"Mom, I'm here." I shouted as soon as the door closed behind me.

It's Sunday and Mom has asked - pleaded actually - for me to come home and enjoy a family meal. Whatever she meant by that, I hope it won't be disastrous as all the other family dinners we have had.

"Dustyn!" Mom's energetic voice made me turn to her. Her hair is neatly placed in a hair net and she's wearing a white apron over her blue dress. "I'm so glad you made it, honey."

I walked closer to Mom. She immediately pulled me in for a hug and kissed my cheek before pulling me with her to the kitchen.

I was surprised at the state of it.

"What's all this for Mom?" I asked her. There's too much food for just three people in this kitchen. On top of that, there's still something cooking on the stove and even the oven still has something inside.

"For our lunch of course." Mom said with a smile on her face. She pushed me to sit by the counter as she rounded up to check on the things she's cooking. While she's at it, she also cleans some of the mess she's made.

"Um. Okay. But this could feed at least ten people." I told her, looking at the amount food on the counter. "Are you okay mom?" I asked her.

Mom loves cooking and she does so every so often. But she has never cooked this much for a simple family lunch on a Sunday. There's plenty of food here to last the three of us for three days. That's assuming we don't get sick of eating the same things day after day.

Mom lets out a chuckle as she faced me with a perfectly cooked pie on her hands. "You worry too much. Go say hi to your Dad." She said, turning her back to me once again. She hums as she puts the last touches to her pie.

I looked at her like she's lost her mind before moving to find Dad. Maybe he can tell me what exactly has gotten to Mom to act this way. She's uncharacteristically cheery today.

I found Dad in the library, answering a crossword puzzle book. He's hunched over on the coffee table with a pencil on his right hand. His favorite band on repeat on his radio.

"Dad." I said to get his attention.

He looked up from his crossword puzzle and smiled at me. "Son. I didn't think you'll actually come." He said.

I shrugged my shoulders. I wasn't certain until I woke up this morning. I didn't think Mom would go through all the trouble of cooking for me not to be here today. "It's been months. I'm not that shallow Dad."

Dad lets out a loud chuckle. "That you're not." He said, nodding his head.

"Why is Mom cooking so much food?" I asked him as I get seated on the chair infront of him. "It's like she's gone crazy in the kitchen."

Dad chuckles. "She has friends coming over for lunch. And no, she's not trying to set you up with another lady this time." He said, knowing the fleeting look on my face. I was ready to run for a moment there.

Mom tried setting me up with a lot of women who she thinks is better suited for me. I didn't even want to come here if not for the guilt I was feeling. I have avoided her for weeks and weeks. I'm not a kid anymore and I could stand up to Mom for a few hours if it means having a peaceful meal with my family.

"Do you know these people?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "She said it's been a long time and she wanted to make amends with them."

"Mom? Amends? Somehow, that's really hard to believe." I said, knowing how hard Mom keeps to her words. If she said she didn't like someone anymore, she didn't like them. Period. No buts and definitely, no second chances.

"Son, when you get this old, you view things a little differently." He said with a soft voice. Despite how they fight, they do love each other.

I nodded my head, still not believing a word he had said. I have lived with Mom hating the only girl I have ever loved. Her hate for Mara is unimaginably big for someone who is thirty years older.

I watched as Dad answers his crossword while still making small talks with me. Mostly asking how I'm doing or how the company is growing. Even mentioning Mara even with Mom just a few rooms away.

"I think we should get the door." Dad said with a smile as the doorbell rung for the third time. He stood up from his seat, putting the book away before motioning for me to follow him.

I didn't expect them to be standing behind the huge door.

"What the hell?" I asked, as if looking at a ghost. I didn't know if I should be happy or scared that they are the people Mom is cooking for.

"Dustyn! I did not raise you to greet our guests in such a disrespectful manner." Mom said before shoving me aside to welcome her expected guests. "Come in Come in. Oh you look beautiful, dear!"

I feel like my eyes are deluding me as I watch my Mom affectionately compliment Mara. She's like a different person as she even pulls Mara away from us and into the kitchen. Making sure to send a glare my way.

"Am I dead?" I asked stupidly. "I'm probably hallucinating." I said to myself. Still not believing what is happening in front of me.

"I'll help." Alec's cheerful voice entered my ears followed by a a loud smack on the head.

I looked up and glared at Alec who looked highly amused by what is happening. "What the hell man?!" I shouted angrily, feeling the throbbing on the back of my head. The part where he hit me.

He shrugged his shoulders as if what he did was nothing. "I was just helping." He said. Amusement still shining in his eyes.

