"I missed you too," McKenzie said.
"Hi Nick," Shayla said giving him a hug. "Look at you. You're all tan and blond too just like Bri. I'm beginning to think you guys didn't spend much time writing songs. You were on the beach instead," Shayla said laughing as they went inside.
Nick and Brian greeted each other with a "Who da man" and a hug. "Long time no see bro," Brian said.
"Seems like only yesterday," Nick laughed.
"Is that photographer still out there?" Shayla asked.
"Yep, across the street. I think he got a couple pictures of us as we pulled in the drive. He recognized me, since we have Kenz's car and there's no tinted windows," Nick said.
"I'm taking Shayla's car in tomorrow to have the window's tinted," Brian said. "Since McKenzie's staying all summer we probably should have hers done too."
"That's not a bad idea," Nick said. "Do you mind Kenz?" he asked.
"No that's fine," McKenzie said.
They got McKenzie and Nick's things settled and then set off for Nick's parents house.
*At The Carter's*
The car hadn't even come to a stop in the driveway before most of the Carter clan was next to it waiting for Nick to get out. They were very excited about meeting McKenzie. Mrs. Carter was afraid she was a little young but liked what she'd heard about her. And after the turmoil of Nick's last relationship, they were happy he was with McKenzie. Plus they'd already met Shayla while the guys were gone. Because they lived in Tampa also, when they heard Shayla was a photographer, they had Shayla take pictures of Leslie for promotions for her upcoming album. If McKenzie was anything like Shayla, which she was, Jane Carter was going to like her.
Nick was mobbed by his brother and sister's as he exited the car. "Nick, Nick," they all yelled together attacking him with hugs. They moved onto Brian as Nick's mom made her way to hug him. "Brian, Brian," they all yelled.
"Shayla did ya bring my pictures?" Leslie asked eagerly.
"Yes I did and they turned out great. Here ya go," Shayla said handing her the envelope. Leslie ran into the house excited dragging Shayla with her.
"Mom, I'd like you to meet McKenzie Starks," Nick said pulling on her hand as she stood next to him. He wrapped his arms around her squeezing her. His mom was delighted to see him so happy. That was quite a change. And she though McKenzie was adorable.
"Well let go of her Nickolas so I may greet her properly," Jane Carter said. Nick let go and Jane hugged McKenzie. "Welcome dear, it's wonderful to meet you. You're all we hear about."
The Carter siblings breathed a sigh of relief. If you were given a welcome like that from Jane Carter, it was a good sign. They gathered around Jane's side waiting to be introduced. They were looking forward to this too. They'd been assured by Nick that this girlfriend would treat them well and was sweet.
"Thank you Mrs. Carter. I'm so glad to finally meet you," McKenzie said.
"Please dear, call me Jane," she said. Another good sign. Nick winked at his mom and smiled at McKenzie.
"Kenz, these are my sisters, BJ and Angel and my brother Aaron," Nick said.
"Aww, he looks like a little you," McKenzie said sweetly.
"In every since of the word," Jane Carter laughed.
"We call him mini-me," Brian laughed as he swung Aaron onto his shoulders and Aaron squealed with delight laughing.
"Where'd Leslie go?" Nick asked.
"She dragged Shayla inside to look at her pictures," Brian said as he ran off with Aaron on his back.
"Let's go inside. I'm anxious to see the pictures myself," Jane said.
"They turned out great mom. I was looking at them on the way over," Nick told her. He placed his arm around McKenzie smiling at her as they went inside.
They found Leslie and Shayla with the pictures all spread out over the island counter in the kitchen. "Mom, look at these, they turned out great!" Leslie beamed.
"Hey Les, this is McKenzie," Nick said introducing her.
"Nice to meet you," McKenzie said.
"Hi, I'm sorry I took off. I was just so excited about seeing these pictures," Leslie said.
"That's ok," said McKenzie. "Are you all excited about your album coming out soon? I heard your song. Nick sent me a copy. It's great."
