“Before I went to Cumbria.”
I cocked my head. I hadn’t had the man I was planning to marry down as a traditionalist.
“What can I say? I like to do things properly.”
I smiled, picturing the two men. Leo nervously asking for my hand in marriage. My father feeling important for once and loving every minute of it. “Aw, that’s so sweet,” I said, stretching up to kiss Leo’s cheek.
Sal made a vomiting noise. “Someone, hand me a bucket.”
“Yoo hoo!” Mum’s voice sounded from the hall, signalling her and Dad’s arrival.
“Hold on to your hats, guys,” my sister said, not even trying to hide her amusement.
“Good luck.” Ryan stifled a smile and bit down on his lips.
I shook my head at their childishness. “How old are you two again?”
Mum, with Dad in tow, breezed into the room, as usual wearing perfect hair and make-up, and clothes ironed to within an inch of their life. “Something smells good,” she said. Her eyes settled on the foil food containers that Sal carried over to the table. “Oh.” Mum’s face fell. “Takeout. Again.”
“You don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to,” Sal said.
Mum cast her eyes over Sal’s granite worktops and snazzy appliances. “I don’t know why you bought this kitchen. It’s not like you ever use it.”
My sister and I smirked, knowing Mum viewed both our career choices in the same way – as hobbies. Growing up, she’d insisted we could be anything we wanted to be, only to suffer disappointment when we took her at her word. Apparently, potter and cake maker didn’t have quite the same ring as lawyer and doctor.
“Takeout’s fine,” Dad replied. He gave Mum a nudge. “Isn’t it, Patricia?”
“So how is everyone?” Mum asked. Taking off her coat, she made a point of looking for somewhere to hang it.
Leo smirked my way before stepping forward. “Let me.”
Mum sighed dreamily as he disappeared down the hall to hang it up for her. “Such a gentleman.” She pulled herself together. “You don’t know how lucky you are, Tess.”
Leo made his return, and I couldn’t help but smile as he and Dad shared a knowing look. Watching the two men I loved most in the world, a warm glow came over me. “Right, who’s for a glass of wine?” I asked.
Sal didn’t miss a beat. “Me.”
Ryan raised his hand. “And me.”
I took a bottle of white from the fridge, while Sal got the glasses.
“Dad, would you like some?”
“Not for me. Driving duties.”
“What’sthat?” Mum said. Any higher and her shriek would have shattered glass. “Edward, look!”
Grappling with the corkscrew and wine bottle, I paused.
With her eyes firmly on my left hand, Mum’s jaw dropped as her gaze moved from me to Leo. “But that’s a…”
Sal leaned into me. “Told you so,” she said, her expression smug.
Mum put a hand up to her chest. “When did this happen? I can’t believe it.” She began struggling to breathe. “Oh, my word. This is wonderful.” Her gasps continued.
While Leo and I looked at each other wide-eyed and shocked, Dad pulled out a dining chair for Mum to sit on. “Come on, love,” he said. “Calm yourself now.”
As Mum plonked herself down, it was clear she was having a happiness-induced panic attack.
