AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She glared at me, and I knew she was furious.
Then she smiled, coldly. “Fine. May I know if you intend marrying her?”
I paused. “We have not talked about marriage yet, no.”
She gave a curt nod. “And may I know the name of my grandchild’s mother?”
I didn’t want to tell her, but I couldn’t think of a reason not to.
I told her.
“Thank you,” she said. She didn’t speak another word to me all dinner long and started talking to the gentleman on her other side. As soon as she had finished dessert, she got up to leave, without saying goodbye to me. She took long and expansive farewells from everyone else at the table. I watched my mother in her glamorous gown make her way through the room and thought I should leave with her, ensure she got the car and made it home all right. But I couldn’t do it. The look on her face earlier that evening, filled me with dread. I didn’t want to be alone in a car with her.
I left soon afterwards as well. I didn’t want to call Lauren this late and the thought of going to my mother’s house was simply too much, so I decided to get a room for the night. I walked up to reception and asked if they had free rooms. They only had an expensive suite available, and I took it.
It was only for a few hours, but it meant a night of peace and quiet.
I would have paid any price for that.
Chapter 17
Lauren
Halfway through the afternoon, my phone rang.
Caller ID was withheld.
“Is this Lauren Lambert?”
The voice on the other end of the line was cultivated and unmistakably female.
“Yes?”
“This is Cynthia Waterstone. I was hoping you would join me for tea on Friday afternoon.”
Matthew’s mother.I felt myself grow cold. He’d told me about the gala dinner and how she had reacted to the news.
“I have to work.” It was the first thing that popped into my mind.
“What about Saturday morning then? Please, Lauren, I would really like to meet you.”
She sounded nice, like an older lady who just wanted to talk to me.
It was my baby’s grandmother. How could I say no?
But I was nervous all afternoon and the next morning I got up early, dressing conservatively in a high-necked blouse and a long skirt that was considerably tighter around my waistline.
“You look lovely,” said my mother, approvingly. “I would love to have a daughter-in-law looking like that.”
I gave her a look. “She doesn’t want me for a daughter-in-law.”
“How do you know that?” my mother smiled at me. Ever the optimist. Since she’d called Vic, on my advice, and found out he’d been in hospital with a kidney stone and therefore had been out of action for a few days, she was in a much better mood. The two of them were closer than ever and I could not remember when I had seen my mother so happy.
But I couldn’t relax.
I was a few minutes early for our meeting and when the waiter took me to the table, I saw with a sinking heart that she was already there. Cynthia Waterstone rose as soon as she saw me, extending a long, cold hand that I had to shake.
“How do you do,” she murmured, and I gave a quick smile.
