they were talking about Victoria's impending marriage.