“We agreed never to do that.” His voice softened. “We agreed that we were always going to share what we were feeling.”
She hesitated.
“I keep thinking of the expression on your mother’s face when Becky announced that she was in love with Will.”
“You mean the shock?”
“No,” she said quietly. “Not that.” The moment was imprinted on her brain.
“What then? I didn’t notice anything. But I was probably too busy gaping at Rosie and wondering what was going on.”
Hayley put her drink down on the nearest table. “She looked as if all her dreams had come true. She was thrilled. Her expression was pure joy.”
“That isn’t so surprising. My parents and Will’s parents have been friends since before they had kids. They went to antenatal classes together. Dad delivered Will when he was born because the weather was terrible and they couldn’t get to the hospital. My mother loves Will like a son.”
Hayley nodded. She knew she shouldn’t care so much, but she couldn’t help it. “I’m sure that’s it. It’s great to see them happy.”
He frowned. “Why is my mother’s response to Becky’s announcement making you look as if your dog died?”
Should she tell him? Yes, maybe she should.
“Because she didn’t look like that when you told her we were married.” The moment the words left her mouth she regretted them. “Forget it. I know I’m being oversensitive.” She knew she was hardwired to expect rejection and she tried hard to fight against that.
“I think you’ve got it wrong. She was pleased.” He took her hand. “She said all the right things.”
“Yes, she did.”
“But?”
She hesitated. “But I don’t think she meant them. She was making a supreme effort, for your sake and because she’s a kind person. She said what she knew needed to be said because she loves you and the fact that we’re married is a donedeal. But was she happy about it? Did she look as if her dreams had come true? No.” And it added to her growing admiration for his mother. To be warm and welcoming while also feeling hurt took immense strength of character.
“Hayley—”
“We should have told them, Jamie.” She looked up at him, wishing they could wind back time. “Instead of springing it on them. We should have told them right after we got married, or even before. And then they would have had a chance to get used to the idea. And maybe they wouldn’t have loved it or been thrilled, because they don’t know me and I’m sure they would have wanted to be there with you—I get that—but they wouldn’t have been as shocked. I want them to accept me, and I think by not telling them in advance we’ve made that harder.”
Jamie listened then glanced at his mother, who was deep in conversation with Will’s mother.
“Honestly?” He turned back to look at her. “I wasn’t really thinking about my family. I was thinking about you.”
“Me?” The look in his eyes made her heart turn over.
“Yes. Getting married was about us. The two of us. I wanted to focus on that and looking at the way you are right now, I think I made the right decision.”
“Am I doing something wrong?”
“No,” he said quietly, “but you’re thinking of everyone but yourself. And that wasn’t what I wanted. We could have told them before we got married and maybe they would have been fine about it, but if they weren’t then you would have been worried, and I would have felt guilty. I wanted the day to be about us, and I didn’t want anything intruding on that. And we could have told them before we arrived yesterday, but again, that might have ended up being a stressful conversation.”
“What are you saying? That by surprising them with our news the way we did they were forced to be polite?”
“Not really. I’m saying that my family, much as I love them,have never been the priority here. This has always been about you. Us. Your needs come first for me. You come first.”
She was touched, but still she wondered if it would have been less stressful if they’d announced it before.
“I just hope one day your mother will be happy you married me.”
Jamie pulled her close and kissed her briefly. “She already is. Now come and meet Angela. She’s the woman standing by the fireplace.”
“Your college friend?”
