This chapter is dedicated to janhavi007 who gave me that little bit of extra motivation to finish this chapter :)

15 - Excuse Me, But I Love Your Son!

Charlotte's POV

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, Tivon asked me whether I wanted to meet his parents. My first inclination was 'hell, no' - after all, I was not sure how old folks would feel about the whole adultery thing - but when I realized that this was really important to him, I gave in.

Since I didn't have visitation with Noah over the holidays and Ryan expected a full dinner with turkey and the works, Tivon actually arranged for a pre Thanksgiving get together the week before. We were supposed to stay for two days and the idea of a sleepover with my lover under his parent's roof was nerve wracking. I felt sick for days, my stomach cramping every time I thought about it. Even Noah couldn't cheer me up - it felt worse than it did back in college when Ryan had announced that we were going home for his father's fiftieth birthday.

I suppose that a lot had to do with the animosity Ryan's mom had showed me from the start. Marlene Parks was old school, a woman who was perfectly content to bend to her husband's wishes and wait on him hand and foot.

My defiant and rebellious streak hadn't come over well with her and since I had been raised like a spoiled brat, afraid to break a fingernail, she had felt Ryan's choice unacceptable. Even now, I was reminded that I was an incompetent wife and mother every time I saw her, having to thank my lucky stars that her son had not kicked me to the curb. In her eyes, I was a lost cause.

The fear that I wouldn't live up once again to a mother's standard consumed me. As I packed my suitcase, I mulled over every piece of clothing I picked up - considering if it was conservative enough to meet her approval. When I went to the manicurist the day before, I opted for some clear nail polish and made sure that my long blond hair was tamed in a meticulous bun when we took off on Wednesday morning.

To my surprise, we didn't go to O'Hare but a smaller airport just outside the city. My jaw dropped when I realized that Tivon had his own plane - a Gulfstream that was owned by the firm, but was mostly used by Hannah since she was one of the most famous criminal defense lawyers in the country, used to travel all over the place. It cost a criminal a hundred grand just to schedule an appointment, and I was sure that she charged them even more if she actually had to fly out to meet them in another state.

The interior of the plane was class with cream leather seats that were so soft that they managed to relief some of my tension just by leaning back in them and closing my eyes. A young steward offered us a glass of champagne and I gulped two down to calm my frayed nerves. After that, I started to attack my perfectly shaped fingernails with the result that they were gnawed off to the skin by the time we took off.

"Nervous?" Tivon asked, removing my index finger from my lips by enveloping my hand with his.

I nodded. "What if your parents don't like me?"

"Don't worry." His smile was small and for the first time I realized the big frown on his forehead. "It will be fine." The champagne is poured down his throat with a shaking hand.

My eyebrows arched. "Tivon Goldstein, is there something I should know about? You seem terrified."

His laugh was artificial. "Terrified might be a bit much, but I am a little bit anxious. My parents can be..." He didn't finish the sentence, signalling the steward for a refill instead.

"Can be a little bit what?" I persisted, not willing to let this slide. My own nervousness was by now raging through me like a tornado, sucking up the few ounces of reason I had mustered up over the past week. This was going to be a nightmare.

"Well, it's not really my mom, but my dad has this tendency to judge people." When I sucked in a deep breath, he quickly grabbed my hand. "You shouldn't pay any attention to it - there is hardly anyone who meets his standards." Another glass of champagne disappeared in his stomach. "I think the only person he ever admired was Martin Luther King, and that is somewhat hard to beat."

I stare at him. "Your dad knew Martin Luther King?"

"Yes." He played with the corners of his napkin. "He is a civil rights lawyer. Didn't I tell you that?"

"No." I shook my head when the steward tried to refill our glasses. This situation demanded for a clear head and not both of us wasted by the time we got to Ann Arbor.

"Tivon." I gave him a crooked smile. "Don't you think that this visit might be a little bit premature?"

He chewed his lips which almost pushed me into the panic pit. "When my mom suggested it, it sounded like a really good idea. I haven't had a girlfriend in years and she really wants to meet you." His voice was whiney, dropping a few notches in the end.

In that moment, I could have strangled him. "How am I supposed to act around your parents? They're gonna hate me."

"No, they won't." He straightened, giving me that look that he knew what he was talking about. "I won't let them. I love you and they just have to suck it up." There was a moment of silence when his eyes went into the distance. "But whatever you do, don't tell my dad you're a Catholic. Pretend you're an atheist, wanting nothing to do with the church." A piece is torn from the napkin and he crumbles it between his fingers. "Yes, that will be the best."

I frowned. "But that's a lie and I'm not really comfortable with that." My whole life, I was forced to play the role Ryan expected, lying to people to make him look good. With Tivon, I was not willing to do the same. If his parent disliked me because of my religion, screw them.

