"It's fine," I reply, but the truth is, I am ready to be anywhere but here.
Molly tugs on the leg of my trousers and without a word, I reach down and pick her up so she's resting on the opposite hip her mother is leaning on. She leans her little head against my chest and whispers, "I love you, Olly."
My eyes spring to Rachel, who is looking on in shock, and I can't hold back my smile. "I love you, too, kid," I reply, kissing the top of her head.
When I look back to Rachel, her eyes are glassy, but she smiles, and it’s one I've never seen directed at me—adoration. I grab her hand and squeeze, and then look to see where her mother is—she’s stopped right in front of Marcus.Great.
Chapter Forty-Four
RACHEL
Uncomfortable doesn’t even begin to describe this whole situation right now. Per usual, my mother is all about keeping up pretences. Marcus isn’t helping, either, and the more he behaves like this, the less tolerable he is.
I see my father and decide to steer us towards him, away from my mother. I have a feeling the three of them together is a recipe for disaster.
When he sees us approaching, he smiles at me, and it appears genuine. “There’s my girl,” he says, greeting me with a kiss on the cheek.
“Hi dad, this is Olly. Olly, this is my dad, Edmund.”
Olly holds out his hand, and to my relief, my dad reciprocates the gesture, eying Molly still secure to Olly’s hip.
“So, you’re the one my daughter is dating?”
Olly clears his throat and nods. “That would be correct.”
Dad’s eyes peruse Olly but in a more subtle way than my mother just did. “You have a few tattoos, I see.”
My cheeks heat and I’m about ready to step in when Olly answers, “I do. Let’s just say I have an appreciation for all kinds of art.”
“I have a scorpion,” Dad begins, and I almost choke. “Not the best decision I ever made, but we live and learn.” There’s a smile in his voice. And all the while, I’m still trying to process his admission to having a tattoo. “Oh, don’t look like that, Rachel. I toldyounever to get one—not that I didn’t have any.”
“Any—as in plural? Does that mean you have more than one?”
He taps the side of his nose and discreetly clears his throat. “Here comes the Wicked Witch,” he whispers under his breath, and now I think I’ve heard it all.
“There you all are,” Mum says in her annoying nasally manner as she joins us, Marcus glued to her side. “Edmund, what were you all gossiping about?” she asks, utterly ignoring Olly’s presence.
“Just speaking to Olly, here, about art,” he replies, giving me a wink. Who is this man, and what has he done with my father?
“Oh, well, we should go make the rounds, bid on a few items,” she says, reaching out for my father’s arm who obliges dutifully.
“Make sure you find me before you leave,” he says. I nod, still trying to process what just happened.
“Marcus, there you are.” A woman joins his side, running her hand up to his shoulder, claiming him. Have at him, love, been there, done that. “I was looking for you,” she says sultry, and I almost want to cover my daughter’s eyes at the way she’s pushing herself into him.
I clear my throat. “And on that note, Olly, shall we?” I reach for his hand.
“Oh, Rach, I can’t have Molly tonight,” Marcus says before I walk away.
“What?” I tense and squeeze Olly’s hand.
“Yeah, something’s come up,” he replies, winking at the woman glued to his side.
“And when you saycome up, you mean your latest piece of skirt?” I feel like a bitch referring to the woman that way, but I can’t seem to stop myself.
“Who do you think you’re talking to?” she says, moving towards me.
I shake my head and step into her space. “This isn’t personal, sweetheart, but before you go there, our daughter is right here, so be careful what you say next.”
