Page 108 of Sparking Sara

He shrugs. “We do. But we were always so busy.”

His dad hugs me as well. “Sara, we’re so happy to finally meet you.”

“May I see the ring?” his mom asks.

I raise my hand. She studies it and then her eyes tear up. “I never thought it would happen to my Ollie.”

She hooks her elbow with mine and talks to me all the way to the car. “I do hope you’ll let me help you plan the wedding. Will you have it in New York or London? Are you thinking a spring wedding?”

“Mum,” Oliver chides her from the front seat of the car.

“Uh … I’m still getting used to things, Mrs. Compton. We’re not really making plans yet.”

I don’t tell her that Oliver and I haven’t even consummated our engagement. I don’t tell her that although we share a bed, we do little more than kiss and cuddle.

“Please call me Enid. Or, if you prefer, Mum.”

“I … I don’t think—”

A hand comes up to cover her mouth. “Oh, dear. You lost your mother. Of course you don’t want to call me Mum. Can you forgive me for being such a daft cow?”

“It’s fine, Enid.”

She grabs my hand and gives me a sympathetic, motherly smile.

I gaze out the window as the three of them have a conversation. I recognize landmarks that are in my paintings. Paintings I don’t remember creating. When we approach the London Bridge, I stare at it, knowing I must have spent time there as it was the focal point in the painting I was told I did for a New York socialite a few years ago. The bridge is amazing. How can I look at something so incredible and not remember being here?

“Can we go there, Ollie?” I say as we pass.

He turns and smiles at me from the front. “We can go anywhere you fancy. I will have to work a bit while we’re here, but there should be plenty of time to go sightseeing.”

“And while he’s working, I’ll take you wherever you want to go, luv,” Enid says.

As we drive through the city, I can understand why Oliver said I liked it so much. Who wouldn’t?

My phone vibrates with a text. I look at it and see Denver’s name.

Denver: Please let me know when you arrive safely.

Denver: And Sara, I’m sorry about this past week. I was being an immature jerk. Your friendship means a lot to me.

Denver: Kokomo says to tell you he misses you but that he likes hanging out with me.

“You have such a lovely smile,” Enid says.

“Ma’am?” I look up from the phone.

“Your smile. It’s lovely. Just now, when you were looking at your phone your face broke into the most brilliant smile.”

I look guiltily into the front seat. Then I say, “I just heard from a friend.”

“We’re here,” his father announces.

A girl comes running out of the house and through the front gate, flinging herself into Oliver’s arms as soon as he exits the car. I recognize her from a picture. She’s Oliver’s sister, Octavia. She’s almost twenty years younger than Oliver. He told me she was an accident but that she’s the light of their parents’ lives.

“Ollie! I wanted to come, but Mum and Dad wouldn’t let me ditch school.”

“Hey, sis.” He twirls her in his arms and then sets her down next to me. “This is Sara.”

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