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“Oh, I sent her packing ages ago. I paid for her taxi home.” He hesitates, choosing his words carefully. “Listen Carly, I just wanted to apologise again for what happened last night. It was totally unacceptable and I honestly don’t know what came over me. But you can rest assured it won’t happen again. Your old dad isn’t going to do anything else embarrassing, I promise you.”
“Apology accepted. Hey, look at this…” I flash my engagement ring. His eyes widen.
“Is that what I think it is?”
I nod silently, eyes shining.
Dad throws his arms around me. “Oh my dear, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you. I’m assuming Nick’s the lucky guy?”
“Who else?”
“Great, just great. I couldn’t ask for a better son-in-law.”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?”
“Of course not. If you both feel the time is right, than why wait? Why put off to tomorrow what you can do today?” He hugs me again, and I sense that his delight is genuine. “No really my dear, this is the best news I’ve heard in ages. Let’s see the ring again.” I hold it up to him. He smiles and shakes his head. “That’s one killer stone. Nick has really outdone himself.”
I smile magnanimously. It feels so good to have my father’s approval.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Dinner
At twenty to eight the next evening, we arrive outside my mother’s large mock Tudor house on a pretty, tree-lined street near Purley train station. As Nick pulls over, he tells me and my father to go on up to the house while he fetches our bags from the trunk.
Taking my arm, Dad leads me up the drive toward the grand entrance door. I let out a long slow breath. My mother has really gone to town with the fake snow and Christmas lights, and for some strange reason, seeing it gives me butterflies. I don’t know what the night will bring, but I hope I’ve made the right decision bringing Nick here.
Dad rings the bell. Almost instantly, Mum appears on the doorstep wearing the snowman sweater I made for her last year and sparkling antlers on her head.
“Come in, come in,” she trills. “You must both be freezing.”
I stomp the snow off my boots. “How are you, Mum?”
“I’m fine. I’ve just put the potatoes in.”
“Oh, so that’s what smells so good,” Dad grins. “What’s on the menu tonight?”
“Only beef. Nothing too fancy.” She gives him a hug and pecks me on the cheek. Smiling, I present her with the bottle ofChâteau Begadan Cru Artisan Médoc Nick bought for her.
“Very, very nice,” she observes. “Your boyfriend obviously has expensive taste.”
I giggle coquettishly.
“Do I hear voices?” Michael appears from a side door and Dad goes through to the hall to greet him. I remain on the doorstep with Mum, waiting for Nick to return with the bags. As he crosses the street, he smiles and waves happily at us. For a brief second, a peculiar expression crosses my mother’s face; a mixture of excitement and unease. Then she wipes it away with a smile and waves back to him.
“Is that Nick?” she says through gritted teeth.
“Yes, that’s him.”
As he gets closer, her gaze slips over his body, devouring every piece of him with hungry eyes. The sexual attraction is instant, and I find myself mesmerised by the awfulness of the unfolding debacle.
Oh no. This is not good.
“Hello Katherine, it’s so lovely to finally meet you.” Nick offers her his hand and she shakes it stiffly. She keeps patting her hair and licking her lips, her eyes transfixed by the scar on his face. She’s like putty in his hands.
“Carly’s told me so much about you,” he continues.
“That’s odd,” she says. “I’ve heard very little about you. Until yesterday, I didn’t even know you existed. But I’m sure we’ll redress the balance tonight.”
