I looked at him expectantly, trying to give the impression of being more interested in the joke than the look on his face, glowing with happiness.
I was also very fond of the way he was snuggled up under my arm, openly affectionate, leaning against me as though I’d been made for the purpose.
My heart was quite happy to be furniture for Andy.
“Lost,” Andy said, grin widening.
I blinked, and then chuckled as the joke hit me.
“All right, that onewasfunny,” I admitted.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, drawing my attention. Only Father and Andy had the local number, and Andy could hardly send me a text message while he was busy eating a biscuit with such pleasure that I planned to keep him in a constant supply of them when we went home.
Father:Are you heading back today?
Kit:we’re on the train now
Father:good, good. When you get home, once you've settled in, you and I need a word.
That was ominous.
Kit:something you can’t tell me over the phone?
Father:better if we talk in person. Give Andy my love.
Well, I supposed that was that. Couldn’t have been urgent if he was willing to wait until we got back, could it?
“Father sends his love,” I told Andy as I shoved my phone back into my pocket.
“What did he want?” Andy asked.
“Not entirely sure. Just checking to see that we were coming home, I think. And to let me know that he wanted a word.”
“Kit’s in trou-ble,” Andy singsonged, beaming at me upside-down, his head resting on my shoulder.
He reached up to pull me down for a kiss, mouth still coated in chocolate, humming happily as we broke apart.
“As long as I’m not in trouble withyou," I said. “Everyone else can go to hell.”
“We’re gonna be deep in it when we get back, aren’t we?” Andy asked. “With your mom, I mean.”
“I expect so, but she won’t be able to do anything about it with company.” I smiled, imagining how annoyed she’d be. Powerless to shout at me in front of her guests.
“My mom would’ve kicked my ass up and down the street in front of the whole neighborhood,” Andy said.
“I can’t imagine you ever doing anything to deserve it. I’m quite certain you were a perfect angel.”
“Not always,” Andy said. “And Mom never actually did that, but she wasn’t afraid to tell me what I did and how much shit I was in for it.”
“Ah, you see, your mother loved you very much. I can always hear it in the way you talk about her. Her desire for you to be the best person you could be was genuine.”
“Yeah,” Andy said, snuggling closer. “Wish you could’ve met her. Dad, too. You would’ve liked them, I think.”
“I’m certain of it,” I said. “But I know the best parts of them through what they gave to you. I know you have your mother’s eyes and your father’s smile, and I know that’s how he won her over, because anyone would do anything to see that smile on your face. I know they were good, kind people who taught you honesty and compassion and kindness. I expect your father had a wicked sense of humor, too.”
“He did,” Andy agreed. “He would’ve loved your dad.”
“Father would have adored him like he adores you. He willnevershut up about me marrying you, you know.”
“He’d probably shut up about it if you did,” Andy said, tilting his head back to look up at me.
Yes, and I’d very much like to someday,I didn’t say.
But I would very much have liked to, some day, I thought. I’d never known anyone who made me a fraction as happy as Andy did.
I distracted him with another kiss, smiling to myself as he made a low, satisfied sound, as though this was the greatest pleasure he’d ever known.
Stanley picked us up from the station again, chatting amicably to Andy about everything he’d seen in London and everything he ought to see on his next visit.
However, he utterly failed to communicate the pandemonium we were heading back to.
