Page 26 of Keeping You

“It’s so nice to see you, Hannah. I’m glad you could make it.”

I smile at him. “I wouldn’t miss it.” Which is true, if only to avoid the wrath of my mother.

Richard’s eyes dart over my shoulder, and I shuffle from foot to foot and clear my throat. “Richard, this is my husband, Grayson Maxwell. Grayson, this is my mother’s husband, Richard.”

Richard doesn’t look shocked, so my mother must have told him.

Grayson holds his hand out and they shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Rivers.”

“Please call me Richard. We’re family, after all.”

Grayson nods, and his hand comes to the small of my back. It’s a delicate touch, but it’s one that lets me know he’s here for me.

We follow Richard into the living room, where I see my mother entertaining her friends. She’s deep in conversation, butwhen she spots me, she stops and her show smile spreads across her face. I hate that smile.

“Oh, my darling, you’re here,” she says as she wraps her arms delicately around me.

“Yes, happy birthday, Mom,” I say when she releases me. I hand her the bouquet before grabbing the small, wrapped gift out of my purse and handing it to her. “For you.”

Grayson hands her the bottle of wine, and her smile grows.

“Oh, how thoughtful of you. Thank you, Grayson.”

The smile Grayson gives her is one I’ve never seen before. His eyes don’t crinkle or light up the way they usually do when he smiles. He’s putting on a show. “Oh, the wine isn’t from me, it’s from Hannah. I just carried it for her. I needed her to have a free hand so I could hold it.” Oh, he’s smooth.

“Well, anyway, thank you.”

Of course, my mother thanks my husband for the items I brought her and not me. Why should I have thought anything else would happen?

She excuses herself to the kitchen and then returns with the flowers in a vase and places them in the centre of the coffee table. She leans over to her friend and says, “Just look at these beautiful flowers my son-in-law brought me. Aren’t they gorgeous?”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I feel Grayson move in front of me. When I open my eyes, his fingers come under my chin and tips my head back so I look him in the eyes. He’s checking in on me. His eyes slowly move over my face, taking in every centimetre of it.

I’m okay,I mouth, and after a second, he nods.

We make our way to the corner of the room where food is set up. We each make a plate before moving to mingle. I find the one friend of my mother’s I actually kind of like and join her.

Melody is in her late fifties with pure silver hair. She never dyed it when she started going grey, and she looks stunning. Her hair is pulled back in an elegant bun that sits at the base of her head. Her knee-length plum dress looks amazing on her.

“Oh, Hannah, dear. How are you?” she asks as she wraps me in a hug.

“I’m good, Melody. How are you?”

She waves a hand in front of her. “I’m splendid. Your mother told me you got married recently. You have to tell me all about it.”

I stiffen. I hadn’t planned on saying much to anyone, just that I got married and introduce them to Grayson.

“There’s not much to tell,” Grayson says as he looks down at me. “It was one of those when you know, you know moments, and we just couldn’t give up the opportunity.” The way he says it is like he believes those words.

I give my head a slight shake before smiling back at him then looking at Melody. “We saw the opportunity and jumped head first,” I say.

Melody’s hand comes to her chest. “Oh, that’s so lovely, dear. It was that way with my dear Patrick. We met and married in two weeks, if you can believe it. Married now nearly forty years.”

My chest aches. That’s the kind of love I want. The love you know in your gut is right and will last through everything life throws at you and is still there forty years down the line. I hold my smile in place, trying to push aside the ache.

Grayson’s arm wraps around me and pulls me into his side. I don’t resist.

“You two just look absolutely lovely together. I’m so happy you found someone who makes you happy, dear. You deserve all that life has to offer.” Melody grabs my arm and squeezes before she’s whisked away by another friend.

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