“Ryan,” Sal said, ready to medically intervene. “Pass us one of those brown paper bags from the Chinese, will you?”
Chapter 4
Istirred, not wanting to rouse from the deepest of sleeps. But as I clung on to the most beautiful wedding dream, it was no good; I began to properly awaken. I turned onto my side and smiling, opened my eyes. My smile disappeared. Expecting to see Leo laid next to me, his half of the bed was empty. Disappointed, I rolled onto my back and supposing I should get up too, stretched out in all directions. Rising to a seated position, I swung my legs off the mattress and stuffed my feet into my slippers.
The appetising aroma of Leo’s cooking drifted out from the kitchen causing my belly to rumble as I made my way downstairs. “Something smells good,” I said, as I entered the room.
Showered and dressed, Leo’s hair was still wet as he busied himself at the Aga. Otis sat to attention close by, ready to pounce should there be a spatula mishap. “Great timing,” Leo said, as he placed the last of his pancakes onto the mountain he’d already made. “Breakfast is served.”
I poured us both a cup of freshly brewed coffee and carried them over to the table that Leo had laid in readiness, while he switched off the heat. Fetching our breakfast with him, Leo joined me and, as Otis took up position between us, I stared at the mound of fluffy deliciousness.
“Tuck in,” Leo said.
I didn’t need telling twice.
Picking up my knife and fork, I lifted three pancakes onto my plate. Smothering them in maple syrup, I sensed not just Otis’s eyes watching my every move, but Leo’s too. I paused. “What? Everyone knows breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
“You say that about every meal,” Leo said.
The man was right. But I’d always had a good appetite and thankfully for me, no matter the amount of food I put in my mouth I never gained any weight; I maintained a healthy size twelve. I closed my eyes and savoured the taste. “Perfect.”
Leo let out a laugh. “You saythatevery mealtime too.”
“Have you told your mum and dad yet?” I said. “About the wedding?”
Leo shook his head. “I’m planning to later.”
It would’ve have been nice to inform them in person, but with Grace and Bill living in Ireland that would’ve meant packing a suitcase and taking a road trip. Apparently, the two of them had always dreamed of living in a little Irish cottage by the ocean, so when, just before Leo and I met, they announced they were upping sticks and moving over, it came as no surprise to Leo or his brother. However, what did come as a surprise was the wreck Grace and Bill had bought. Apparently, Leo’s parents weren’t renowned for their DIY skills.
“You nervous about it?” I asked.
“Why would I be?”
“Because they might hate the idea. They haven’t even met me.” We’d been meaning to go over. But as Leo’s parents focused on settling into their new life and a mammoth house renovation, day-to-day living eventually got in the way for us too.
“Yes, they have,” Leo said, surprised I’d think otherwise.
I stared at the man. “A quick hello into a phone screen is hardly the same thing.” While Leo often video called his parents, I found joining in way too awkward and Leo had never pushed me on the matter. I’d say hi to them and that was that. A thought suddenly struck me. “What if your mum reacts like mine?”
Leo laughed. “My mother has her quirks, but I don’t think she’ll border on passing out.”
As I continued to eat, I told myself I was worrying over nothing. Just because Patricia Cavendish was a woman of extremes, that didn’t mean Grace was too. “So, what else was on the agenda for today?” I said, moving the conversation on.
Leo’s smile grew. “I thought we might start planning the wedding.”
Wondering why the haste, I stopped chewing. “She’s got to you, hasn’t she?”
“Who?”
I couldn’t believe he had to ask. “Who do you think?”
Leo chuckled, the image of Mum’s happiness-induced panic attack, no doubt, as imprinted on his brain as much as it was on mine.
“I dreamt about it last night,” I said.
“About what?”
“Getting married. I don’t know where we were. The background was a bit hazy. But it was an outdoor ceremony.”
