“I’m fine,” he replied and offered an easy smile—well, as easy as he could manage given the thoughts storming through his head. “I think I ate too much bread at dinner and it’s sending me into a carb coma.”
“Don’t pass out until you walk me home.”
“I can just about manage to last that long.”
She laughed and they turned off the lane onto the high street. They’d only taken a couple of steps when Peter heard his name being called from across the road. When he looked over, he saw his parents walking down the street from the opposite direction. They waved and checked for traffic before hurrying across to join them.
“Hello son, fancy meeting you here,” his father said with a grin as he clapped him on the shoulder.
“We’re out for our late evening stroll and were just about to swing back towards home when I saw you across the road,” said his mother, her warm gaze switching from Peter to Gaby with a questioning look on her face.
“Mum, Dad, I’m sure you both remember Gaby Leonard,” Peter said. “We knew each other years ago and she’s back herefor a couple of weeks visiting her aunt. Gaby, you probably remember my parents, Kate and Tommy.”
“Of course I remember,” Gaby said. “It’s great to see you both again.”
Warm hugs were exchanged along with fond greetings as the three of them got reacquainted.
“I can’t believe it’s been so long since we last saw you,” Kate said. “I remember you used to come to our house for dinner when you and Peter were dating. It seems like only yesterday.”
“What are you doing with yourself these days?” Tommy asked.
“I work in hotel and hospitality management,” Gaby said.
“That sounds wonderful,” Kate said. “And how is your aunt? I don’t think we ever met her, did we Tommy?”
“No, I don’t think we did,” Tommy said. “Do you come back to visit her often?”
“Actually, no,” Gaby said. “I travel a lot for work and Aunt Jill likes to come and see me either in London when I’m passing through or sometimes she flies out for a short break to wherever I’m working and that way she combines a little holiday with seeing me.”
“That’s a brilliant idea,” Tommy said. “But it must be nice for you to come and see her at home for a change. Do you two have a lot of sightseeing planned while you’re here?”
“Not quite. Aunt Jill had an operation on her knee and I wanted to be here to help her over the worst of the recovery.”
“I’m sure she appreciates it,” Tommy said. “Give her our best wishes.”
“Yes, please do,” Kate said. “Is she on the mend?”
“She’s getting better every day. It’s a huge relief.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Kate said. “So, where are you working once you leave here? Do you have far to travel?”
“Actually, I just finished a contract working in a hotel in Madrid before I came here and afterwards I’m starting a new short-term job on a cruise ship for three months.”
“That sounds wonderful!” Kate said, immediately interested. “Where were you working in Madrid? Tommy and I are thinking of having a short break there next year and we’re looking at hotels right now and wondering which one to go for. Maybe you could give us some suggestions?”
“Kate, I’m sure the girl doesn’t want to stand here in the freezing cold giving us travel tips,” Tommy said, catching Peter’s eye with a look of apology. “And we’re interrupting these youngsters’ evening.”
“You’re quite right,” Kate said. “You should come to dinner at our house while you’re visiting, Gaby. I won’t take no for an answer. We have our big family get-together on Thursday. Come and join us.”
“Uh, I think Gaby might have better things to do than put up with our rowdy dinner chaos, Mum,” Peter said, keen to stop this in its tracks. He’d just been convincing himself that once he walked Gaby home, he wouldn’t see her again. His mother inviting Gaby to dinner was the equivalent of a grenade being lobbed into the middle of his self-preservation plan.
“I’m sure she can spare an evening to drop by and have dinner and tell us all about what she’d been up to since we last saw her,” Kate said, waving off his comments and turning back to Gaby. “So, shall we see you on Thursday?”
Gaby looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights. “Uh, that’s really kind Mrs Leonard, but I wouldn’t like to impose.”
“Nonsense, I invited you, didn’t I?” Kate said. “We’d love to chat more over a nice family meal instead of standing out here in the cold. Peter will drive you to our house, won’t you Peter?”
His mother’s pointed stare made it clear that she expected him to be on board with the dinner invitation.
