Chapter 31 — A Family Dinner
906 Words
I struggled to keep up with Abby's eager strides while the damned dress made it even harder.
“Andrew!” Abby shouted, as we rounded the corner, coming to a stop in front of a door.
“Andy dear… a special someone is here to see you.”
No response.
She knocked on the door, still no response.
“I'm guessing he isn't here,” Abby said. “I did tell him dinner would be ready soon, so I'm guessing he's already in the dining room.”
“Oh I see…”
“Let's head to the dining room, dear. He's such a foodie, I'm quite sure he'd be there.”
And so…
I had to face another few minutes of being dragged.
Someone please tell this annoying b***h that I could walk just fine.
Familiar voices drifted into my ears as we got closer to the dining room.
“Andy, dear!” Abby called.
I rolled my eyes.
“Oh there you are,” Abby said, letting go of my hand as she stopped in front of Andrew.
He had his back to us, as he quietly dished food from the bowl.
“I told you I didn't want to see anyone, Mum,” Andrew grumbled.
“I promise you, you'd love to see this.”
Andrew exhaled heavily, then turned around, probably ready to give his mother a piece of his mind.
Instead—
He stopped mid-sentence, staring at me in surprise.
“Meet Rosie Alphonse, you remember her right?”
His head snapped to his mother.
Fast.
“Rosie?”
“Yes,” Abby replied.
He turned his gaze back to mine.
“You have got to be kidding me.” He murmured, placing the plate of food on the table, then walked towards me.
He stopped in front of me.
Too. Damn. Close.
“Rosie?”
“Wazzup.” I grinned.
He lifted me up suddenly, causing me to shriek in surprise as he twirled me around.
“Put me down!” I screeched.
And he did.
“My God, Rosie. Look how beautiful you've grown,” he said, with a large smile on his face.
I scratched my neck awkwardly.
“You look handsome too,” I replied quietly.
“It's been so long—”
A tall figure stepped between us.
I stumbled back slightly, staring up at the figure in front of me.
Henry.
He had his back to me, arms crossed over his chest and lips turned down in disdain.
“How about we give the young lady some space?” He bit out, sharply.
“Who the f**k are you?” Andrew asked.
“Andy,” Abby chastised, coming forward.
“What?” He grunted.
“You have no right to be rude to our guest.”
“I'm not the one barging into other people's conversations, am I?”
She shook her head, then faced Henry.
“I'm so sorry, Henry.” She apologized.
“It's fine.” Henry murmured.
“Henry, meet my son. Andrew. Andrew, meet Henry Gareth. He's Denise's fiancé and technically Rosie's stepfather.”
Andrew's gaze slowly trailed to Henry.
He sighed heavily, shoulders sagging in defeat. “I apologize, Mr Gareth.”
Mum chuckled, walking towards us.
“It's alright, Henry. You should let the kids catch up.”
“He's a boy, Denise.”
Mum rolled her eyes playfully.
“Don't mind him, Abby. He's just really protective of Rosie.”
“Like the gentleman he is, Denise. To think he already sees her as his daughter.”
Welps.
“Hi Mrs. Richards. Congratulations,” Andrew said, sticking his arm out.
Mum took it, with a small.
“You've grown into a fine young man, Andrew.”
“He definitely has.” Abby cut in, with a smile of her own. “He's a total gentleman, Denise.”
Seriously?
“What is better than having two childhood friends end up together?”
I peeked at Henry.
But he was glaring at an oblivious Andrew instead.
“How about you let me be the judge of that, Denise?” Henry said, breaking into their mindless chatter.
“I assure you, Mr Gareth, I am very much a gentleman,” Andrew replied with a scowl.
Both men stared down at each other.
Ding dong!
“I should get that,” Abby said, eyeing Henry and Andrew for a moment.
Then she walked off.
I stared at Henry's back, imagining my hands running over it.
He glanced at me and I tore my gaze away.
Staring at the floor instead.
He definitely looked handsome when he was being all protective.
Familiar voices invaded my ears, as footsteps drew closer.
“He's in Italy on a business trip actually,” Abby said, walking into the dining room.
“Such a workaholic.” Maggie chimed in. “Just like Jacob.”
You have got to be kidding me.
Jacob snorted, walking into the room.
Another man followed close behind him.
Then lastly Lena.
She had her gaze fixed on her phone, fingers moving around the screen fast.
“Silly me.” Abby said, flustered.
“Denise!” Maggie screamed, pulling Mum into a tight hug.
At the sound of mum's name, Lena glanced up, and her eyes locked with mine.
I smiled, and she did too.
“I see we meet again, Mr Gareth,” Jacob said, stopping in front of Henry.
My smile dropped.
- Writer
