Rosa, standing on her parents’ doorstep, took a deep breath, trying to prepare herself.
She had a box of her mom’s favorite chocolates in her hand, something she always brought along during her visits.
She loved her parents deeply, but each visit seemed to come with a price—a long, awkward conversation about her love life, or more accurately, her lack of one.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
At 32, she had a steady job and a fulfilling life, but her parents, especially her mom, couldn’t seem to accept that.
Finally, she rang the doorbell. Within seconds, her mom, Jolene, opened the door, her face lighting up as if she hadn’t seen her daughter in years.
“Hello, dear! So good to see you!” Her mom’s warmth was always comforting, despite the inevitable topic she knew would come up.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I missed you too, Mom,” Rosa replied, giving her mom a quick hug.
“Come on in, don’t just stand out there!” Jolene said, motioning her in. Rosa stepped inside, and her mom quickly took the box of chocolates, beaming.
“Oh, thank you, sweetheart! I’ll make us some tea to go with these,” she said as she helped Rosa out of her coat, guiding her into the cozy living room filled with familiar, homely touches.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Rosa sat on the couch, noticing how every picture and little decoration seemed to have a story. This home had always been a place she could feel safe, even if it came with its share of pressure.
“Where’s dad?” Rosa asked, hoping to steer the conversation somewhere safe.
“Oh, he’s out in town. His car’s acting up again. I keep telling him that old clunker isn’t worth fixing anymore, but he insists. You know how he is. He even named it, you know… Lucille,” her mom laughed, rolling her eyes a little.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Rosa smiled, picturing her dad stubbornly fixing his old car.
“Yeah, I remember. That car has been around forever.” She paused, but it didn’t take long for her mom to change the subject.
“So, how are you, really?” Jolene asked, her tone shifting. Rosa knew what was coming. “Have you met anyone special?”
“Mom…” Rosa sighed, bracing herself.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What? You’re not young anymore, Rosa,” her mom continued. “Your dad and I… well, we might not be around forever to see grandkids if things keep going like this.”
Rosa rolled her eyes. “Mom, you know I hate talking about this.”
“I know, I know,” Jolene said, not backing down.
“But we just want the best for you, honey. It’s not that we don’t appreciate your independence. We just worry about you being alone.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Rosa shook her head, trying to suppress a groan.
“Mom, I’m fine. Really.”
“Okay, but listen,” Jolene went on, “just the other day, we ran into the Petersons. They stopped by, and guess who was with them… their son, Robert.”
“Oh no, don’t start with Robert again…” Rosa said, sighing.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“He’s a good man!” her mom argued, looking genuinely enthusiastic.
Rosa crossed her arms.
“The last time I saw him, he was like, 14 years old. I barely remember him.”
“And you two got along so well back then!” Jolene insisted.
“I don’t see why you wouldn’t even consider giving him a chance.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Mom,” Rosa said firmly, “you’re acting like I’m some kind of… product that you get to arrange for someone.”
“Oh, sweetheart, it’s not like that,” her mom replied, softening her tone.
“We just want to help. In fact, we even invited the Petersons over for Thanksgiving dinner.”
Rosa’s eyes widened.
“Oh no… Mom, seriously?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious, just a casual meet-up,” Jolene tried to assure her. “Maybe something will change. Who knows?”
Rosa put her face in her hands, exasperated.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you pulled out a wedding dress for me at this point.”
Jolene chuckled.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, come on. I’m not asking for a wedding on the spot, just a simple dinner. Give it a chance, honey.”
Rosa let out a sigh, feeling defeated.
Thanksgiving dinner was shaping up to be anything but relaxing, but she knew there was no escaping it now.
She just hoped it wouldn’t be as unbearable as she feared.
Thanksgiving had arrived, and once again, Rosa found herself standing on her parents’ doorstep, frozen with nerves.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She took a deep breath, hesitating as she heard voices and laughter drifting from inside.
“Okay, Rosa,” she muttered to herself, “It’s just dinner…you can get through this.” Finally, she knocked, and within seconds, the door swung open to reveal her mother, already beaming.
“Come on in, Rosa! The Petersons are already here!” Jolene exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Rosa forced a polite smile and stepped inside, feeling the warm aroma of roasted turkey and spices fill her senses.
As she walked toward the dining room, she spotted the table, lavishly set with an assortment of holiday dishes.
Her father was mid-story, his voice carrying the kind of charm that always kept people listening.
“…And that’s why I never agreed to give my boss a ride home again!” her dad finished with a laugh, his story met by chuckles from everyone at the table.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Around it sat the Petersons, and right beside the empty chair reserved for her, there he was—Robert, grown up, clean-shaven, and looking surprisingly at ease.
“Rosa! Darling, come over here. We’ve been waiting for you,” her father called, waving her over with a big grin.
