Always So Supportive

"Well, how are you feeling about this?" Damon asked as Cody turned the car onto my mother's street.

"Fine, I guess." I responded. "I'm not exactly sure how I should feel about meeting my mother's new boyfriend. I've never done something like this before."

Damon nodded. "Well, I'm no help. My father never attempted to date. After my mother it was like he was married to Tipton Enterprises."

The car stopped and we both got out. "You said you finished up the background check, right?" I asked quietly.

Damon wrapped an arm around my waist. "Yes, an extensive one. It appears he is who he says he is. Nothing bad was found so relax. Cody will be around in case anything goes wrong."

We went up the steps of the porch and rang the doorbell. We waited patiently for my mother to open the door. She greeted us with a smile. "Hello."

"Hey." I smiled in return.

She was looking so much better compared to last year. Her golden blonde hair was back to the point she felt she no longer needed wigs. She put on a healthy amount of weight. To be honest looking at her now, it was hard to tell that she had ever been so close to death.

She let us inside and shut the door behind us. She led us to the living room where a man around her age was sitting. He had dark brown hair with a little grey mixed into it. He had chocolate brown eyes to match. He was dressed casually but still nice with a blue button up tucked into a pair of tan pants.

"Kaydence, Damon, this is Simon. Simon this is my daughter Kaydence and her husband Damon." My mother introduced us. I could tell by her demeanor she was nervous about this.

Simon stood up and held his hand out. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."

"Likewise." I shook his hand and then he moved it over to Damon.

"Are you the Damon Tipton of Tipton Enterprises?" Simon asked as he shook Damon's hand.

Damon gave him a half smile. "That would be me, yes."

"I've seen a lot about you in the news and papers. I almost didn't believe Mira when she said you were her son in law." Simon responded.

Damon let out a chuckle. "I hope it's only good things you've heard."

Damon and I sat down together on the loveseat and my mother sat next to Simon on the couch. I could still see how nervous she was. She was probably going to be this way all night. I felt like she expected me to freak out at any moment. But I wasn't going to, I don't know how many times I had to reassure her of that.

"So Simon, what do you do for work?" Damon asked to make some conversation.

"I'm actually a plant manager for one of the industrial companies downtown." Simon answered.

"Which one?" Damon probed further.

"Proctor's." Simon answered.

"That's a good company." Damon spoke in a pleasing tone. "I run into their CEO frequently. He's a good man."

That alone led Damon and Simon into a conversation of their own. Damon was familiar with what Simon's work was which led to Simon being thrilled to go in detail with him. My mother and I just sat by. When she had enough of the business talk she asked me to join her into the kitchen to finish up a few things.

I was more than happy to do so and followed behind her. "So what do you think so far?" She asked as she pulled some breadsticks out of the oven.

"He seems nice." I responded as I had figured she was talking about Simon. "I noticed the way he looks at you, looks like he really cares."

"It's so nice to be able to go and do things with someone again." She smiled. "Well dating wise, Judith and I go and do things here and there but you know." She referred to her friend that had started out as more of a caretaker when she first came home.

"How did you two meet?" I asked as I helped get some plates down.

"At the grocery store. He helped me get an item that I couldn't reach. Then we started talking and exchanged numbers." I could see happiness in her eyes as she spoke.

The only time her eyes held that same happiness was when she talked about her memories with my father. She had made it clear that this Simon was in no way a replacement. That my father still had been her soulmate and she hoped when she did die that they would be reunited. Until then though, she felt it couldn't hurt to make the most of her life while she still had it. She had been given a second chance after all.

She pulled out the lasagna she had made and dinner was ready to be served. I peeked into the living room where Damon and Simon were still deep in conversation. I had to clear my throat twice to get their attention. Damon's eyes met mine.

"Yes Love?" He asked.

"Dinner is ready, and if you don't get in here soon I'm going to hog the whole pan." I warned before slipping back into the kitchen.

They then joined us in the kitchen and we all sat around the table. Everything was going great. Simon seemed to have a good sense of humor as I watched him make some jokes with my mother. We all were having a good time. The more we talked the more my mother finally seemed to relax.

We visited for a little longer after dinner finished. Then it came time to say our goodbyes. The children were over at Martin's and we wanted them to get home so they still could go to bed reasonably. We exited the house and then got back into the car.

"That seemed to go over really well." Damon spoke once we were settled into the car.

"Yeah." I nodded as a satisfied smile came to my lips. "I'm excited for her. He seems to fit her well. It's nice to see her happy."

Damon placed a kiss on top of my head. "You're an amazing human. Always so supportive of those around you."

"I just do the best I can." I responded.

"Well keep it up." He smiled.

"Are you ready for next week?" I changed the subject while we were alone. I wouldn't get one word in about the event once Sterling got into the car.

He nodded. "It's our first Halloween as a family, what's not to be excited about?"