After the performance they headed for a nearby brasserie where Rory successfully managed to win over both Gus and Ginny with his charming repartee and courteous manners.
‘After you,’ said Rory, holding the door open as they made their way inside. Having been shown to their table he then helped Annie into her chair, pulling it out and supporting her elbow as she lowered herself down.
‘What charming manners you have, Rory!’ said Ginny. ‘You must have been brought up very well! I do love a bit of old-fashioned chivalry.’
‘There’s not much of that around these days!’ agreed Annie, patting Rory’s hand in thanks as she settled into her chair.
‘Speaking of bringing up children well, I must compliment you in return! I can’t think of a lovelier person than our Lucy here,’ he said, dropping a kiss on her head and ruffling her hair as he sat down.
‘That’s got nothing to do with them, I can assure you!’ laughed Lucy. ‘When you meet Ollie you’ll soon realize that!’
‘Oy!’ said Ginny in mock offence. ‘It is entirely down to us, thank you.’
‘Of course, Mum… I’m only joking!’ said Lucy. ‘Now what’s everyone having?’ she asked as she opened her menu. ‘Starters or just mains?’
‘I’m starving,’ said Gus. ‘Let’s have starters and mains, the whole shebang! After all we are celebrating!’
Later, having consumed what felt like enough French food to feed a small army, Lucy realized it might be time to make a move when she noticed Annie start to go slightly cross-eyed.
‘Right, Mum, I think we’d best be off,’ said Lucy, nodding in her grandmother’s direction.
‘Darling! But we’re having so much fun!’ slurred Annie, more than a little tipsy after sinking most of a bottle of white.
‘A little too much fun perhaps!’ laughed Lucy.
‘Impossible!’ declared Rory.
‘Will you drop Mum at the studio on your way?’ asked Ginny.
‘Of course,’ said Lucy. ‘Where are you staying again? Do you want us to drop you off en route too?’
‘I’m treating your mother to a night at that fancy hotel down the road,’ said Gus.
‘Ooh la la!’ trilled Annie.
‘It’s walking distance, so don’t worry about us,’ said Ginny.
Rory and Lucy set off in a taxi, taking Annie with them to drop her off on the way home. They left Gus and Ginny to have a nightcap in peace to continue the birthday celebrations. Annie was singing the phantom’s theme tune all the way home, making them (and the taxi driver) chuckle as she warbled her way to the top notes, the wine she had consumed at dinner helping her soprano voice reach new heights. It was raining again, so Rory escorted Annie inside her studio, holding his huge umbrella over her head, leaving Lucy to wait in the warmth and comfort of the taxi. Rory unlocked the front door for Annie, returning to the taxi only when he was sure that she was safely inside and settling herself in to her bedtime routine. He was so kind and patient with Annie and both of her parents, Lucy just couldn’t ask for anything more. He was a true gentleman. She was counting down the days until their trip to Dublin, where she would finally get to meet the rest of the McCullan clan.
Irritatingly, Lucy began feeling a little out of sorts towards the end of the following week. She had packed her running kit on Friday morning, determined to run home before another weekend cosily settling in front of Rory’s fireplace, but had felt so tired and under the weather that she couldn’t face it.
Rory and Lucy had a quiet weekend at home, taking it easy to ensure a rapid recovery for Lucy. They had started watching the hit TV showBreaking Badon Ollie’s recommendation after a recent Skype call to Buenos Aires. The show was bizarrely compulsive viewing considering the fact that it was all about crystal meth drug dealers. Lucy and Rory became rapidly addicted, devouring each episode with a fearsome appetite, allowing themselves only intermittent breaks to cook and take Rufus out to the park.
Lucy’s lurgy continued throughout the next week. There were plenty of bugs going around the office, Lettie and Simon had both been suffering, so Lucy popped into Boots on her lunch break and bought a tube of Berocca, determined to nip any lurking germs in the bud.
On Saturday, they planned their trip to Ireland the following weekend.
‘I’ve booked us flights leaving from Gatwick on Friday straight after work,’ said Rory looking up from his laptop. ‘The neighbours have agreed to look after Rufus for the weekend.’
‘I’m so excited!’ said Lucy. ‘I’ve never even been to Ireland.’
‘You know this is our first proper holiday together?’ asked Rory as he got up to join her on the sofa where she was reading one of his old Ireland guidebooks.
‘I know, that’s partly why I can’t wait. But I’m justsoexcited about meeting your family!’
‘They can’t wait,’ said Rory, throwing his arm around her to pull her closer to him and kissing her on the forehead. ‘I kind of wish we were going for longer, we’re not going to have nearly enough time to do everything I would like.’
‘That’s okay… all the more reason for me to come again!’ said Lucy with a wink.
