Page 56 of Playing the Field
‘Pottering about in the garden with your dad.’ Tilda points out the window. ‘They’re debating whether to cut down that bloody awful tree. It might shelter you from your neighbours but it does block out all the sunlight. At the very least it needs a good trim.’
Ben frowns. ‘They’re not thinking of doing it themselves, are they?’
‘Of course they are. Your grandad won’t pay someone else to do something he thinks he can do himself for free.’
‘I’ll pay for it,’ Ben offers. ‘That’s got to be better than letting those two up a ladder with a chainsaw.’
‘I’ll let you talk to them. You know how stubborn your grandpa can be. Or even better, don’t talk to them. Just organise to have it done while they’re out at the pub one evening. Then I won’t have any hospital visits to contend with.’
We head out into the garden so Ben can introduce me.
‘Nice to meet you, Lily,’ Ben’s dad says, holding his hand out to shake mine.
‘I see Tilda’s got you on the bubbles already,’ his grandad observes. ‘You want to watch her; she’s a fiend. Has been all her life.’
‘That’s why you married me,’ she reminds him, and he laughs and tells her she’s right.
‘So how does it feel to be seventy, Nan?’ Ben asks as we make our way back inside. He explains to me that it was her birthday last week.
‘Don’t! When you say it out loud it sounds so ancient,’ she says. ‘I feel exactly the same as I did when I was thirty, give or take the odd creak. You never really get old anywhere other than in your bones.’
‘You don’t look seventy,’ I tell her. She’s slim, dressed in skinny jeans, a floral blouse and white pumps, and her white hair is cut into a chin-length bob the same as mine. She could easily pass for fifty.
‘You want to know the secret?’ she asks. ‘Never stop laughing. I’ve been with that idiot out there for half my lifetime and he still makes me chuckle every single day.’
I look at Ben and he fires me a grin. Laughing is definitely something we do well together. But his expression changes to mortification when his nan adds, ‘And good sex. You need plenty of that too. Makes you happy and keeps you fit.’
‘Lily doesn’t need to hear about your sex life, Nan,’ he says quickly. ‘Sorry,’ he mouths to me.
‘Fine, I was only saying. And I appreciated the compliment, thank you, Lily.’
She changes the subject then, much to Ben’s relief. ‘Ben tells me you’re something of a football fanatic, like him and his brother.’
I tell her how Crawford United came into being, how it’s been great having Ben’s input into the team and how things are about to step up a gear as our friendly match is now only two weeks away.
‘It all sounds very exciting,’ Tilda says, then she asks me if Ben has been putting as much effort into our relationship. She says the glamping trip sounded like a winner, but that our trip to Bruges next weekend would be more up her street.
‘Nan!’ Ben bursts out. ‘It was meant to be a surprise.’
Her free hand flies up to her mouth. ‘Oh God I’m sorry.’ She looks at the prosecco in her other hand. ‘Maybe I should listen to your grandpa and not start on this stuff so early. Can you pretend you didn’t hear that?’
‘It’s already forgotten,’ I assure her, but I think she can tell from the happy smile I direct at Ben that I’m delighted.
Bailey joins us and temporarily becomes the focus of Tilda’s scrutiny. And I swell with pride listening to him talk about how well organised Crawford United is already, how the bosses are doing a great job and how excited the players all are about the upcoming season.
‘And how’syourlove life?’ Tilda asks pointedly.
‘You know I don’t like talking about it,’ he says, which makes her roll her eyes.
‘Just tell me when I need to go hat shopping,’ she says, which is something of a surprise to me. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him mention a girlfriend, let alone suggest a wedding might be on the horizon. But maybe that’s what Ben was talking about yesterday when he said Bailey had a lot on his mind.
The conversation turns back to Crawford United over lunch, so Ben’s parents and grandad can hear about it too, but Tilda and Ben don’t seem to mind. And staying on the topic of football has the added advantage of keeping Tilda away from asking any further probing questions about anyone’s relationship.
Ben and I stay for coffees afterwards, and even though I’ve mostly been the centre of attention, I still feel like I’ve had a relaxing time. They couldn’t have made me feel more at home really, and I suddenly want Ben to feel the same way around my family. I’m sure Dad would make him feel just as welcome now Ben’s had the chance to show him what he’s really like. And Cassie’s been a lot less concerned about his intentions since I told her about him confessing his feelings round the firepit.
So on the way back to Ben’s place, I announce I’m ready to tell my dad about us.
‘Are you sure? Doesn’t he still think I’m a bit of a neanderthal?’ Ben asks.
