Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
I couldn’t think of anything I wanted to do less.
“Let’s,” I replied, taking her hand in mine.
She looked at our clasped hands.
“What? I’m about to introduce you as my girlfriend, not the half-stranger you actually are.”
Grace sighed. “I’m regretting this already.”
“I regretted it the moment you suggested it.”
“So did I. I was merely being polite.”
I laughed and tugged her along with me. Mum had her hand over her eyes like she was a sailor looking for land on the horizon, and I knew she was about to shout for us to hurry up before the dog got out.
“Oh, Charlie!” Mum yelled, right as a little white-and-brown blur darted past her and headed in our direction.
Charlie darted towards us and launched his tiny self at me. His front paws swatted at my legs as he panted excitedly, his fluffy tail wagging furiously.
Honestly. He could fuel a power station with the way that thing moved.
“Hello, Charlie,” I cooed, releasing Grace’s hand to bend down and love on my family dog. “Who’s a good boy?”
Grace fought back a laugh as Mum folded her arms in the distance. “Not him, by the looks of it.”
“Eh.” I looked over at Mum. She was glaring at me. “She’ll get over it. This is Charlie.”
“I think I should probably greet your mum before the dog,” Grace said slowly.
“Yeah, maybe.” I patted my thigh. “C’mon, Charlie. C’mon. Hi, Mum,” I said when I reached her.
“You knew I didn’t want him out,” Mum said, raising her eyebrows at me.
She had this particular talent of making me feel about three inches tall.
This look was the precursor to that talent.
“I know, I’m sorry,” I replied contritely, leaning forwards and kissing her cheek. “Mum, this is my girlfriend, Grace.” That was weird. “Grace, this is my mum, Katie.”
Right.
Was I done here?
Charlie jumped at my legs again, and I shifted to the side to let Mum and Grace greet each other.
There was a hint of surprise in Mum’s voice when she said, “Girlfriend? Oh, it’s lovely to meet you, Grace.”
“You, too,” Grace said, almost uncertainly. “Should I call you Katie or would you prefer something else?”
I glanced up in time to see Mum smile so wide that the corners of her eyes crinkled. “Oh, Katie is fine,” she replied, clapping her hands together. “I would introduce you to my husband, but he’s not here.”
I frowned. “Where is Dad?”
“Your sister finagled him into getting one more suit fitting.” Mum was not amused if the dark flash in her eyes was anything to go by. “Like the previous four didn’t do the job.”
Grace pressed her lips together as if she were trying to hide a smile.
“Well, thank God I wasn’t here for that,” I said, flashing Grace a look. “She’s not looking for me, is she?”
“I have no idea what she’s doing. In all honesty, Will, I’m avoiding your sister like the plague,” Mum continued. “If I don’t, one of us isn’t making it to her wedding.”
“Let me guess. You brought her into this world, and you’ll take her out of it?”
“Exactly. I did, I can, and I bloody well will if she carries on.” She sighed. “No wonder your grandfather kicked her out.”
“It must be bad if you’re agreeing with Grandpa.”
“Get in there and wash your mouth out with soap.”
“I’m only pointing out the obvious, Mum.”
“Really?” she deadpanned. “I thought you were reading scripture.”
Grace pulled her scarf over the lower half of her face and coughed into it, but I was sure I’d heard a laugh in there somewhere.
I looked between them both. “I’ll, er, put the kettle on, shall I?”
“Yes, and take the dog with you, while you’re at it. Make sure you clean his paws. I don’t need to hear it from your grandma about him tracking mud across the rug.”
“Yes, Mum.” I looked at Grace. “Does that mean you two are going to talk about me?”
“Absolutely,” Grace replied without missing a beat.
Mum smiled. “I already have the baby pictures ready.”
Fantastic.
I sighed and looked at the dog. “Come on, Charlie. I know when we’re not wanted.”
CHAPTER NINE – GRACE
Shit, Shit, Shit, Shit
I knew William’s mum.
Well, I didn’t know her, per se, but I recognised her. And it was far more than a simple, “Oh, I’ve seen you before.” I recognised this woman. Like she’d been in my life at some point for a relevant period of time, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t know when, I didn’t know why, and I didn’t know what the fuck I was going to do now.
I didn’t even know if she recognised me. If she did, would she know how we met? Why I knew her? Did I dare ask her?
No, I didn’t.
This threw a big frigging spanner in my plans. Surely Katie would tell William if she knew me from somewhere. That might not be the worst thing in the world, but then surely we’d have to come clean about our fake relationship, and I’d definitely have to come clean about who I really was.