As the plane touched down at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, Amy felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a touch of nervousness. This was her first time in Virginia and for that she's excited but this is equally her first time about to meet Jace's family, including his sister, who was getting married tomorrow and for that she's nervous.
Jace, sensing her tension, took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Amy smiled, feeling a bit better. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little nervous, I guess."
Jace leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Don't be nervous. My family will love you. And besides, we're here to celebrate my sister's special day. It's going to be a great weekend, we'll leave immediately it's done,you wouldn't even have the time to feel uncomfortable"
"Right " Amy said forcing a smile.
As they disembarked and made their way through the airport, Amy couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. She had never been to Virginia before, and the rolling hills and picturesque countryside were a far cry from the bustling city she was used to.
After collecting their luggage from the the baggage claim,they stepped out into the warm Virginia sun, where a sleek, black car waited at the curb to take them to Jace's family estate. The driver standing at attention said ."Welcome, Mr. Jace, ma'am" he said, opening the door for them. "I'll be taking you to the family estate. Please, make yourselves comfortable."
"That's fancy"Amy said as they settled down in the backseat.
"Definitely my mom's doing" He said as he drew close to Amy.
The drive to the family estate was scenic, winding through rolling hills and picturesque countryside. Amy felt a sense of peace settle over her, enjoying the views and Jace's warm presence beside her.
As they pulled up to the estate, Amy's eyes widened in awe. The house was stunning – a grand, colonial-style mansion with perfectly manicured lawns and gardens.
As the driver opened the door,Jace stepped out offering his hand to Amy. They walked hand in hand towards the front door. Amy's mind was spiraling, what if the family doesn't like her?, what if she doesn't fit in?. Jace's family seemed so rich and she didn't want to feel out of place.
She was still thinking when a woman probably in her late fifties ran towards them enveloping Jace in a tight long hug before turning to Amy with a warm smile.
"Darling," she said, taking Amy's hands in hers. "It's so wonderful to finally meet you"
Amy felt a surge of gratitude towards Jace for preparing his family for her visit. She smiled warmly at her, feeling a sense of belonging wash over her.
"Thank you, Mrs. ... um...Prescott" Amy hesitated, unsure of how to address Jace's mother.
Elizabeth laughed. "Please, call me Elizabeth. We're not formal here." Amy felt a sense of excitement and wonder. She was instantly eager to meet the rest of Jace's family and be a part of their special celebration because of how warm Jace's mom was towards her.
As they stepped inside the house,Amy couldn't help but feel a little awestruck. The high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and decorations were nothing compared to her own humble upbringing.
Jace noticed her gaze wandering and smiled. "Pretty impressive, huh?" he said, taking her hand.
Amy nodded, feeling overwhelmed. "Yeah, it's...wow."
"Well,alot of things have changed here since you left home Jace,I'll show you to the room I kept ready just for the both of you" Elizabeth said smiling.
They passed through a cozy library, lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a roaring fireplace. Amy's eyes landed on a beautiful grand piano in the corner, and she couldn't resist running her fingers over the keys.
Elizabeth smiled, watching her. "You play?" She asked.
Amy nodded, feeling a little self-conscious. "Yeah, I used to. Not as much anymore, though."
Elizabeth's eyes lit up. "We have a wonderful music room here. You'll have to play for us later."
"Mom,where is Becca??" Jace asked as Elizabeth opened the door to their room.
"Well,her friends planned a bachelorette party for her here in the estate, she should be on her way here now" Elizabeth said as they stepped into the room.
Jace placed their luggage on the bed and looked around the room.
"This will do,thanks mom" Jace said.
"I'm so happy you accepted the invitation, it's been so long I saw you" Elizabeth said cupping his face.
"It's ok mom, I'm here now" He said grazing her arms.
"Yes,yes you are" She sniffled. She turned to Amy.
"Welcome again darling'She said.
"Thank you ma'am" Amy replied.
"It's Elizabeth" She corrected smiling.
"Sorry Elizabeth"Amy said smiling back at her.
"Alright, make yourselves comfortable,the food would be ready soon" Elizabeth said and left.
"Well that's my mom"Jace sighed.
"Yh,your mom, she's very nice"Amy said smiling.
"Yh" Jace as he starts unpacking.
Amy looked around the room,the interior was sophisticated,the two paintings present were beautiful,one was of the sunset and the other of the clear desert. She walked towards a window and opened it, the view from their room was stunning overlooking the garden and a swing for relaxation.
