“Of course, we can have lunch. Tell me, darling, will I hear about your engagement from someone else as well or will you show me the respect of giving me that news yourself?”
Alfie didn’t answer, just glared between us, confused.
“What a lovely ring.” She reached for my hand, pulling me towards her. I could feel Alfie staring a hole into the side of myhead but I didn’t dare look at him. Of all the days to try on that damned ring, why did I have to choose today? “My son does have excellent taste. In most things, at any rate.”
Not in me, she was trying to say.
“What a pleasure it’s going to be getting to know you better. Perhaps you and I could have lunch sometime too, if you can find the rest of your clothes.” She tinkled a laugh that had no humour in it. She turned my hand and I knew she’d spotted the red marks on my wrist. A fresh wave of embarrassment washed over me as she smirked and gave Alfie a look. I waited for him to say anything but he just stood there, frozen.
“Walk me out, will you, darling?” She took his arm, Alfie stiffened but allowed it.
I released him so he could go with her, though I desperately wanted to snatch him back. I stood awkwardly, unsure whether to sit or stand as I waited for Alfie to come back and lay into me for exposing our engagement.
My hands were shaking. I’d just met Carolyn Tell. She’d been everything I thought she would be. She was Alfie before I’d warmed him.
What did she want? She’d seemed surprised by my presence so she obviously hadn’t come here to meet me. Or maybe she just hadn’t expected Alfie and I to be anything more than a rumour.
Alfie returned, a dark look painted on his face.
“Alfie, I’m sorry,” I said immediately. “I’m sorry about the ring. I just wanted to try it on and then I heard voices and I came to see and I forgot I was wearing it and…I’m sorry.”
To my surprise, he pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms tight around his neck. I knew how many awful memories seeing his mother must have stirred up for him. We stood that way for a while until he started to relax. He blew out a long puff of air.
“You do pick your moments, Lo.” He pressed his lips to mine, his kiss telling me his anger was already fading. “This isn’t how I wanted to see it on your hand for the first time.”
“I can take it off? We’ll have a do-over.”
“Don’t you dare.” He kissed my hand. “Am I allowed to get my hopes up finally?”
I took a deep breath of my own. It seemed so wrong to take it off now. I nodded my head. It was time. “Yes, you can get your hopes up. Though, I’m not wearing it at work, I’ll lose it in the dirt. I’ll tell Keira and Natalie this week. I don’t know when but I’ll do it.”
A wide smile spread across his face. “If I’d known tying you up would get a yes out of you I would have done it sooner.”
I gave him a playful shove but he was already kissing me again, lifting me up into his arms, one hand slipping under my shirt to cup my bottom. I basked in the moment but we had to come back to reality sometime. We couldn’t ignore his mother’s visit forever.
“So what did she say when you walked her out?” I asked when he finally broke our kiss. “She thinks I’m not good enough for you?”
“Without a doubt, but that’s not what she said. She claimed to be upset that I hadn't introduced you before now.”
“Why? She’s never given a crap about your life before.” He flinched and I immediately felt guilty. “Sorry. That was mean.”
“It’s true. I suppose she’s worried that you’ll steal our fortune away.” His voice was filled with irony. His mother hadn’t cared that her husband and eldest son had spent years abusing Alfie, but potentially losing her wealth was something to get worked up over. It made me sick.
Alfie sighed, seeming annoyed. “My mother wasn’t a can of worms I wanted to open today, not when I won’t be seeing you for another five days.” He shook his head as if he was shaking allthoughts of her away for now. “How are you? Your mouth is still swollen.”
“I’m a little sore but otherwise fine. Do you have to work today or can I have you to myself?” I decided to follow his lead and forget about his mother for now.
“It depends what plans you have for me.”
“I want to watch cartoons and eat ice cream with you.”
Alfie arched his scarred brow at me. “That’s it? Cartoons and ice cream?”
“I remember you being particularly skilled with an ice cream spoon.” I flushed at the memory of him pressing an ice-cream-cold spoon over a certain sensitive part of my anatomy.
“I have some work to do but yes. We can – what did you call it once – Veg?”
I laughed at how awkward the word sounded in his mouth. “Yep, we’ll veg. You go and finish your work while I eat breakfast and then come find me. I’m going to put you to a different kind of work.”
