Page 45 of Duchess Material

“Pizza is great. You do this every year?”

“The night before Thanksgiving is a night the women do not cook. They get the night off. Tomorrow, it will be all hands on deck.”

“But the men do fuck all?”

“You know it,” Lucy said.

They turned onto a modest little block where they’d be parking their hundred-thousand-dollar luxury rental.

“This is a cute neighbourhood.” Winston was generous.

“We’re going to be the talk of the town. But it’s quiet. Lots of old people now. Safe, nice. I grew up riding my bike all over here.”

He smiled. “Idyllic, really. Couldn’t say that in London. Or even on our estate in Scotland. I mean, you did get out but… not with other kids. Our other kids were our cousins.”

“Same. I mean, mostly. That’s the beauty of a big family.”

The left the car towards the house. It was late afternoon, but they couldn’t check in until four. They decided to go straight to dinner with Lucy’s family before heading over. In all honesty, Lucy was excited to see her little sister, Francie. Winston was about to be overwhelmed, but Lucy figured he could handle it.

“Hello, hello!” Lucy called out as they entered the small three-seasons room off the back of her grandmother’s house.

She kicked off her boots while Winston removed his shoes in an orderly fashion.

“Lucy!” Francie nearly took her older sister out at the knees. “God, I’m so excited! You’re here.”

“She is. She’s alive,” her mother, Brittany Chandler, said. “Look, you are on this continent for once!”

“I got away… finally,” Lucy laughed.

Jane appeared in the doorway and hugged Lucy before nodding at Winston. “And who is this?”

“Grandma, this is Winston Ferguson, my boyfriend. Winston, this is my grandmother, Jane Pokorski.”

“The one who makes those dumplings you rave over?” Winston asked, as if on cue.

He was masterful at this. There was a bit of his mother in there.

“Yes. Pierogi. I was telling him about them.”

“Well, isn’t your accent the most adorable thing you’ve ever heard?” Jane said. “Well, come in, come in, honey. You’re English? I wasn’t expecting an English boyfriend.”

“I’m not,” Winston said. “I’m technically Scottish but the accent… it’s a let-down, I know.”

“Far from it, honey. Can I get you something to drink?”

Winston was already being inducted. It was going surprisingly well.

“Boyfriend? And Winston?” Brittany wondered. “When you said you were bringing your boyfriend—”

“It happened, okay?” Lucy groaned. “And you love him, so be nice.”

“Really, though? How did you two hide that the whole time we were there?” Francine wondered.

“Because we weren’t together yet. He told me later. It’s… it was complicated and now we’ve decided we’re together and yeah. He’s my boyfriend.”

“Well, I am surprised,” Brittany said.

Jennifer, Lucy’s older sister walked up. “What is Winston doing here?”

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