“You must be Leanne and Robert,” Helen said as she walked up to the table. She smiled broadly and put out her hand to her mom. She’d changed into a light summer dress, gray hair brushed, and Kate followed behind, wearing jeans and a loose summery transparent shirt.
“Oh, we’re practically family, a hug is in order.” Leanne got up and embraced Helen warmly.
“And you must be Kate.” Leanne gave an equally welcoming hug to Kate, who looked a little uncomfortable with the familiarity on display.
“Good to meet you both.” Robert held out his hand, but Helen taking the cue from Leanne, stepped around the table and hugged him. Zoe tried not to cringe, she’d never hugged Helen or Kate, they just didn’t come across as the type to greet each other like that, which was fine with her.
“We’re family, right?” Helen grinned. “So glad to finally meet you both.”
“What about some bubbles?” asked Leanne.
“Great idea,” said Kate. “Settle my nerves after driving in the city.”
“That bad?” asked Leanne.
“Yep.”
“Well, Robert can drop us off in the city and we can go shopping, and when we’re ready he’ll come pick us up.”
“I will?”
Leanne patted her husband on the arm. “Yes, you will, and we will all be so grateful.”
Robert rolled his eyes. “I need Max here, I’m feeling outnumbered.”
“That reminds me…” started Leanne.
Zoe felt a flip in her belly, one that was fully of foreboding.What the hell was her mom about to say?
“I just don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just say it as it is.” She took a deep breath. “We are concerned that Max isn’t there for Zoe.”
Her father nodded in agreement.
Zoe’s eyes widened, a sinking feeling rose from inside, and she looked between Helen and Leanne, the two women previously so friendly, now eying each other off as if they were about to charge each other.
“Where is a waiter?” asked Zoe, turning around while trying to diffuse the situation.
The waiter caught her eye and came over.
Zoe could feel the tension increasing at the table.
“Some bubbles, please.” She couldn’t drink alcohol, but she hoped that the champagne might change the vibe that was now consuming the table.
“My son is looking after Zoe just fine.” Helen’s words clipped sharply in the air.
“Where is he then?” shot back Leanne.
Bloody hell, Mom, don’t hold back. Zoe took a deep breath. They were going to need more than bubbles right now to settle this situation.
“Working on the farm. Making sure there’s a future for his child.”
“Surely, he could have taken one day off. Come down and meet us. All of us. Together. You know, this is just as important for his future, too.”
Oh God. Zoe’s mind went into overdrive trying to come up with a way to stop this argument.
“Sometimes that is just not possible,” Helen replied defensively.
“And when is it then? Will he manage to be there for the birth? Or will farm work get in the way again? I don’t like my daughter being unsupported.”