The others looked up, smiling warmly, and Robert nodded politely, making her feel both welcome and awkward.
“Coming, coming,” she replied, taking a seat next to Robert. His friendly smile made her feel oddly nervous, and she found herself glancing away, hoping no one would notice.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Please don’t make a big deal out of this, she thought, but her hopes were quickly dashed.
As dinner continued, her parents and the Petersons laughed and shared more stories, with everyone enjoying the warmth and spirit of the holiday.
Yet, inevitably, the conversation circled back to Rosa and Robert. Her father, with a mischievous grin, glanced over at them.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“By the way, Robert,” he said, “I see you and Rosa have already made a connection, sitting so close together.”
His tone was casual, but Rosa could sense the not-so-subtle implication.
Rosa rolled her eyes and muttered, “Dad, you’re the one who seated us here…”
Her mother joined in, chuckling.
“Oh, come on, Rosa. You’re a grown woman but still shy as ever, just like when you were a little girl.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Hearing her parents tease her like that in front of everyone was the last straw. She felt her face flush as frustration bubbled up inside her.
The entire evening felt more like a staged date than a holiday celebration with family. It wasn’t fair, and she’d had enough.
“That’s enough!” she said, pushing her chair back as she stood up.
“You’ve turned a family holiday into a blind date! I don’t want any part of this. Thanks for ruining my holiday!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Without another word, Rosa hurried out of the dining room, heading straight for the yard.
The cool air hit her face as she stepped outside, but it did little to soothe her.
Behind her, she could hear her father calling, “Sweetheart, wait, you misunderstood! I was just joking!”
But Rosa wasn’t ready to listen. She kept walking, wrapping her arms around herself as she tried to calm down.
Outside, although the chilly air nipped at her skin, Rosa finally felt like she could breathe.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The peace and quiet out here offered her a place to reflect, a moment away from her parents’ unyielding insistence about her love life.
She knew they only wanted her to be happy, but they just didn’t seem to understand how difficult things had been for her.
With each heartbreak, she had found herself alone, crying into her pillow, wondering if she’d ever find someone who understood her.
Now her parents were pushing her toward Robert, thinking they could fix everything in one dinner.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Footsteps broke the silence, and Rosa sighed, preparing herself for the inevitable lecture from her mom.
But when she turned around, she was surprised to see Robert. He offered a small wave, then held up a blanket in his hand.
“I thought you might be cold out here,” he said, stepping closer.
Rosa managed a smile, letting him drape the warm blanket over her shoulders.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Thanks, Robert. That’s thoughtful of you.”
He gave a quick nod, then started to turn back toward the house, but Rosa, feeling unexpectedly grateful for the gesture, stopped him.
“That’s it? I thought my parents might’ve sent you out to talk to me or something,” she said, half-joking.
Robert chuckled. “Would you rather they had?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She shrugged. “Actually, yeah. I guess I could use someone to talk to.”
“Alright,” he replied, smiling. “I wasn’t in a rush to go back in there anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Oh, my parents started arguing, blaming each other for the whole setup,” he said with a laugh. “It’s been the perfect Thanksgiving, right?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Rosa rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it. But I was actually enjoying the night—until all that started. I’ll admit, my dad tells a good story.”
“He does,” Robert agreed, his face warm. “I’d listen to your stories, too, though.”
Rosa laughed softly, surprised.
“Really? Well, maybe I’ll tell you a few someday. But first, let’s get back in there and calm our parents down. It’s too nice a holiday to spend it fighting.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Couldn’t agree more,” Robert replied, nodding.
Together, they made their way back inside, sharing a quiet, comforting understanding. For the first time, Rosa thought maybe spending more time with Robert wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Back inside, Rosa immediately noticed the tension in the room.
Her parents and Robert’s parents were still caught up in their heated back-and-forth, voices raised as they tried to pin the blame for the “matchmaking disaster” on each other.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
But as soon as Rosa and Robert walked in, everyone stopped, their eyes settling on the two of them.
“Sweetheart, you’re back!” her mom exclaimed, looking both relieved and guilty. “I’m so glad. Please forgive us for pushing you like that.”
Rosa took a deep breath and smiled.
“It’s okay, Mom. I understand why you did it. And I’m sorry for snapping like I did.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Her words seemed to relax everyone at the table, and the tension slowly melted away. “Let’s put all of this behind us and enjoy the holiday,” Robert suggested, flashing a kind smile at Rosa that warmed her.
“Come on, let’s sit back down. I’m sure there are still plenty of family stories left to hear.”
They all returned to their seats, and the conversation slowly shifted back to lighter, happier topics.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
As Rosa sat down beside Robert, a thought flickered in her mind. Maybe spending a little more time with him wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.
His kindness and calm presence had somehow made everything feel a little easier, and for the first time, she felt truly open to getting to know him better.
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