Page 171 of This Woman Forever

“Happy?”

“Yes.” I’m pushed aside by Elizabeth. “It’s so good to see you, darling,” she sings, hugging Ava fiercely. “I’ve got the spare room ready for you.”

“We’re staying?” Ava frowns over her mother’s shoulder at me.

“We fly out in the morning. I thought we’d run a visit in before your mum starts thinking that I’m keeping you from her.”

I’m surprised when Elizabeth gives up her daughter for me, hugging me hard. “Thank you for bringing her to visit.”

“Make the most of it,” I say, embracing her love for me. She might change her mind when she hears our news. “Because I’m kidnapping her in the morning.”

“Yes, yes, I know. Joseph,” she screeches in my ear. I wince, breaking away. “They’re here! I’ll make tea.”

Ava leads me into the kitchen, where Joseph is at the table. “Hi, Dad.” Ava leaves me to greet her father, and I take a seat.

“Ava, how are you?” He accepts her affection, albeit with a mild cringe, before offering me his hand. “Is she keeping you on your toes?”

I laugh on the inside. “Of course.”

“I need a wee,” Ava says, scooting off, leaving me with Joseph and Elizabeth.

“So how’s married life?” Joseph asks, pushing his newspaper aside and relaxing back in his chair.

I smile up at Elizabeth when she slides a cup of tea in front of me. “Blissful,” I say, taking a sip, smiling.

“And you two are okay?”

I smile wider around the rim of my mug. “All okay.”

All four of us.

28

Elizabeth suggested a local pub for dinner. Fine by me. I honestly don’t mind where we tell them they’re going to be grandparents, so why not over a nice steak? Well-done.

I make sure Ava’s comfortable in a soft chair and get everyone’s drink orders, predicting Elizabeth’s wine and Joseph’s beer.

“No wine?” Elizabeth asks, surprised when Ava asks for a water.

I push Ava’s chair closer to the table, sneaking a look at Elizabeth, willing her not to make a big deal of it. Ava’s parents probably think their daughter is being sensitive, given my apparent drinking problem. “No, we need to get away early,” Ava says, perusing the menu, playing it surprisingly cool. Even more surprisingly, Elizabeth pipes down, but I get the feeling she’s thinking as she returns her attention to the menu.

I dip into Ava’s neck. “I love you,” I whisper, smiling when her hand feels me out as I push my lips onto her cheek.

“I know.”

Happy, I leave them and head to the bar, ordering and paying before making my way back, tray in hand.

“What are you having, then?” Elizabeth asks. “I think I’ll go for the seafood platter.”

Seafood? I sit and scoop up the menu, scanning the endless choices, many of which were on the list of foods to be avoided. Christ, it’s like a minefield of unsuitable options. And I bet my wife fancies one of them.

Feeling her lean into me, I take her hand from my knee and kiss her knuckles, checking the steak choices. Rump, sirloin, T-bone. No fillet. I huff to myself. It’s certainly not The Manor. At The Manor, I can guarantee my wife’s go-to, so I don’t have to stress about her picking from a list. “What would you like, baby?” I ask, silently begging her to choose steak.

“I’m not sure.”

Fuck it.

“I’m having the mussels in garlic,” Joseph says. I glance up, seeing him virtually dribbling at a blackboard on the wall. Seafood. And more seafood. “Bloody delicious,” he adds.

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