Chapter 25: Dinner With The Hudson Family
Jack picking up Sue at 6PM, Sue is wearing a sleeveless pink floral chiffon dress and high heels. Jack is wearing blue suit with light purple shirt and red tie. He gives Sue the bouquet of red roses from behind his back. Going to the car, Jack opens the passenger door for Sue. After Sue comes back with the salad bowl in hand, they sit in the car talking about meeting Jack’s parents at his house. Sue is a little nervous but also excited about tonight, getting to know more about Jack and his family.
Jack: Signing-Wow! You look more beautiful every time I see you. This is for you.
Sue: You are quite the poetry man. Thank you for saying that and for the pretty roses.
Lucy: I’ll put these in a vase for you. You two better get going. Sue, you don’t want to be late meeting Jack’s parents.
Sue: Thanks, Lucy. It’s just dinner. Right, Jack?
Jack: Yep. It’s just a nice dinner with the
Sue: Lucy, try to stay out of trouble. (Laughs) See you later.
Jack: Your chariot awaits you, Sue. (smiles) How does Lucy know that you are meeting my parents tonight?
Sue: You are a classy gentleman. I told Lucy last night. Oh no, I forgot the salad. Wait here.
Jack: (In the car) Signing-Did you tell Lucy anything else?
Sue: Signing-You mean about us?
Jack: Yeah. That’s exactly what I mean.
Sue: Lucy suspects something is going on between us, but I haven’t told her anything.
Jack: Okay. Good. Are you ready to meet my parents?
Sue: I think so. I hope they like me, and your sisters too. I want to make a good impression.
Jack: Don’t worry. They are going to love you, how could they not? (Gives her the look)
Sue: Thanks. I needed to hear that.
Jack: Anytime. I aim to please. My mom will be wondering what happened to us if I don’t drive you over there.
Sue: Then by all means, let’s go.
Jack: This is it. We’re here. I see two kids watching us from the living room window.
Sue: You better introduce me before they come out.
Jack opens the car door for Sue and they walk up to the front steps. Before Jack can open his front door, he looks up and sees his mom standing there. He lets Sue come inside first and then introduces her to his mom and dad, two sisters, his brother-in-law, and the two little kids looking up at Sue and down at Levi.
Jack’s Mom: Hi Sue. It is so good to meet you. I’ve been waiting a long time.
Sue: It’s nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Hudson. I brought a salad for dinner.
Jack’s Mom: Thank you, dear. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.
Jack: The food smells great, Mom. I miss your home cooking.
Jack’s Mom: Well, you would have more of my home cooking, if you visit us more than a couple of times a year.
Jack’s Dad: Sweetheart, you know our son is a very busy man. Just let him be. By the way, Sue you look very lovely tonight. I can see why Jack has taken such a shine to you.
Sue: Thank you, Mr. Hudson. You and your son do have a way with words.
Abby: You got that right. Dad and Jack can charm anyone within a mile. (Smiles)
Meg: I’m so glad we finally get to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from Jack.
Sue: Thanks. It’s nice to meet all of you. Don’t believe everything you hear from Jack. He’s been known to exaggerate the truth a bit. (Smiles at Jack)
Matt: I’m Meg’s husband, and these two little ones are mine, Sarah and Tom. It’s great to meet you. Come on you two, say Hi to Sue.
Sue: Hi Sarah. Hi Tom. How do you two like D.C.?
Matt: We are having a lot of fun. The landmarks in the nation capital are outstanding.
Sue: Yes. They are. I love living near the nation’s capital.
Dinner conversation with Jack’s family
Jack’s mom: So how did you and Jack meet?
Sue: We met at work; then I transfer to work with Jack’s surveillance unit.
Jack: Sue is very talented. She has a unique gift for reading lips. We are very lucky to have her on the team.
Abby: What I want to know is; how do you like working with Jack? Is he still bossy and demanding?
Jack: I resent that. I’m not bossy nor am I demanding. Right, Sue? (smiles at her)
Sue: Well. You can be a little bossy. That’s only because he has to keep the guys on the straight and narrow path. (Smiles)
Meg: Is my big brother, still attracting women like bees to honey? (laughs)
Sue: I was going to ask you the same question. Was Jack quite the catch in high school and college?
Meg: I believe so. But he has never brought anyone special home to meet all of us. You’re the first one, maybe the last. Who knows you might be the one. (teasing Jack)
Sue: Then to answer your question, Jack does attract many women. Women make passes at your brother whenever we go undercover. (Smiles at Jack) I remember one particular person. Do you remember Rita, Jack?
Jack: Rita never hit on me. (Rolling his eyes at Sue)
Sue: Who are you are going to believe, Abby and Meg, me or your big brother? (laughs)
Jack: Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side, not my two kid sisters.
Abby: Hey, we are not so little anymore, we can beat you up now. (Laughing)
Meg: Abby’s right. You want to take this outside? (laughing)
Jack: Yeah. Sure. Okay. Mom, please make them stop. (Laughing)
Jack’s Mom: Your brother is right. Let’s stop teasing him.
