The room falls silent again, the only sound the loud tick of the creepy old grandfather clock echoing from the entryway.
“Well,” Mum finally says, “I always thought you held a candle for her.”
“What?” I ask, genuinely surprised.
She nods. “I noticed the way you used to look at her.”
“No, I didn’t,” I say.
“You did, son,” Dad says.
Well, fuck. How was it so obvious to everybody except me?
“You’re not mad?” I ask.
Dad shoots me a lopsided grin. “Son, you’re twenty-nine years old. You’re an adult. Of course we aren’t mad at you. Surprised, sure.” He shrugs. “I can’t say the same for your brother, of course.”
I scrub a hand down my face and my shoulders sag with relief.
“Honey …” Mum leans forward, placing her mug gently on the coffee table. “All a loving parent ever wants is for their children to be happy. So, are you happy?”
I think of April and my heart swells. “Yeah. I am. She makes me happy.”
She gives me a small, understanding smile. “I know you and your brother don’t exactly see eye to eye,” she starts, lifting a hand to stop me before I can jump in, “and I don’t need to know the ins and outs of it all—that’s between you two. You’re grownmen now, and I can’t make you do anything. But I do care about April—deeply. And I’m not so daft as to think their break-up was only about ‘communication issues.’” She looks at me with a mix of sadness and knowing. “All I ask, James, is that you’re honest with him.”
I nod, understanding.
“Good,” she says, reaching for her mug.
“How did Lucas react when he found out?” Dad asks, his tone serious.
“He was livid,” I say.
Dad blows out a breath and shakes his head. “Give it time. He’ll come round.”
Jesus. There is so much I could say, but I bite back my words. I decided I wouldn’t share the truth behind my and Abigail’s break-up, and I’ll stick to my word. Instead, I force a smile and bite into a fresh piece of gingerbread.
“How is she?” Mum asks, her voice soft.
“She’s good. Really good, actually.”
“Is it serious, this thing between you and her?” she asks.
“Yeah, Mum. It’s serious.” The corner of her eyes crinkle as she smiles. She always had a soft spot for April. “I plan on bringing her here for Christmas … If you’re happy to have us both?”
Mum’s face lights up as she claps her hands together in excitement. “Oh, that would be wonderful!” She looks at Dad. “Wouldn’t it, Peter?”
Dad inhales deeply—wary—I can only assume because of Lucas’s impending reaction, before his shoulders droop. “It would be wonderful.” He clears his throat. “But perhaps we’ll break that news to your brother, yes?”
I couldn’t agree more. I can’t even imagine how awkward that would be. And, as much as I dislike him, I don’t want to rubit in his face. “I’d appreciate that, thank you,” I say, shooting him a grateful smile.
Mum looks between us, her excitement still bubbling. She stands, brushing down her trousers before walking over to me. Leaning close, she presses her cheek to mine, holding my shoulders with both hands. I cover one of her hands with my own as she says, “It’s about time you found someone who sees you as we do, James. You’re a brilliant man, and April is a delight. I’m pleased for you, love. I really am.”
We spend the next couple of hours chatting. Mum fills me in on her latest book club read, something a little more scandalous than the ladies in Toton are used to, apparently, and I can’t help but laugh, trying to picture her reading and discussing steamy romance novels. Good for her. She seems happy.
I fill them in on the songs we’ve selected for the audition and give them a rundown on how the day is expected to unfold.
I hug each of them as we say our goodbyes. Mum squeezes me, planting a firm kiss on my cheek and I laugh, lifting my hand to rub off the smudged lipstick. Just as I’m about to leave, Dad hurries into the kitchen and returns holding an unlabelled bottle of red wine.