She opened the balcony door and stepped out,the warm breeze was to die for. She took in a breath and let it out.The balcony was elegantly furnished with two chairs and a glass topped table by the side. She was satisfied with where she was. She couldn't wait for what the weekend would bring with it.
She felt a presence beside her and it was Jace.
'You grew up in a very beautiful place Jace" She said
Amy turned to him, her eyes shining with wonder. "It's incredible," she breathed. "I've never seen anything like it."
Jace smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know it's a lot to take in," he said. "But this is where I grew up. This house, this land... it's all I've ever known."
Amy's gaze turned curious, and she leaned into him slightly. "What was it like, growing up here?" she asked, her voice soft.
Jace's expression turned guarded, and he gazed out at the view, his eyes distant. "It was... complicated," he said slowly. "My family... we had our issues,it's not as perfect as it seems"
Amy's eyes filled with concern, but Jace quickly changed the subject, not wanting to reveal the dark secrets of his childhood. "But I'm glad you're here now, with me," he said, forcing a smile. "You deserve to experience all the beauty this city has to offer, Charlottesville is a very nice place."
As they stood there, taking in the view, Amy had no idea about the painful memories that Jace kept hidden. The luxurious estate, the perfectly manicured lawns, and the beautiful rooms all seemed to whisper a lie: that the family who lived here was perfect, happy, and untouched by pain.
But Jace knew the truth. Behind the closed doors of this grand estate, his childhood had been a nightmare. His father's abuse, the sound of his mother's cries, and the feeling of helplessness that had consumed him had all left their scars.
As they stood there, the gate to the estate was opened and a car drove in. An elderly man is seen stepping out of the car, only his back was seen as he steps into the building. Jace's thoughts turned to his father. He felt a familiar surge of anger and resentment, emotions he had learned to keep hidden behind a mask of charm and sophistication.
But with Amy by his side, Jace calmed himself as he slipped his hand around her waist. Maybe, just maybe, he could leave his past behind and start anew. Maybe he could find happiness, true happiness, with Amy.But he knew that the reality of being in good terms with his father was far fetched.
Later that night.....
Amy's eyes sparkled as she heard the faint sound of music drifting from downstairs. She had been expecting this – Elizabeth had told her that her daughter, Rebecca was having her bachelorette party tonight.
The music grew louder, and Amy's curiosity got the better of her. She got out of bed and made her way to the door, intent on exploring.
Just as she reached the door, it swung open, and a young woman burst in. "Jace, where are you?" she yelled, scanning the room.She was wearing a pink gown with a slit by the side and she has a white sash over her shoulder which says "bride to be"
Her eyes landed on Amy, and her face lit up with a bright smile. "Oh, you must be Amy! I'm Rebecca, Jace's sister."
"Where's Jace?" She asked excitedly.
"He said he wanted to take care of some work" Amy replied still surprised by Rebecca's warmness.
"He's always busy" Rebecca continued.
Rebecca flung her arms around Amy in a warm hug. "I'm so glad you're here! Come join the party – we're having an amazing time."
Amy laughed, taken aback by Rebecca's infectious energy. "I'd love to," she said, letting Rebecca pull her towards the door.
As Amy followed Rebecca downstairs to the room, she was immediately swept up in a whirlwind of color and music. The party was in full swing, with girls laughing and dancing together.
Rebecca led Amy to the center of the room, where a group of girls were sipping champagne and chatting. "Everyone, this is Amy!" Rebecca exclaimed, beaming. "My brother's girlfriend " She added.
The girls turned to Amy, and she was surprised by the warm smiles that greeted her. They all seemed so... nice. Amy had prepared herself for a group of catty, competitive women, but instead, she found herself surrounded by friendly, welcoming faces.
One of the girls, a petite brunette, handed Amy a glass of champagne. "Welcome to the party!" she said, clinking her glass against Amy's.
Amy took a sip, feeling a little overwhelmed by the sheer niceness of it all. She had been expecting a much more formal, stuffy atmosphere, given the family's wealth and status. But instead, she found herself feeling like she was part of a close-knit group of friends.
Rebecca grabbed Amy's arm, pulling her into a group photo. "Say cheese!" she exclaimed, as the girls all giggled and posed for the camera.