After dinner, they go into the living room to talk more about Jack and working with the FBI. They drink coffee and eat apple cinnamon pecan pie. Then Jack’s mom brings out the photo albums of Jack and the family. Here’s Jack in his Boy Scout uniform. He looks so much like his father at that age. Here’s Jack in his hockey jersey #25. He was the best player on his hockey team. More pictures of Jack at Christmas and on family vacations are shown to Sue. (smiles)
Jack’s Mom: Don’t you think Jack looks adorable in this picture, Sue?
Sue: Yes. He does. Jack was an adorable baby. I especially like the one of Jack in the bathtub. When was that picture taken, Mrs. Hudson?
Jack’s Mom: Let’s see. That picture as I recall, Jack was almost 2 years old. He was splashing in the tub and he didn’t want my help. Of course, he made a mess of the bathroom, soap suds everywhere. I can laugh about it now.
Jack: Okay. Enough baby pictures. I don’t think Sue needs to see every single picture of me; least of all the ones that make me look bad. (laughs)
Meg: But that’s what is so fun about tonight. Sue should know all your secrets.
Jack: Hey Meg. I don’t remember being wicked to you when you and Matt were dating. Certainly I was a gracious host when I got to meet Matt for the first time. (Laughs)
Meg: Okay. I will stop teasing you. But I have to show Sue one other picture of you.
Jack: Oh no. You don’t. You’re not embarrassing me anymore. Give them to me. (laughs)
Sue: What? Jack, I want to see more pictures of you.
Meg hands Sue a picture of Jack wearing a tux for his senior prom. Except back then, Jack had longer hair to his shoulder. He looks so different and a lot younger in the picture. Then Meg slips Sue another picture of Jack. In this one, Jack is wearing ripped blue jeans, a sweatshirt off the shoulders 80s style. He pierced his left ear and he wore horn-rimmed glasses and capezios shoes. Meg said this was the look that made all the teenage girls, especially mine and Abby friends’ swoon over our big brother.
Abby jumps in and says; I seem to recall a few girls in the locker room calling our big brother “Stud Muffin”. Meg, Abby, and Sue burst into laughter. It’s true. Jack Hudson was and still is a major heartthrob today.
Jack: Alright. You all had your fun. Thank you for dinner, Mom. We’re late. I promise Lucy that I would have her home by now. Let’s go, Sue.
Sue: Oh right. Lucy and I have errands to run first thing in the morning. Dinner was terrific, Mrs. Hudson. I hope to see you all again before you go back to
Jack’s Mom: I’m sure we will be seeing you again real soon, Sue. Goodnight you two.
Sue: Goodnight, everyone. It was wonderful to meet you all. Bye.
Back at Sue’s apartment building, in Jack’s car
Jack: Well that was fun. My parents adore you.
Sue: I really like your whole family. I had a good time. You didn’t? (smiles)
Jack: I’m glad you met the
Sue: That’s why you made me leave. Didn’t want me to look at more pictures of you huh? (Laughs)
Jack: Oh yeah. You have seen me at my worse and also at my best. I would prefer that you see me at my best from now on.
Sue: Oh I don’t know. I thought you look adorable in all your pictures. My favorite photo of you was the bathtub!
Jack: You better not tell anyone that story. Or you will be very sorry. (Teasing Sue)
Sue: What are you going to do handcuff me? (Teasing Jack)
Jack: I’m thinking. That’s not a bad idea. I’ll have to keep that in mind. For the next time you distract me. (Teasing Sue)
Sue: Don’t you dare even think about it. You are going to be in so much trouble, “Stud Muffin”. (laughs)
Jack: How much trouble? Can we please keep “Stud Muffin” just between you and me?
Sue: Okay, Stud Muffin. I’ll keep your secret. You have to bribe me with something.
Jack: What do you want? (gives the look, smiles)
Sue: Surprise me, Stud Muffin. (teasing Jack)
Jack: Don’t worry, I will definitely surprise you but only when you least expect it. (laughs) You asked for it. I guess I will have to settle for doing this. (smiles)
Jack tickles Sue until she promises to not reveal his baby pictures and anything else she found out tonight talking to his parents. Then he gives her a long kiss, they stay that way for an extended moment. He walks her to her apartment and they say goodnight. He leaves and goes home to talk to his parents.
Jack’s Mom: You’re back, honey.
Jack: Yeah. It was a great dinner. I’m heading to bed now.
Jack’s Mom: Wait a minute. We want to talk to you about Sue.
Jack’s Dad: We really like her a lot. And we think you two make a great couple.
Jack’s Mom: You’re dad is right. I hope you bring Sue to
Jack’s Dad: It’s true. You have the same look in your eyes when you look at Sue. It’s the same one I have when I look at your mother everyday. That’s how you know when two people are meant to be together. Just think about what we said tonight. You don’t have to tell us anything right now.
Jack’s Mom: We just wanted you to know how we felt about Sue and you together.
Jack: Thanks. I love you, both very much. I promise to think about everything you said. We can talk more about this in the morning. Goodnight, mom and dad. Love you lots.
Jack spends the next two days with his parents and siblings. They have a great time hanging out and enjoying the family time together. Soon it is time for the
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