"Nice dodge, Callaghan. Don't be too harsh on Seph. The split with his girlfriend was really hard on him," she said. "It's really dashed his confidence."
I bit my tongue, knowing that Seph's ego could afford to take a hit. "Did he tell you about her when you had lunch the other day?" They'd met concerning the buyout of the business and combined it with a lunch that had lasted longer than necessary if all they'd been discussing had been work.
"Yes. He was still worried about everything and everyone and questioning himself over the breakup. I know Payton being back has helped massively, but he's still a boy in a man's body. I agree with you and Max, he and his girlfriend needed to finish and he's on the verge of understanding that, but even so, it's made him question himself," she said, explaining without giving anything away.
"Okay, I won't be too harsh about his driving, but I am going to say something. I'll try and be nice about it though," I mediated, wondering exactly how long my parents would give us to settle into our room before expecting us down for pre-dinner drinks. Vanessa had worn a fitted skirt that came mid-thigh, perfectly respectable but the inches of soft smooth skin was now driving me crazy and I wanted those thighs draped round me before I had to share her with my family for the evening.
"How about I speak to him about it and you listen?"
"You think he's that fragile?" I said, now worried.
She looked ahead as we turned into the side road that leads to my parents'. "Yes. He also idolizes you even more than Max and any criticism from you at the moment needs to be given carefully."
"Okay, but you need to tell me more about the split as I think I may've downplayed it and thought he was being dramatic." We pulled into the driveway, the sky overcast, threatening rain. A car I knew was Max's followed behind; containing a very grumpy Claire as Killian was also with Max as a family friend, and Amelie.
We parked and I opened the boot. Seph's car was already there, as was that of my parents' friends, Keith and Lydia, who were Ava's godparents. Vanessa jumped out and grabbed her bag before I could, causing me to glare. "If you don't let me carry that in, my dad will have something to say to me," I said, frowning.
"I'm perfectly okay carrying my own bag," she said.
"I'm aware of that. You could probably carry mine too. However, outside of the bedroom, I'm meant to treat you like a princess, please give me the chance to do that." I held out my hand, causing her to sigh and pass over the bag.
"Caveman," she said under her breath.
"You can't want me to be like that in bed and not anywhere else. I'm not some pansy-arsed metrosexual, Van, don't give me mixed signals," I said as the door opened and my dad and Marie stepped out, Seph and Payton behind them.
"Jackson!" Marie rushed over, holding out her arms and capturing me in a large hug. "You look well, far less tired than usual. Have you been sleeping better?"
It was a loaded question. The answer was yes, although I hadn't been getting more sleep, just better quality. And I had been working less, needing spare time for the woman who was watching me with my step-mum and smiling broadly. "Much better," I said. "This is Vanessa. I know you've spoken about dad's party. Vanessa, this is Marie."
Marie eyed Vanessa approvingly and smiled. "Jackson's girlfriend. I'm so pleased to meet you. You know, when Jackson was eight he told everyone he'd never have a girlfriend because girls were mushy and disgusting. I did worry for a while that growing up with Claire and Amelie had completely put him off ever having a relationship, so I'm doubly pleased to meet you. This is my husband and Jackson's father, Grant."
"It's good to meet you," Vanessa said, holding out her hand. My father surprised me by stepping closer and pecking her on her cheek. I raised my eyes at Max who had now parked up, his carload of people arguing about boot space and size of luggage, with Claire swearing violently at Killian and threatening to feed him to the cows in the nearby field. I heard Killian laughing and pointing out that cows didn't eat meat, which just infuriated Claire further, causing her to yell at Max for bringing him and storm into the house.
"It's good to know you're familiar with Jackson's siblings already and therefore this weekend won't scare you off," my dad said. "And I believe you were friends with Claire first, so you're clearly made of tough stuff."
Vanessa laughed. "I'm from the north: not much scares me. How is the winery?"
My dad winked at her. "Going ahead nicely. It will involve a rebrand and I'll need someone to do that and the marketing campaign to go with it. Fancy having a look this weekend?"
I groaned loudly. "Dad, we're here for a break. Van's worked hard enough this week. If you want to use her company, which you definitely do, schedule a proper meeting with her."
"It's fine, Ed, I'd love to find out more about it anyway. I like wine and this would interest me as a project. Are you looking at supplying over here? I know Canadian wines aren't sold widely in Britain so it would be good to look at tapping into the market," she said, completely ignoring me.
I shrugged and picked up our bags. "Let's put these in our room, Van, and then we can come back down and chat to Dad more than," I said, trying to interrupt my father who was now in full flow about the winery and his business plan. It would be successful, I knew, because my father had the Midas touch with business, especially since he had retired. He was also passionate about wine and speaking to a captive audience, which he now had with Vanessa. "Dad, let me get me and Vanessa settled and I'll let you have some time to chat."
He woke up from his monologue about grapes and ice wine. "Yes, of course. I'm sorry, Vanessa, it's just nice to chat with someone else, other than Marie, who is interested." He glared at me, the same expression I knew I used. "Unlike my children, who have no interest in a winery in Niagara at all and think their father is going a little senile by buying it."
"We don't at all, old man," I said. "I've seen your business plan; there's nothing to suggest senility in there. I'll listen to you later." I nudged Vanessa along.
"You'll only listen to me so you can check what I'm telling your lady," he said. "I know you, remember."
I shot a glare, which he laughed at, and made our way indoors and up the stairs, wanting to get at least half an hour on our own before we were subjected to the family en masse.
"You don't share well, do you?" she said as I closed the bedroom door behind us, putting our bags down near the wardrobe.
I shook my head. "This weekend will be busy. We won't get much time on our own and it feels like days since I last had you." I folded my arms and looked at her, not entirely sure how slow or gentle I could be right now. Coming home and bringing her with me and drawn out some strange feelings and needs I'd not yet understood.
"It was this morning, in the shower, Jackson. You took me from behind after you'dthoroughlywashed my breasts and between my legs. Then I needed to wash myself again after we'd finished," she said it so matter of factly, as if she hadn't yelled my name enough to wake the dead at the bottom of the Thames.
