Jackson laughed. "So what was last night about?"
"You mean my midnight flit from your house?" We needed to discuss it. I needed to explain. "I'm used to fighting my own battles, Jackson. I've been doing it since I was eighteen and I left my dad and gran to go to university. I'm not used to being reliant on anyone and I worry it makes me weak."
There was silence and I wondered why he didn't respond.
"Where are we going?" I sought to change the subject.
He laughed softly. "Just outside a place called Waltham St Matthew's. It's where my father and step-mother live. In fact, I should warn you about the house."
"It's hugely big and opulent," I offered. "Remember I've done some research on your father and I might have checked."
"It's big," he said. "The house, that is, and you know the other thing's huge..." he gave me a sly glance so I knew exactly what he was referring to. I clenched my legs, feeling decidedly warm in between them. "It's not opulent. Marie likes being comfortable and given she's got seven kids and is anxious for grandchildren at some point, it's designed for living it. There's even a games room which is where Seph sometimes hides. Not a fancy one, it's more something a big kid would be envious of."
"I'm looking forward to seeing it," I said, putting my hand back over his. I was also looking forward to seeing the bedroom we'd be staying in. "Are they back from Toronto?"
He shook his head, slowing down to avoid a rabbit running across the lane. "No, I'll give you due warning before you meet them. They are back earlier than originally planned though, but we have the house to ourselves this weekend."
I wondered about meeting them. Obviously, I would do so in a professional capacity for the retirement ball, but I hadn't considered meeting them as anything other than part of Cole Henderson. Part of me thought it was far too soon to be meeting parents and that sort of thing, not that I was, but then another part wanted that and it felt strangely right. "Thank you for bringing me," I said. "What made you think to do so?"
"Marie's had some work done in the garden while they've been away and she wants me to take photos to send her. She's had some already sent when they'd finished the work, but she wants the warts and all pictures," he said, his eyes twinkling. "She asked all of us who was free and I thought it'd be a good chance to escape the London grime."
"Good move," I said as we turned off the main road. Fields filled with barley and rape painted both sides of the road, picture-perfect English countryside. "How long have your family lived here?"
"I grew up here. In fact, Payton and Seph were born here. That was terrifying," he said, sounding distant.
"Was it a planned home birth?"
"No. She went into labor early, about three weeks early I think. It was June and we were in the middle of this huge storm with high winds. A tree blew over and blocked the road completely so my dad had to become midwife and me and Max were the orderlies, fetching towels and the phone. He had instructions from an operator and kept his cool, although afterward he said it was the most nerve-wracking situation he'd ever been in." He went suddenly quiet and a look passed over his face that I didn't recognize. Although I was curious I didn't press. "We're here."
He turned off the road and up a tree-lined driveway that became landscaped as we approached the house. The house was double fronted with a series of attached buildings perpendicular to it. The driveway curved round and although the house looked big, it wasn't imposing.
"It's lovely," I said. "What a place to grow up."
He parked the car, grabbing our bags. "Where you grew up is just as lovely," he said. "Derbyshire's so different to around here; it's far more dramatic. I've only been a couple of times though."
"Maybe you should come with me one weekend. Visit the peaks. It's a good escape from London, although this place is amazing. My home was nothing like this," I said, picking up my handbag. I realized I'd pretty much just invited him home and mentally kicked myself.
We headed to the main door where Jackson put our bags down and dug around for keys. "To be fair, Van, most people don't grow up in places like this. Marie especially made sure that we knew we were lucky. Dad tried, but as it was similar to how he'd grown up he wasn't as in touch with what was 'normal' as Marie."
The door opened into a reception area, decorated in pastel blues and greys with a light wooden floor. A staircase headed upward to the left, carpeted in a thick grey carpet, the walls decorated with occasional artworks.
"Where do you want to start?" Jackson said. "Bedroom?" He raised his eyebrows and gave me a grin which made my legs feel boneless.
I smiled shyly, or a shyly as I could muster. "Is that just to put our bags away? Is my room next to yours?" I made my eyes grow wide and innocent.
He headed up, taking the bags, muttering something under his breath.
"Shall I follow?"
He stopped halfway up and looked down at me. "If you don't I'll come back down and carry you up," he said, eyes blazing.
I kicked off my shoes and followed him up, the carpet squishing between my toes. It felt new and plump and I wondered how it would feel against my back and the likelihood of burns.
"What was that sigh for?" Jackson said, opening one of the doors on the corridor upstairs.
"The carpet," I said, "It's amazing."
"Seriously? That little sex moan was over the carpet?" he paused at the door. "Do I need to get that carpet throughout my house?"