"You're an asshole." I said in annoyance, standing up from the floor and dusting my pants off.

Alec didn't miss a beat and slung his arm around my shoulders like he always does before. "I'm your best friend. I can hit you whenever I want." He said with a grin.

I shoved him off me, annoyed that he even found that funny. "That's not what it means."

Alec seemed to be in a good mood as he yet again lets out a laugh. "It doesn't?" He asked innocently.

"Oh my/" I said, facepalming myself. "Someone wake me up from this nightmare." I mumbled as I walked away from Alec.

Dad is not looking any more surprised than I am. He watched the two of us with a huge smile on his face. letting a laugh every once in a while. "You guys looked like kids again."

"I'm still young." Alec said proudly, pointing to himself. "He's the old one." He said, pointing to me.

I frowned at him. "Idiot. You're two months older."

He shrugged that fact off as if it didn't even matter in the slightest bit. "I'm not the one getting married in a matter of seven weeks." He said in a singsong voice.

"I'm marrying your sister, if you forgot. Genius." I said mockingly.

"All thanks to me." Alec said, before marching to the kitchen like he owns the house.

I rolled my eyes at him. He's an asshole through and through. "I'm glad you found it funny Dad." I said sarcastically as Dad tries to cover his laughs.

"I've never seen you both like that since you were high school students." He said with a fond smile. "The only thing you took seriously was Mara and nothing else."

I shook my head. "Shut up Dad. You still didn't help nor did you tell me they were coming!" I said, pointing an accusing finger at him.

He shrugged. "I didn't know either but your Mom was really happy the other day when she told me. I had an inkling."

"What are you two men still doing here? My guests are waiting." Mom said, peeking from the dining room entrance. Again, the smile on her face is hard to miss.

I looked at Dad with wide eyes. "I feel like I'm in another world." I whispered before going to the dining area.

The sight is still surprising.

Mom is being attentive to Mara. She made sure she has water and can reach every dish on the table before she sat down across from her. Mom smiles as Mara compliments the food on the table.

"Dear, it's nothing. I'm glad you could stop by to have lunch with me. I've always wanted a daughter!" Mom said.

Still wide eyed, I sat down on the empty seat beside Mara. On her other side is Alec who seems to be content on watching the events play out.

"Dustyn! Why don't you greet your fiancée?" Mom said in a condemning tone. She looks at me while shaking her head as if she was disappointed.

"Will someone explain to me what is happening here?" I asked.

Mom looks at me like I've gone crazy. "I thought you'd be happy that I finally accepted her as part of the family." She said with a frown.

"So this is fake?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at her.

A slap on my arm made me turn to Mara. "Don't be ridiculous, Dy." She said, frowning at me. "Jaclyn is a wonderful woman. Don't say such negative things about your mom."

I looked at her surprise. "Your on a first name basis now?" I asked.

Mara nodded her head. "She's pretty cool once I got to know her. Besides, she already apologized for everything. It's all in the pass now."

"Your not going to tell me how this happened are you?" I asked, knowing the answer full well before he even answered.

She shook her head with a smile. "Nope. Now apologize to Jaclyn."

"Fine." I grumbled and looked at my Mom who is already looking expectantly at me. "Sorry Mom. I was too shocked." I said.

"He's just that rude." Was Alec's smart remark which made me turn to glare at him. "Look at that. Glaring at your precious guests." He added with a smirk as he took a sip of his drink.

"Dustyn." Mom said in a warning voice. I looked at her and saw that she was not pleased. "Where is your manners?"

"Yeah, Dustyn. Where is your manners?" Alec mimicked sending me another smirk. That asshole definitely finds this amusing.

"Ow! Mara." He said, groaning in pain.

I looked over just to see Mara has punched him in the stomach. I held in my laugh at the painful expression in Alec's face. But my joy wasn't long lived as Mara looked at me with a glare.

"What did I do?"

"Your the same. Both acting like kids." She said in a matter of fact voice of hers.

Alec and I looked at each other before both putting a hand on top of her head. "Oh. Because you are so mature." Alec said before we started messing with her hair.

"I'm so ashamed." I said in a joking manner.

"Hey! You boys stop annoying her." Dad said as he enters the dining room. He removes our hands from Mara's head and drops it to each of our sides before giving Mara a smile. "You can beat them up for me."

Mara chuckled before grinning at Dad. "Thanks!"

"Let's eat." Mom said with a smile on her face.

Mara and Alec ended up spending the whole day with us.It was nice to see Mom getting along with Mara as she is now. Laughing and making jokes. She seemed to be a completely different person.

It was a good day.

One I didn't think was even possible to happen.