Amy couldn't help but laugh, feeling a sense of belonging that she hadn't expected. Maybe this weekend wouldn't be so bad after all.
As the night wore on, the bachelorette party only grew more lively. The girls had set up a photo booth, complete with props like tiaras, feather boas, and oversized sunglasses. Amy found herself laughing and posing for silly photos with Rebecca and the other girls.
After the photo booth, they moved on to a game of "How well do you know the groom",testing Rebecca's knowledge of her fiancé and their relationship.
"I'll go first" Emily,the petite blonde that handed Amy a glass of champagne said.
"Alright but get ready to loose 100 dollars each for the questions I get right" Rebecca said confidently as the other girls laughed.
"What's your fiance's favourite food? Emily asked looking at one of the cards which had the answers to all the questions being asked that Nick already wrote down.
"Nick is utterly obsessed with spaghetti and meatballs,he could leave every other food for it" She answered and the room roared with cheers and claps.
"That's right,here's your 100 dollars" Emily said laughing as she hands her the dollar notes.
"Don't worry I'll give it back if you get your own questions right during your own bachelorette party" Rebecca said and the girls laughed.
"How many ex's does Nick have?" Another girl, Ruby asked.
"Damn!,Nick had 3 ex's, Jennifer, Autumn and Daisy" Rebecca answered. "See, I gave their names too,we ain't hiding shit" Rebecca said and the room vibrated with clapping hands. Rebecca placed out her left hand sassily and received another 100 dollars as the girls continued laughing.
"Rate Nick's skills in bed?"Another girl asked and they giggled loudly anticipating the answer.
"I know you made that question up but if you must know...." She said and watched their anticipant faces.
"He's great, he's a huge 10, your girl can't settle for less" She answered and the girls cheered her once again. They were all genuinely having a great time. Amy was impressed by how much Rebecca knew, and the girls all cheered and clapped as she answered More questions correctly.
As they continued having fun, the music got louder and the dancing started. Amy found herself letting loose and having the time of her life, dancing with the other girls and laughing until her sides hurt.
At one point, the girls even convinced Rebecca to get up and do a karaoke rendition of her favorite love song.
Emily,the bridesmaid took the microphone as everyone kept dancing. "Hey, everyone, it's karaoke time" She said as everyone cheered loudly."it's time for the bride to be to sing her favorite love song for us, we all know she sings well" She said.
"Now let's give it up for the latest bride to be in town!!!" Emily yelled and the girls clapped.
Two girls helped pull Rebecca up to the stage, she seemed a little shy as Emily handed her the microphone.
"Guys,I've had a lot of wine so don't blame me if I don't sing well tonight" she said and the audience chanted "You can do it!!!".
Everywhere went quite as the tone for 'a thousand years' by Christiana Perri came on.
Amy was amazed by Rebecca's vocal talents, she felt goosebumps on her body as the bride to be sang. The audience sang along with her and the whole room erupted in cheers and applause as she finished her performance.
"You were wonderful up there" Amy said as Rebecca came down the stage.
"Thank you"Rebecca smiled.
As the night drew to an end,the girls all gathered around Rebecca to present her with a special bachelorette party gift.
"Go ahead, open it" Emily beckoned.
Rebecca opened the little gift box and it was a beautiful, sparkling necklace with a pendant in the shape of a heart.
"Oh my God thank you guys" Rebecca was overwhelmed with emotion as she thanked her friends and put on the necklace, beaming with happiness.
"And for the last surprise of the evening" Emily said mischievously through the microphone.
"What are you up to Emily?"Rebecca yelled.
"DJ pls" Emily said smiling as the dj nodded as he put on 'anaconda by Nicki Minaj' . Just then a male stripper walked through the door and the audience cheered loudly. Amy found it very hilarious as the striper pulled out a chair and pulled Rebecca towards it and sat her down.
The girls screamed and cheered as the striper gave Rebecca a lap dance.
"Oh my gosh" Rebecca yelled palming her face.
The audience kept cheering as the male stripper gave crazy dance moves. He gave alot of lap dances and even sat on her at some point too.
Rebecca kept laughing as she stood up and made her way to Emily dragging her to the chair. The stripper didn't mind and kept dancing in front of them.
As Amy looked around at the happy, smiling faces of the other girls, she felt grateful to have been a part of this special night. Despite her initial reservations, she had ended up having an amazing time, and she knew that this was a night she would never forget.