His mother.

Ryan stared at the oak door and it felt like an eternity before he heard the locks clicking open. He squeezed his wife's hand tightly as the door opened.

"Hi, Mom," he announced.

"Hello, Ryan," his mother greeted him in a posh English accent. She turned to Marlissa and smiled, "You must be my new daughter-in-law?"

"Yes, I am Samantha, Mrs. Carter. I am so happy to meet you," Marlissa answered and leaned down to exchange cheek kisses with her mother-in-law.

"You are a gorgeous creature, aren't you? Please come in," Ryan's mother said, stepping aside to let the couple inside. "And it's Dr. Carter, my dear."

"Mom..." Ryan protested.

His mother chuckled. "But you can call me, 'Mom.'"

"Where's Dad?" Ryan wondered.

"He's in his study," his mother replied. "Please have a seat in the living room while I get him."

Ryan led his wife to the spacious living room and they sat down on the sofa.

"This place is beautiful," Marlissa muttered as she looked around the room -- with its parquet floor covered by a large Persian rug, an oak and marble fireplace, original plaster mould ceiling detail, and large parlour doors.

"I'll give you a tour of the house later..."

"Yes, please!"

"Hello, son," Ryan's father announced as their parents came down the stairs.

"Hey, dad," Ryan replied, standing up to greet his father. "This is my wife, Samantha."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, sir," Marlissa said, with a slight courtesy.

"Catherine was right, you are very beautiful," Ryan's father noted. "Are you a model, may I ask?"

"Yes, sir," Marlissa smiled.

"Call me, 'Dad,'" Ryan's father chuckled. "Only my students call me, 'Sir'!"

"Shall we talk about how you two met over lunch?" Catherine suggested. "What do you fancy, my dear?"