He let out a long sigh, his eyes finding mine. "You're right. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm a forty-two year old man who should know that those type of petty differences don't matter. My father will just have to deal with it." His lips grazed over my palm, sending a heated shudder through my body. "I'm sorry, Charlotte. Just promise me you'll be open minded and give my folks a chance. That's all I'm asking."

I snorted, not concerned with my pigheadedness but what I would find in Michigan. I bent down to Noah who had fallen asleep in his travel seat, brushing a kiss on his forehead. "Well, I guess you and Gogi just have to be dazzling."

His lips curled to a smile like he was either laughing at me or agreed to be on board. After due consideration, I decided it was the latter.

xxxx

Tivon's childhood home was in the heart of the university quarter and a quaint little two-story house with a white picket fence and a well-kept lawn. I immediately liked the vibe I received - I could picture a young Tivon playing on the swing set and was almost able to hear the laughter as he had chased Hannah around the garden. It was a place with a happy ambience.

The woman who opened the door looked just like an older, female version of Tivon with the same long curved eyelashes and genuine smile. I immediately liked her, yet, was stunned when she pulled me into a hug, planting a kiss on each of my cheeks.

"You must be Charlotte. Tivon told me so much about you. I'm so glad you could make it."

She was not at all what I expected. "Thanks for having me, Mrs. Goldstein."

Her hand waved airily. "Call me Abby. When I hear Mrs. Goldstein, I always think of my mother."

Tivon grinned from ear to ear when he ushered me inside. "I told you it would be fine," he whispered while helping me with my coat.

I grimaced. I might be in the door and Abby seemed great, but I still had to encounter Mr. Goldstein. From everything I heard about him, he was the difficult one of the family.

"Let me show Charlotte the guest room and set up the baby crib," Tivon told his mother. He picked up Noah in his car seat and was heading up the stairs when a man appeared in the hallway. That must be his father. With his weathered face and the gray hair, he looked older than his sixty-four years, but his eyes sparkled with youthfulness nevertheless. I immediately knew he was not one who wasted time on pleasantries.

"Oh, Tivon, there you are." Curiosity burned in his eyes as he inspected me from top to bottom before extending his hand. "I am Joshua Goldstein. You must be Charlotte."

I swallowed hard, he reminded me of my old principle. "Yes, sir." My handshake was rather meagre, he intimidated me. "It's nice to meet you."

"Same here." His face was even and didn't give away whether he meant it. After holding on to my hand for a moment, he finally let go and turned to his son. "I need to speak to you in my study when you have a moment. Hannah is there as well."

He spoke very formal, pronouncing the words like someone who had been around educated people all his life. Tivon gave him a small nod before darting up the steps. His face spoke volumes - this was not a chat he was looking forward to. When we got to the room, we started to giggle like little children, the tension falling off us.

"Boy, I felt like I was ten years old again, coming home after being caught pulling on Hannah's hair," he said with a grin. His lips briefly brushed mine as he pulled me into a hug. "I hope he didn't upset you."

"He was a bit scary," I admitted, snuggling closer against him. "What do you think he wants from you?"

He stroked my cheek, his eyes glowing with mischief. "No clue, but whatever it is, it can wait." His eyes travelled to Noah, but he was still sound asleep. "Maybe you and I should take a quick shower and have you know what." He wiggled his eyebrows and I laughed about his refusal to utter the word sex. It did sound awkward in his parent's home, but also exciting - like something naughty and forbidden, but irresistible.

A few minutes later, I shivered under the steaming water while he mumbled my name into my ear, his hot lips setting every part of me on fire afterwards. Suppressing my scream, my fingers entangled in his hair when he drove me close to my high. The rushing water overpowered his grows as he caught up with my urgent need to find the ultimate release. By the time I settled from the aftershocks, the stream had started to turn cold, cooling my heated skin to a point that it felt refreshing.

We towel dried each other off and he just slipped into some sweats and a Wolverine jersey.

"I'd better get this over with," he mumbled, a deep crease cutting across his forehead. "Come downstairs when you're ready."

I glanced at Noah who was wrinkling his little nose as he always did just before waking up. "It might be a while."

"No problem." He gave me one more kiss to hold us over before disappearing down the steps.

I took my time, choosing my favorite pair of jeans and a light sweater which felt soft against my skin before attending to my grandson. I had bought a special outfit for him for the occasion with a tiger on the front which made him look adorable. I was totally into animal themes for kids, and the lady in the store had confirmed that those were never out of style.

Muffled voices filled the hallway, coming from a room at the end. I moved Noah onto my other hip - he was getting really heavy - and approached, about to knock on the door when my hand halted mid-air.

"I still don't understand how you could get yourself involved with a married woman," Mr. Goldstein said in a rather angry tone. "It's not right, Tivon, and you know it."

I frowned with a held breath, not ready to venture into the lion's den.

