the day i was meeting imogen's mum felt like a turning point. i'd met a lot of people in my life, fans, friends, even a few exes' parents. but this? this felt different. imogen and i had been seeing each other for a while, and i wasn't the type to get all nervous or anxious about things, but meeting her mum? that was a different story. i'd heard so much about mariana from imogen, and i knew that this would be important.

i'd spent the last few weeks thinking about the right way to approach this. i wasn't exactly a stranger to meeting parents, but i still wanted to make a good impression. especially on someone who meant so much to imogen.

when imogen messaged me this morning saying her mum was "lovely," "down-to-earth," and "super easy to talk to," i figured i'd be okay. but i didn't really know what i was walking into. imogen had also mentioned she was an only child, so it was just going to be the three of us — me, her and mariana.

i pulled up outside her mum's house, trying to shake off the nerves that had been building up all day. the house looked like something out of a cozy dream, the kind of place you'd see in movies — warm, inviting, and just... peaceful. it didn't feel too flashy, but there was something comforting about it, and i could already feel myself relaxing a bit as i got out of the car.

"you ready?" imogen asked, her voice pulling me back into the moment. she was standing next to me, looking effortlessly beautiful in a simple outfit, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders.

i nodded, giving her a soft smile. "as ready as i'll ever be."

she grinned, linking her arm with mine. "don't worry. my mum is great. you're going to get along fine."

as we approached the front door, i took a deep breath, and just as imogen reached to knock, the door swung open. her mum stood there, smiling widely, radiating warmth the moment i saw her. i knew right away this was going to be okay.

"hi!" mariana said, her voice as friendly as i'd imagined. she extended her hand to me. "you must be louis. imogen talks about you all the time."

i shook her hand firmly, trying to keep it together, but the nerves were still there, just under the surface. "yeah, nice to finally meet you, mariana. imogen's told me a lot about you."

imogen shot me a playful look, clearly trying to keep me at ease. "good things, i hope."

"of course," i said quickly, glancing at her. "all good things."

mariana stepped aside, ushering us inside. "come on in, dinner's almost ready. make yourself at home."

i followed imogen in, immediately feeling the calmness of the place. the house was cozy, filled with warm colors and small touches of personality. i could see the love that went into creating it. it wasn't grand, but it felt lived in, real. this was where imogen grew up, and it made me feel a little closer to her, just being in the space.

"so, louis," mariana started as we sat down at the kitchen table, "imogen tells me you're a musician. that's amazing. i bet that keeps you busy."

"yeah, it does," i said, trying to relax. "but i love it. music's been my life since i can remember."

"i can imagine," she said, smiling. "imogen was always surrounded by art growing up. i'm glad she found someone who shares a similar passion."

imogen rolled her eyes playfully. "mum, you're making it sound like i'm obsessed with music or something."

mariana laughed, nudging her gently. "you were, though. always listening to something while painting."

"guilty," imogen said, grinning at me. "i was kind of impossible to deal with."

"i'm sure you weren't that bad," i teased.

"she's being modest," mariana said with a wink. "but seriously, louis, imogen told me you're from around here. that must be nice, huh?"

"yeah, definitely," i replied, relaxing more now that the conversation was flowing. "it's been nice to be back. sometimes you forget how much you miss the quiet until you're back."

"exactly," mariana agreed, nodding. "we're lucky to have it here. imogen's always loved the quiet, the slower pace. it's good for her."

imogen beamed, clearly happy to hear her mum's approval. it was obvious how much mariana cared about her. i knew imogen was a special person, but seeing that bond between mother and daughter made me realize just how deep it ran. mariana was proud of her daughter, and it was heartwarming to witness.

as the evening wore on, dinner was served, and we all sat around the table, chatting and eating. the food was simple but perfect , homemade and comforting. i found myself laughing along with imogen and her mum as they joked about old family memories, and i couldn't help but feel a little bit of warmth in my chest. i could see how strong the connection was between them.

"so, louis," mariana asked casually as she passed the potatoes around, "how do you find all the attention? i bet it can get overwhelming sometimes, right?"

i looked at her, a little taken aback by the question, but it wasn't a bad one. she was just curious. "it can be. but i've learned to manage it over the years. i guess you get used to it after a while. imogen's right, though. it's not always easy to deal with."

"i can only imagine," she said, her tone soft but sincere. "it's hard for anyone to have that much focus on them all the time. but imogen says you're quite grounded, and i can tell. that's a good thing."

i smiled, feeling oddly comfortable with the conversation. "thanks. i try to stay grounded. imogen helps with that."

imogen looked at me, her eyes softening in a way that made my heart skip a beat. she didn't say anything, but the way she looked at me said everything.

"well," she said, standing up to clear the table, "i'm glad to see imogen's found someone who gets her. she deserves that."

i met mariana's gaze, my voice quiet as i spoke. "i'll make sure she always knows how much she means to me. she deserves that."

mariana's eyes softened, and she nodded. "good. i'm glad to hear that."

after dinner, we all hung out in the living room for a while, talking about music, life, and everything in between. i felt like i was really connecting with both of them, and i was grateful for the way things were going.

as the night came to an end, imogen and i said our goodbyes, and i gave mariana a final hug.

"thanks for having me over, mariana," i said sincerely. "i really appreciate it."

"it was my pleasure," she said warmly. "take care of my girl."

"i will," i promised, feeling something inside me settle into place.

as imogen and i stepped out of the house, she nudged me playfully. "see? i told you it would be fine."

i grinned, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as we walked toward the car. "yeah, yeah, you were right. your mum's great."

"you're practically family now," she teased.

"i hope so," i said softly, as we got into the car. "i really hope so."