"Welcome to where I grew up," I said as we stood outside my house.
"It's really nice- almost like a ranch," Lance commented.
I laughed. "Yeah, only we've got cats and only cats- no other farm animals, thank gosh."
"I've noticed lots of horses out here," Lance said.
I snorted and shook my head. "What do you expect? This is like, cowboy country."
Lance laughed. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Well- ready to go in and meet my family?" I asked.
"Yup." Lance nodded. "I just hope your dad likes me- he sound like a real hardnose."
I laughed. "He is, but he'll like you. Just start talkin astronomy with him and it'll be all good."
Lance smiled. "Okay. Let's go."
I pushed open the door and entered the house calling, "Hey everyone! Lance is here!"
My mom greeted us in the living room, wiping her hands on her pink apron. "Hey Ocean."
"Mom, this is Lance. Lance, this is my mom Shari," I said.
Lance shook my mom's hand. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Griggs."
"Likewise. Ocean talks about you whenever she calls home and it's nothing but good things."
Lance laughed. "Whew!"
"Mom, where's dad?" I asked.
"Oh, I think he's outside cooling down the telescope or setting up," my mom informed me.
"Your dad has a telescope?" Lance asked. "You never told me that!"
I shrugged. "It never came up."
"What kind of telescope is it?"
I opened my mouth to answer but my dad walked in the door and spoke for me.
"A six inch refractor."
"Wow. That's pretty cool," Lance said.
"Dad, this is Lance. Lance this is my dad, Robert," I said.
Lance also shook my father's hand. "Good to meet you, Mr. Griggs."
"Nice to finally meet you, Lance," my dad said.
"Where are Abe and Andrew?" I asked, referring to my two younger brothers.
"Abe took Andrew to a movie I think," my mom said. "Ever since Abe got his license, he's hardly been home for two minutes."
"I told them to come home right after the movie," my dad added.
"Andrew probably picked up a girl or something," I said with a laugh.
"How old are your brothers?" Lance asked.
"Abe is sixteen and Andrew is�umm�fourteen," I replied. "How about I show you your room so you can put your stuff up?"
"Sounds good to me," Lance said.
"Dinner should be ready in about ten minutes," my mother called after us.
"Okay mom!" I opened the door to the spare bedroom. It had a window that faced the mountains to the east so the sunrise could be seen when lying down in bed.
"Osh, this is a great room," Lance said looking around and setting his suitcase on the floor.
"Glad you like it," I replied. "You can see the sun come up behind the mountains over there."
"Oh wow. That'll be cool," Lance said wrapping me in a hug.
"Yeah, it's really pretty," I murmured as Lance pulled me in for a soft kiss on the lips.
"We're home!" Abe called.
I sucked in my breath through my teeth. "Here come the little brothers."
Lance laughed. "I wanna go meet them."
"Okay, okay." I took Lance's hand led him out to the kitchen where my brothers were either raiding the refrigerator or pulling out dishes to set the table.
"Abe, dinner will be ready in a couple minutes. Get out of the fridge," my mother scolded.
"Okay," Abe grumbled, straightening up and shutting the door.
Andrew turned around, with a stack of plates in his arms. His eyes widened in surprise to see Lance and me standing in the doorway. "Abe, she wasn't lying."
"Huh?" Abe turned around. "Whoa."
"Lance, this is Andrew and that's Abe. Abe and Andrew, this is Lance," I said.
Abe nodded his head in greeting. "Hey Lance."
"Hey Abe."
"Hi Lance," Andrew said, shaking Lance's hand.
"Hey Andrew- nice to meet you," Lance replied with a smile.
"Andrew, please set the table," my mom said.
"Okay, mom."