Page 35 of Amazing Grace

‘Oh, erm, how about Tuesday evening, around five. Would that be OK for you?’

‘That’s definitely good for me. Perfect, in fact. Thanks, Grace, I’d really like that. I can’t wait to meet him. I hope he likes me!’

Grace smiled, hoping that Archie and Vinnie got on too. They chatted for a few more minutes before it was time to get Archie out of the bath. He said he wanted to go into his bedroom as he had some ‘private stuff’ to do, so she left him for fifteen minutes before calling him down for dinner. When she asked him what he’d been doing, he said ‘nothing much’. She was well aware that as Archie was growing up, he needed a little private time. She’d had to get used to the fact that he needed space. She hoped that through his teen years they’d still have the fabulous relationship that they’d always had and that he wouldn’t withdraw from her.

After dinner, they finished Archie’s reading sat on his bed, snuggling up. Grace’s mind kept wandering off to the text message that she’d seen. Was it something to be worried about? Was it too early to be introducing Archie to Vinnie? Oh God! She really hoped she was doing the right thing.

* * *

Tuesday came round and Grace felt on edge all day. She was so nervous about the two very important men in her life meeting each other. Archie raced upstairs when they got home from the school run, shutting himself in his room. When the doorbell rang at five, she walked towards the front door, yelling at Archie to come downstairs. He stood halfway down the stairs apprehensively and as she turned to look at him before she opened the door, she noticed that he was no longer wearing his school trousers and polo shirt but had changed into a shirt and tie. She smiled as she let Vinnie in.

‘Hi, Grace,’ he said breezily as he kissed her on the cheek, and she stood back to let him inside the hallway.

‘And you must be Archie,’ he said, leaning up towards him, holding out his hand. ‘I’ve heard so much about you from your mum.’

Archie looked him up and down before shaking his hand as firmly as a ten-year-old can. ‘I am. And I’m the man of the house.’ Grace’s mouth twitched as she tried not to smile. ‘So, you must be Vinnie…’ he said in a voice that was much gruffer and deeper than his normal voice.

‘That’s right, I am,’ Vinnie said as Becks ran up to him and gave a little bark as if to say hello.

‘I’ve brought you a little something, Archie. I hope that’s OK,’ Vinnie said, handing him a carrier bag.

‘Oh!’ said Archie as he peered into the bag. His deep big man’s voice was soon forgotten as he squealed with joy. ‘Oh wow! Mum, look! It’s FIFA 18 for the Xbox! I’ve wanted this for ages. That’s awesome. Did Mum tell you? Thanks so much, Vinnie.’

Vinnie and Archie high-fived each other. ‘I don’t know how it works though, do you?’ Archie asked.

‘I do, I play it all the time, and yes, your Mum told me you are an Xbox addict and had some of the older FIFA games when she saw my Xbox at my house,’ Vinnie replied.

‘Really? You do? Mum, could Vinnie come up to my room and show me how to work it?’ he asked.

‘Erm, does Vinnie mind?’ Grace asked.

‘I’d love to, mate!’

‘Fab, come on then, follow me!’

Vinnie winked at Grace over his shoulder as they bounded up the stairs and she went into the kitchen and flicked the switch on the kettle. She didn’t know whether she needed a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Her nerves were in tatters.

Whoops of joy and lots of laughter could be heard from upstairs as she made a cup of tea, but as she walked up the stairs with the drinks, the room went quiet and she heard Archie say to Vinnie, ‘I hope you don’t mind but I’ve made a list of some questions that I’d like to ask you. Would that be OK?’

‘Sure it would, mate, fire away.’

Grace tiptoed closer and peeked round the door.

Archie grabbed a piece of paper from under his bed. This must have been what he was doing the night before when he told Grace he had ‘private stuff’ to do.

‘How old are you?’ Archie asked.

‘Thirty-five,’ Vinnie replied.

‘Ever been married?’

‘Nope, have you?’

Archie giggled. ‘No. There is a girl at school who I quite like, but I’m not sure I’d like to marry her.’

‘Ah, well perhaps you need to get to know each other. You never know what the future holds, do you, mate? Is she pretty?’

‘She’s very pretty and she wears glasses so she’sveryclever too.’

---