Page 111 of Begin Again, Part 1

Eden nodded and stammered all over his parents. "Mr and Mrs Anderson, it's a pleasure to see you again."

"Please call me Lois." His mom laughed, her face beaming with delight. "'Mr and Mrs Anderson' make us sound so boring, right, Clarke?"

His father cleared his throat and nodded his agreement. "Yes, of course. How are your parents, my dear? It was wonderful seeing them after such a long time. We should all have dinner together soon."

"They're great, thank you," Eden smiled demurely. "I'm sure they'd love that."

Liam jumped in before his folks could sing the McBrides' praises again.

"Aren't you going to ask them?" he demanded, glaring at Eden. When she shook her head, he sat beside her and turned to his folks. "Do I have a wife and kids hidden somewhere?"

Lois laughed, her heart-shaped face beaming with joy, her eye shining with intrigue. Only then did Liam realise his foolish mistake. His mom, the silly romantic, would read too much into his relationship with Eden.

"Of course not, darling. But wouldn't it be fantastic, Clarke, if Liam found the right woman and settled down?"

"He is getting on in years," Clarke agreed.

"That's beside the point." Liam groaned. "I'm not even thirty yet."

"Well, you will be in a few months," Lois winked at Eden.

"And your mom and I are getting on in years. We'd love some grandbabies," Clarke added as he cleaned his glasses on his shirt, before slotting them back on his face.

"You have two daughters. Let them give you grandkids. You both know how I feel about children."

"That's because you haven't met the right woman yet, son!" Clarke said. "Believe me, once you do, your views about children will change."

"No, Dad," Liam shook his head. "My life is too full. When will I even find the time for kids when you both keep me busy running your company?"

"You'll make time for them," Clarke said. "If there's anything I regret, it's not making enough time for you and your mom."

"That's okay. Look how well we all turned out," Liam smiled at his parents as he reached for his father's cup of tea and gulped it down.

"Liam!" Lois admonished him, shaking her head in disapproval. "Forgive his boorish ways, Eden; we've taught him better than that."

Eden nodded, smiled, and stared at her hands. Liam frowned at her, wondering what was so damn interesting about them. But, he was secretly thrilled when he saw the offending ring she'd worn when she first came back wasn't on her finger.

"Okay, that's it!" he announced as he stood up and held out his hand to Eden. "We wanted to clear up those two issues. Now that we have, we'll go back to making you money."

"You must visit soon, Eden," Lois called after them. "And bring your little boy with you. I'd love to see him. Your mom speaks so fondly of him."

Eden nodded while Liam waved them off.

The ride back to the office was tense, with Eden barely saying a word, choosing instead to stare at the traffic outside her window.

Liam glanced at her a few times, wondering if he'd pushed her too far again. He really needed Linda to help him communicate with her; everything he did and said upset her.

Back at Anderson Logistics, Eden walked ahead, her heels clicking furiously on the tiles as she made her way to the private elevator.

Liam kept up with her short strides easily.

The minute they were inside the lift and the doors closed, Eden detonated all over him. "Did you honestly have to take to me to see your parents? Now they probably think I'm a total whack job! Was it necessary?"

"Completely!" Liam ignored her outburst. "If not, you would have found every excuse to believe whatever lies you've come up with in your head."

"You told me—"

"Yeah, I know what I told you. That was my fault, but why didn't you clarify with me? Is that why you've been so moody these past few days and doing everything in your power to push me away because you thought I'm married to Laura?" Liam said in a gentler tone as he pressed her to the corner, excited by the idea of being so close to her.

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