"Not only that," - Hannah added fuel to the fire - "but she and her husband are also your clients. You know that's against bar rules and you could lose your license."

That bitch - stabbing me in the back. To my face, she always pretended to be nicey nicey and supportive, but disapproved of me all along.

"I don't care." Tivon's voice was laced with stress and anguish. "I'm crazy about Charlotte. No matter what, I will always choose her."

A smile curled my lips as his words warmed my heart. Without a second thought, I pushed the door opened and slipped inside, my eyes narrowing while I assessed the situation. Hannah and Mr. Goldstein were both facing Tivon with stern faces who was staring back at them with his chin pointed upwards. There was this stubborn scowl on his face that clearly showed that they had to have had a go at him for some time.

My eyes cut into Mr. Goldstein. "Excuse me, but I love your son!" I tried to keep my voice calm but some trembling anger still managed to sneak into my words. "You'll just have to deal with our relationship, because I'm intending to be a part of his life as long as he'll have me." My hand enclosed Tivon's fingers who was giving me a reassuring smile. "And so you know, I'm also a catholic."

Pressing silence followed my words while Mr. Goldstein glared at me, Hannah on the other hand was studying the floor. No one spoke, the rain beating against the window like an underlying soundtrack of impending doom.

Finally, Tivon cleared his throat. "Maybe we should go."

"No." Abby had appeared in the doorway and it only took her a second to realize what was going on. "You two are way out of line," she said, her eyes fixed on her husband and Hannah. "Tivon is a grown man and can date whoever he likes. He told us he loves Charlotte and that should be good enough. The rest is something they have to work out for themselves."

Mr. Goldstein opened his mouth but didn't get a chance to protest.

"You, my dear, call yourself a civil rights lawyer," she continued with a puckered brow. "But let me tell you that your rejection of your son's partners based on religious beliefs is discrimination, which makes you a hypocrite. You should really stop."

Mr. Goldstein's face flushed and he stayed quiet, shuffling his feet. It was apparent that this was not the first time his wife had criticized him about that.

"And you, Hannah Harlon, should remember that we can't choose who we fall in love with. Tivon has always been there for you and defended your choice to be with Rachel, so you should extend him the same curtesy, even if you don't approve of his decision. That's what friends do."

Hannah's cheeks burned just as red as Mr. Goldstein's. "Yes, ma'am." She gave Tivon an apologetic smile. "Sorry, and your mom is right. Ultimately, your happiness is all that matters."

Abby exhaled, her trembling body calming in a heartbeat when her eyes fell on Noah. "So, you must be the little charming gentleman that my son told me about."

Noah who had followed the whole discussion with a clueless expression chuckled when she hid her eyes behind her hand like she was playing peek-a-boo.

"I baked banana bread, and tea is ready," she said. "Why don't we all move to the kitchen and have a little snack?"

It was the needed peace offering. The last bit of tension evaporated in thin air as we made our way to the kitchen, and after a few awkward moments, Hannah, Tivon and Mr. Goldstein dived into a discussion whether it was moral to defend drug dealers.

Tivon and Hannah ganged up on Mr. Goldstein, claiming the drug market was a free enterprise and if Hannah's clients didn't bring the drugs into the country and sold them, someone else would. The true problem was to tackle the customers - no demand meant that supply would become obsolete. Mr. Goldstein bitterly disagreed, claiming that an addict had limited choices.

I watched them argue while cutting a slice of banana bread into little pieces for Noah. "Are they always like this?" I asked Abby.

She rolled her eyes. "Yes. Since Tivon was sixteen, he and his father have opposed each other on principle." A smile spilt her lips. "But make no mistake about it, they love each other to pieces. My husband is just worried that Tivon will end up getting hurt and lose what's dear to him."

I guess I could understand his concern - if one of my sons had dated a married woman who could have destroyed their careers, I would not have been that fond of her either.

I set the plate with the banana bread in front of Noah before cutting a big slice for myself. "Why aren't you worried, Abby?"

She squeezed my hand. "Because I've seen the way you look at Tivon. That's good enough for me."

This should have raised all kinds of alarm bells. If a total stranger could read that in my face, how about my husband? It was something I chose to ignore that day, eager to have a wonderful weekend with my boyfriend. It would prove a mistake that sooner rather than later would come back to bite me.

OK, this is it for Charlotte's POV for a while. Next week, we will get back into some action when Rena meets Connor, the guy who was mentioned in the beginning chapters who got her into a lot of trouble and ultimately caused her to lose temporary custody of Noah. These chapters will take us all the way to the present and Rena's re-arrest.

I hope you liked this chapter - I know it wasn't the most exciting one but I wanted to show you how serious the relationship between Charlotte and Tivon is getting. Meeting the parents is a big deal. Please comment and if you felt this chapter deserving, don't forget to vote. Thanks for reading :)