“And it means we can hopefully avoid another soaking if the weather turns.”
He smiled at her reference to their last get together. “My thoughts exactly.”
It was a short drive to where his parents lived. The moment Peter brought the car to a stop outside their house, Gaby’s memories came rushing back.
The detached red brick house sat on a large plot on a pretty tree-lined street. Light spilled out from the generous windows and the driveway was crammed with parked cars, which probably meant Peter’s siblings were already here. The trees in the front garden were bare but Gaby could see how much they’d grown in the fifteen years since she’d last been here.
“It’s strange being back,” she said as Peter turned off the engine.
“We spent a lot of time here that summer,” he said, his voice warm.
“That’s an understatement. Your parents must’ve been sick of the sight of me.”
“Hardly. And they can’t wait to see you again now. Come on, let’s go in. I think we must be the last to arrive, because everyone else has already claimed the free spaces on the driveway.”
They got out of the car and walked to the front door. Peter was about to open it when Gaby reached out and caught his arm.
“Peter, listen, your parents know I’m only back in Hamblehurst visiting for a short time, don’t they?”
He looked confused. “Yes. You told them you were visiting your aunt when we ran into them the other night, remember? Why do you ask?”
“It’s just that… well, when I was last here at your parents’ house, you and I were a couple. I wouldn’t want them to get the wrong end of the stick and think that we’re, uh, back together.”
She cringed as she spoke and wished she hadn’t said anything because now she felt foolish.
Peter’s expression was mild. “They don’t think we’re back together, Gaby. They know we’re just catching up before you leave.”
“Okay, good.”
He smiled as if to reassure her, but without the usual dazzling brilliance she’d become used to. As he turned back towards the door, Gaby frowned at herself. Her clumsy question had made things awkward and ruined a nice moment and she hadn’t even walked through the door yet.
Worse, she’d made it seem as if the idea of the two of them being a couple was somehow embarrassing and unthinkable. That wasn’t what she’d meant at all.
But before she could scold herself any further for her tactless remark, they were walking inside the busy house and into the noise of the Bailey family gathering and Gaby was being greeted and hugged and welcomed like a long-lost friend.
And from that moment on, the entire evening turned into a wonderful blur.
Peter’s parents, Tommy and Kate, hugged her and thanked her for the wine and chocolates she’d brought and told her how thrilled they were to have her come to dinner. While Tommy took her coat, Peter’s sister Amber rushed into the hallway and let out a screech of delight and just about knocked Gaby off her feet as she threw her arms around her.
Gaby wasn’t sure which one of them was the most startled—Amber at the sight of Gaby or Gaby at the sight of Amber. The sweet ten-year-old girl she remembered had grown into a beautiful young woman. And when Amber’s husband Mikey appeared with their daughter Alicia and she saw the gorgeous family they made together, Gaby’s eyes filled with happy tears.
Gaby congratulated Amber on the amazing news about the new baby Peter had told her about and watched as Amber andMikey exchanged excited smiles as their little girl laughed and clapped her hands together.
But before Amber could respond, Tommy and Kate shooed Gaby into the expansive living room where Peter’s brothers and their family were gathered.
Cue another round of welcomes and greetings and hugs.
Gaby remembered Peter’s brother Shaun but had never met his oldest brother Brad because he’d spent that summer fifteen years ago working elsewhere. Both brothers gave her welcoming hugs before introducing their wives, Donna and Lauren, followed by a bewildering array of gorgeous and excitable children.
While the older kids quizzed Gaby about how she knew their Uncle Peter, the younger ones wanted to show her various toys or books and fire quick-round questions about whether she’d seen this movie or played that video game and if she’d help with their colouring-in.
Two beautiful golden retriever dogs ambled over to sniff Gaby and say hello before trotting off to rejoin the children.
Amid the conversation and the chaos and the catching-up, Gaby found herself with a glass of wine in hand and squeezed onto the sofa between Amber and Kate as they asked about her aunt’s recovery and about her hospitality career and her various travels around the world followed by many more non-stop questions that left Gaby’s head spinning.
The welcome and the warmth of the Bailey family wrapped around her like a cosy blanket. The chatter of the multiple conversations and the kids who were playing together added chaos and fun. Watching everyone take it all in their stride reminded Gaby that this was routine life for Peter’s family. This was how they interacted and this was how they came together—in a whirlwind of noise and mayhem and love.
Peter stood across the room talking with his brothers. They made a handsome trio, standing there together looking tall and broad-shouldered and impeccably groomed. Shaun said something that had the three of them laughing and Gaby saw how they all lit up in the same way, how their laughter was filled with the same rich tones, how their eyes danced with the same sparkle of light and amusement.
