“Hi Hettie, it's so good to meet you,” she giggles.
SHARI
“Have you always lived in Devon? I just assumed Brad went to a grammar school or something, but I notice none of you have a West Country accent,” I muse before I take another bite of the delicious roast potatoes. I swear, Grace must have cooked them in crack because, holy hell, they’re good.
“No, we're actually from Hampshire. Hettie and Brad were both born in Winchester and we lived there until Hettie finished school,” Grace replies. “Phil got a job offer we just couldn't refuse, didn't you, dear?”
Phil dabs his mouth with his napkin and rests his hand over his wife's on the table. “I did, indeed. Best decision we ever made, too.”
“Oh, what is it that you do?”
“I’m an aquatic vet at the National Marine Aquarium here in Plymouth,” he beams.
“Wow, that's incredible! I haven't been there before, we'll have to visit at some point. Wait, do you have dolphins? Can we meet them?” I ask, a little too excitedly.
Chuckling Phil says, “No, we don't have dolphins, but we do have snorkelling experiences and turtle feeding if either of those things interest you.”
“Oh definitely! Sign me up for both.”
“What about you, Shari? Are you from Bristol?” Hettie asks, leaning forward to see me better.
“No, I’m not from the U.K. at all, actually. I was born and raised in Malaysia.”
“Ah Malaysia! We went there on holiday once. Many years ago, before the kids were born. Where was it we went again, dear?” Phil turns to Grace.
“Oh, it was an island somewhere. Pen…Pengan? Pental?”
“Penang?” I offer.
“Yes! That’s it. We had two days in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and then just over a week in Penang. Gorgeous place, and the food was amazing!” Phil gushes. “How come you were born there, are your parents Malaysian?”
“My mother is. My father is Welsh-Australian, but he was working in K.L. and met my mum at a party. And the rest, as they say, is history!” I smile. “They still live in there, so I generally only see them once or twice a year, but we try to video call as often as we can.”
I'm surprised at how well this meeting is going, so far. Brad's parents have actually been really welcoming – or Phil has at least, Grace has been a bit more reserved – and his sister has been an absolute godsend. She's made me feel so accepted with her tight hug and general tactility. Plus, it's a relief that no one seems keen to bring up the elephant in the room. Yet.
“So, Shari, how did you meet my son? I'm assuming you're not in any classes together – unless you're the professor?” Grace raises an eyebrow with this, and I need the floor to open up and swallow me whole.Hello, elephant.
“Mum!” Brad's fork clinks against his plate as he stares at her in disbelief.
Grace waves him off like she didn't just set off palpitations in my chest. “Oh don'tMumme, it's a joke! But it's obvious you're...a bit older than my son. So, I'm just curious as to how you met, that's all!”
A strangled, forced laugh squeaks out from my lips, and I can only imagine my face looks like that Chrissy Teigen meme.
“Umm, well, we actually met at a festival. I was there with my friends and Brad was serving at the bar.”
He looks over at me and hooks his fingers around mine on the table. “I’d never seen anyone so beautiful, so I sought her out after the show finished, and here we are.”
“Here we are,” I repeat softly.
Grace hums, noncommittally, but Phil is smiling at our joined hands. Hettie seems to be staring at her mum in shock.
“Actually, there's something we wanted to tell you,” Brad clears his throat, still looking at me.
Oh god, this is it. I might throw up.
“We're, uh, we're expecting.”
“Beg your pardon?” Grace shakes her head, as if to clear her hearing. “Expecting what?”