"Thanks, and yes, I'm so excited and nervous. I can't believe I'm going on tour. Even if it does have to be with twerp head over there," Leslie said pointing to Aaron who had abducted Nick to play Nintendo in the living room.
"Leslie," Mrs. Carter scolded her. "Don't call your brother twerp head." Leslie rolled her eyes and McKenzie laughed. Leslie could tell she would like McKenzie. They all would.
"Shayla these are wonderful," Jane said looking at the pictures.
"Thanks, but I didn't do much. Leslie is very photogenic," Shayla said.
"Shayla's going to be our official photographer now that Andre is retiring," Brian said wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"Terrific, that will work out nice for the two of you," Jane said.
"McKenzie are you going to College this fall?" Jane asked searching for McKenzie's intentions.
"Yes, I'm goint to Miami University," McKenzie told her. "I'm pre-med."
Jane looked up from cutting vegetables, her face glowing. "Really? Well that's wonderful," she said. "That's a lot of school, which field do you plan to specialize in?" she made a mental note to smach Nick for not telling her this. This was good news.
"I'm already done with my freshman year. I took classes early during my last year of high school. I'm planning on pediatrics. I just love little kids," McKenzie told her.
Jane smiled. Bonus points. "What about big kids?" she laughed gesturing with her head at Nick playing Nintendo. She decided to change that mental note to a kiss for choosing this girl so wisely.
McKenzie laughed. "He is a big kid isn't he?" she paused staring at him playing with Aaron and carrying on. "That's why I love him so much," she whispered mostly to herself. Jane heard her though and smiled to herself. Yes, this girl would be just fine. She was just what she felt her son needed and deserved. She was very overprotective of Nick.
Brian joined the other kids and Nick in the other room. "Can we help you with dinner?" McKenzie and Shayla asked at the same time, then laughed at each other. Jane was already very fond of Shayla. She had been a godsend to Brian. She predicted their engagement by the end of the year. She was delighted with both of the girls.
"I'll set the table," Leslie said putting her pictures away after one last look.
"Nick? Dad's here," Leslie yelled looking out the window as she set the dining room table.
"Ok," Nick said getting up from the Nintendo. He met his dad as he came into the kitchen.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Bob Carter said hugging his son.
"Hi dad," Nick said. "Come here I want you to meet someone." He led his dad over to McKenzie. She wiped her hands on the towel on the counter.
"Dad, this is McKenzie," he said.
"Nice to meet you," Bob said shaking her hand.
"You too," McKenzie said.
Bob caught Jane's eye as she nodded her head in approval of McKenzie. That was all he needed to let him know all was well. "McKenzie will be attending Miami University this fall in pre-med," Jane informed Bob. "She plans on being a pediatrician."
"That's wonderful," Bob said knowing now why Jane was so pleased with the girl. Nick rolled his eyes and McKenzie smiled at him.
"Nice to see you again Shayla," Bob said. "Brian how are ya buddy?" he said hugging Brian who had come over to great him.
"Doing great," Brian said.
"Dinner's ready, let's all go into the dining room," Jane said. The Carter kids made a mad dash for the table arguing over who would sit next to Nick. Nick gave McKenzie on side, rubbing her leg when no one was looking and Aaron ended up winning the other side.
Dinner was noisy and full of conversation. Mostly about the boys trip to the Bahama's and the songs for the next album. They had many questions about McKenzie which were all answered to the Carter's satisfaction. Jane Carter looked around the table feeling blessed at the people in her home. All was wonderful and she felt good. After games and conversation that evening they said goodbye and Brian, Shayla, Nick and McKenzie went back to Shayla's exhausted. Jane had gotten a moment alone with Nick and told him how happy she was with McKenzie and how much she liked her and Shayla and how much they seemed to value the sense of family. Nick promised he and McKenzie would come for dinner on Sunday.