"Relax, would you? You're making me nervous!" She was smiling though, and she took another sip from her wine glass as she poured two more for her parents to be ready when they arrived.
Then there was a knock on the door and Natalie went to open it. There was a flurry of happy greetings and hugs and comments on how well everyone looked. Eventually, still smiling, Natalie stood beside her parents and turned to Conrad and said, "Con, these are my parents. Elaine-" she gestured to the slightly plump white woman beside her "-and Stephen." With that the tall Asian man with the greying hair beside her smiled and stepped towards Conrad to shake his hand. Natalie, smiling at Con, said, "And this is Conrad, my boyfriend."
"A pleasure, Conrad," Stephen said. His own accent was the strong Estuary one that Natalie had had when she'd first moved to the States, one she didn't realise she'd been somewhat losing over the years. "Natalie hasn't told us much about you, but she's never told us anything at all about any men she's dated previously."
"Daaad," Natalie said, sounding like an embarrassed teenager all of a sudden.