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JULIAN
During the drive, Meghan peppers me with questions about my mother and my time growing up.
“Are we almost there?” She fidgets in her seat, her head swiveling as she takes in the scenery around us as it changes from the city-like skyline to the rural countryside I grew up in.
“There’s nothing for you to be nervous about, little one. My mum is going to love you.” I reach over and grab her hand, giving it a light squeeze. “We should arrive in about fifteen minutes. My mum doesn’t live too far outside the city.”
Meghan bites her bottom lip, bringing a growl from my lips.
“You’d better let that lip go right this minute. Otherwise, I’ll pull off the road and have my way with you.”
With a giggle, she releases her lip. “Sorry.”
“That’s better. Now, relax. Everything will be fine. My mum will probably have made her famous lamb stew for dinner, but we’ve had such a long day of travel, we can excuse ourselves to bed early. Not that I plan on letting you go directly to sleep.”
Meghan grins with approval before turning back to the window. It only takes us another few minutes before we pull down the winding drive toward my mother’s cottage.
“Julian, it’s beautiful!” Her nose is pushed up against the window as she takes in the lush scenery.
“You should see it when the sun is high. There is an apple orchard just a little to the south of here. I’ll take you into the village for apple cider if you’re good.”
The house is just as I remember it, not that I’ve been gone for long. Surrounded by nothing but greenery, the all-brick, one-story cottage has been my home all my life. There’s a small patio on the side of the house with a table and chairs and double sets of French doors that lead into the main living area. Smoke billows from the chimney, which means my mum has lit a fire in anticipation of our arrival.
I park the car in the drive and turn to Meghan, whose eyes are as big as saucers.
“What’s that look for, little one?”
“How did you even fit in there?”
I let out a boisterous laugh. “I wasn’t always this big. Besides, it goes back quite a way into the forest. The front is mainly the family room, kitchen and dining room.”
I press a gentle kiss to her forehead before opening the car door to get our bags. The moment I step out, I hear the warble of my mother’s voice.
“There’s my precious boy. Hurry and get your arse in here. I had to beg you to come home. Now you’re makin’ me wait on you.”
Meghan’s laughter catches the attention of my mother, who gives her a once over.
“Let me get a good look at you.”
She heads right toward Meghan, reaching out to give her a motherly hug. The two of them look thick as thieves as they melt into each other’s arms.
“Thank you for inviting me into your home, Mrs. Armstrong.”
“None of that Mrs. Armstrong nonsense. Call me Sara. Or better yet, call me Mum.”
I roll my eyes because I was afraid of this. Mum’s been pestering me about settling down since the moment I left university.
“Now, let me get you inside. Apparently my son forgot his manners.”
After getting the evil eye from her, I follow the two of them inside.
“You must be starved! I’ll fix you a bite to eat, sweetheart. You’re damn near skin and bones.” Mum clicks her tongue at me. “Go take those bags to the cottage in the back. You need to light the fire as well.”
Before heading to the cottage, I leave a lingering kiss on Meghan’s cheek.
“Behave yourself,” I whisper.
“I make no promises.”
