“Good, it will give me a chance tae meet them.” She shakes her head at me. “Ye dinnae want me tae meet yer family?”
“It’s not that. It’s just…” I can tell now when there is something Claire would rather not tell me but I need to know.
“Just whit, Claire?”
“It’s just that I still haven’t told them about you. Or about England,” she says, bending down to tie her shoes.
“Christ, Claire! Ye dinnae think they need tae know ye’re moving oot of the country with some man they’ve never met in a few weeks?” She flinches, so I take a deep breath before continuing in a calmer voice. “It’s good they’re coming then.”
“You say that now. You haven’t met them yet.”
* * *
Two weeks later, I finally have my chance to meet the people that sent Claire running to that library. She makes arrangements to meet them for dinner the evening they fly in. I don’t like the plan to spring me on them, but this is her show so I play along.
We arrive early to the restaurant but are shown to our table immediately. It’s only a fifteen minute wait until they arrive, but it feels like an eternity with Claire almost vibrating with anticipation next to me. Finally, she stands so I follow her line of vision across the room as what looks like a family of movie stars make their way across the restaurant.
“Claire!” I hear the older woman greet her when they get to our table. I stand quietly to wait for her to introduce me. She hesitates as they all turn to look at me. I think she may be having a panic attack.
“Alex Ross, Claire’s boyfriend,” I say, holding my hand out to what I guess to be her stepfather. They all grow silent as he reaches out to shake my hand. When he turns loose, I turn to the younger man to shake his hand. “Alex Ross,” I repeat. He accepts my hand before making a quick recovery.
“Aiden Lloyd. I’m sorry, you must think we’re uncouth. Claire didn’t mention she was seeing anyone.” He turns to Claire before continuing. “How long have you been seeing each other?”
Before she can answer, a vague version of Claire walks around the table at me. With a huge fake smile, she runs her hand down my chest. “Claire, where have you been hiding him? I’m Sienna. Have I seen you before?” She lets out a throaty laugh before laying her hand back on my arm.
“I never forget a face. Do you do any modeling? Maybe I saw you at a shoot, though I’m sure I would have remembered that.” She takes the seat next to me. I’m beginning to see why Claire avoids her. We all sink into our seats and I immediately put my arm around Claire, leaning away from her sister.
“So tell us about you, Alex,” her mother says, batting her eyes at me. I see Aiden lean forward, waiting for me to speak.
“I met Claire in November. We began dating in December over Christmas break,” I say.
“No wonder she didn’t want to come home for Christmas. You have a beautiful accent. Where are you from?” her mother asks.
“Yes, it’s very sexy. Isn’t it, Mother?”
“Sienna,” I hear Aiden growl a warning at her. I hate to tell him she’s been running her hand up and down my thigh since we sat down.
“Umm. I’m originally from Scotland but I’ve lived in California for aboot ten years.” Claire was right, this is going to be a nightmarishly long weekend.
“Ooh, do you live in Los Angeles? I’m there all the time on modeling jobs,” Sienna says brushing a breast against my arm. “I bet we met at a party somewhere. Am I right?”
“Yes, Sienna is becoming quite the sought-after model. Aiden is a surgeon, in case you didn’t know. He was voted one of the best in Oregon. His wife would be here but she just had their second child,” Claire’s mother gushes. I realize that they have yet to ask Claire anything.
“So Claire, when do we need to be on campus to get a good seat tomorrow?” At least Aiden seems to care about her. “I don’t want to miss seeing you get your degree.” He smiles at her. She opens her mouth to answer him, but her mother cuts her off.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine. It’s just a master’s. Now Alex, what did you say you do?” I have to grit my teeth to keep from grabbing up Claire and marching out of the restaurant.
“I play professional fitbaw or ye would call it soccer,” I answer before turning to Aiden. “I’m planning on taking Claire at noon then finding a seat. If ye’d like tae meet us for lunch at eleven, ye can help me save seats for everyone.”
“That sounds like a great idea. Mother, you can show up later that way instead of sitting so long,” he says with a nod.
We continue to visit as we finish our meal. It’s more like Sienna and her mother talk while we listen. I try several times to remove her hand from my thigh but she just gives me a fake, vapid smile before moving it back.
It is a huge relief when the meal is over with no mention of coming back to our place to visit. Aiden, to his credit, steers his parents toward the rental car with the promise of seeing us tomorrow. With one more hug from Sienna pressing her breast against me, I load Claire into the car.
“I’m so sorry, Alex,” Claire says, grabbing my hand. I laugh, watching as she visibly relaxes a little.
“Holy crap, Claire! I thought my family was crazy. I like Aiden though.”
