Page 18 of Maximum
“Good news as in you’re pregnant?” My dad looked hopeful.
“No, Dad. The good news that I have a boyfriend.”
“She means fiancé. I proposed earlier this month and I’m proud to say that Fleur accepted my proposal.”
Maximum played the part, and my parents were too engulfed in their own happiness to notice the tension from the lie on my face.
When the waiter brought our drinks, my parents cheered for our happiness.
“When is the wedding?” my mom asked.
“We haven’t decided yet. It’s all so new.”
“Are you an animal communicator too?” my dad asked Maximum and took a swig of his beer.
“No, I’m a rugby player.”
“Really?” My dad dried away foam from his lips and grinned. “A rugby player. That’s something else.”
“How did you two meet?” my mom wanted to know.
“Fleur works with my brother-in-law, Noah, and he invited me to come to one of Fleur’s open house events. That was back in February and what can I say, it was love at first sight.”
My laugh was a little nervous. “I don’t know about that, but we did share a connection and we started texting after that. Maximum turned out to be quite the charmer.” I gave him a genuine smile because that part was all true, although our texts hadn’t led to us falling in love.
My parents couldn’t have looked happier, and it made me feel a bit guilty that in a few months, I’d have to tell them Maximum and I had broken up.
“How old are you?” my mom asked Maximum.
“I’ll be twenty-eight in October.”
“Oh, wow, so you’re younger than Fleur.”
“Only by two years.”
“Two years and ten months,” I specified.
“That’s a big jump.” My mom gave me a loaded stare and I knew she was referring to the age difference between Pierre and Maximum.
“Well, marrying someone much older didn’t work, so I’m trying something else this time.”
“That’s good.” My father made his thinking face, pursing his lips and lowering his brow. “You should expect to see Pierre at the reception today, though.” He turned his head to my mom. “You told her that already, didn’t you?”
“No, Dad, Mom didn’t tell me, but Pierre wrote me to tell me he was planning to show up.”
“Oh, okay. Yes, he got very eager when we told him the good news that you were coming.” With a quick glance at Maximum, my father continued. “Pierre is Fleur’s ex-husband, but I guess you know about him.”
“Yes, of course.”
My mother fiddled with her drink. “He took it hard when Fleur left him.”
“How do you think he’ll react when he sees me with Maximum?”
“He’ll be disappointed. The last time I talked with him, I got the impression that he was hoping to reconcile things between you,” my mom said.
“It’s been almost four years of him hoping for us to reconcile, but it’s not happening.”
“I’m sorry to change the subject, but I’m curious to hear about the photos you’re exhibiting in the gallery. Who shot the gorgeous one with the elephant?” Maximum pointed out the window to a large frame that hung in the window of the gallery across the street.
