Page 19 of Her Kensington
“It’s a self-contained flat. Danni lives down there.”
“What’s that face for?” I ask when I see him shy away a little.
“I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it,” he admits.
“As long as she doesn’t expect me to tuck her in every night and read her a bedtime story, I’m sure it’s fine,” I say with a laugh, although knowing his family is so close does have a fresh wave of nerves running through me. It’s too easy to imagine this lavish home is just another holiday.
“I just know you’re nervous about meeting them.”
“I am, but I’m trying to tell myself that you’re right.”
“Good, because I’m always—” He doesn’t get to finish off his sentence because there’s a crash and a commotion at the front door before someone calls, “Welcome home.”
Harrison groans in frustration and my stomach drops. Shit, I’m meeting the family now.
Downing my wine in one, I just put the glass down as they appear in the doorway.
“There she is,” a lady who I can only assume is Harrison’s mom announces when her eyes land on me.
My heart pounds and my palms sweat. Fear that she’s about to ask me how old I am, or what I’m doing with her son engulfs me. My body trembles as I stay exactly where I am.
I soon realize that my panic is for nothing because the second she’s in reaching distance, her arms widen, and she pulls me into a hug.
“It’s so good to meet you. Harrison’s told us so much about you.”
Her words shock me. I know he came back home for whatever reason that I’m still to get to the bottom of, but I wasn’t expecting for him to have talked about me.
“Don’t look so surprised, sweetheart,” she says when she pulls back and looks into my eyes. “I knew the moment I saw him that he’d fallen in love, and a man in love is powerless to his mother’s questioning.” She winks at me and I instantly fall in love with her. Her English accent is so warm and friendly that I know we’re going to get along.
“You must be Summer,” a deep male voice says before he steps in front of his wife. “I’m Robert, and the woman molesting you here is my darling wife, June. Sorry about her,” he says with a cheeky wink, one I recognize from his youngest son.
Harrison
I panicthe moment I hear Mum’s voice ring out around me. Living in our little bubble has been so perfect. I’m not ready to get back to real life, and I’m also not ready for Summer to learn the truth. Just seeing the look on her face when we were out in the car had me already second-guessing if being here is what she really wants. I’m worried that when she finds out the truth she’s going to be running back to America quicker than I can catch her. I tried to reassure her, but I also don’t want to lie to her.
I stand and watch as Mum embraces her and I don’t miss the nod and smile of approval I get from my dad as he also watches them. As my marriage to Rebecca started nearing its final stages, it’s safe to say that any love my parents once had for her vanished fairly quickly. None of us expected her to change the way she did, not even her own parents.
I’m pulled from my thoughts as Mum steps up to me. “I’m so glad you got her, Harrison. She seems so sweet.”
“She is.” I can’t help the wide smile that splits my face as I look over to my beautiful wife. “Have you told her?” Mum whispers.
Dragging my eyes away from Summer, I look down into Mum’s loving face. “Oh, Harrison. You’re making a bigger deal out of this than needs be. That girl loves you. Anyone can see that. Hiding this from her is going to do you no favours.”
“I didn’t mean to keep it from her. I never expected this,” I say, nodding over to where she’s now being introduced to Danni.
“I know, but it’s happened and she’s here. You’re not going to be able to keep it secret forever.”
“I know; I just need to find the right time. Anyway, what happened to me bringing her to meet you when she was ready?”
“We figured she might never be. We decided to make the decision for you both and bite the bullet, just like you need to do.”
I wave Mum off and turn to get them all a drink before we head towards the living room, the lie I told in the car sitting heavy on me.
I’m just putting the glasses down on the coffee table when Mum spots something. “Harrison, what’s that on your finger?”
“Uh…” I stand and watch as she turns to Summer who’s sitting next to her and pulls her arm from its hiding place. Mum stares between the two of us and Summer’s finger. “Something you two need to tell us?” she asks, her eyes wide in surprise.
“We were in Vegas,” I say, hoping it might be enough of an excuse.
