Page 66 of London, Love, & A Little Something Irish

The moment we step in, I’m met with warmth. The pastor is actually American, which brings a comforting taste of home,and I find myself pulled into conversation after conversation. I love meeting everyone, getting little glimpses of the world Nathan lived in before London. He’s well-loved here. So many friends, so many people who know him. It makes my heart squeeze. But also… there’szerochance I’m going to remember all these names. Oops. I’m better with faces than I am with names. But I do want to work on that.

And then, Gran’s house.

I subtly sniff my top. I had to wear it again. Does it smell okay? Please, Lord, donotlet me smell weird. First impressions matter, and I really, really don’t want Nathan’s family associating me with anything evenremotelyskunk-like.

The drive was only about 30 minutes, and before I know it, we’re pulling up to a small bungalow in Belfast.

Nathan knocks on the door.

Gran opens it.

“Oh!” she exclaims, her entire face lighting up with delight.

I steal a glance at Nathan.

There it is. That soft, unguarded look.

The kind of look that tells me everything—how much she means to him, how deeply he loves her. I knew his grandad passed away ten years ago, knew that Gran liveshere on her own now. Knew that Nathan spent summers with his grandparents, that he lived with her when he moved to Belfast. He had fond memories of his summers with them, and eats honey toast and sandwiches because they were his granddad’s favorite.

“Hi, Gran,” Nathan says as he bends down, enveloping her in a bear hug. She’s tiny compared to him, and for a second, I just melt at how gentle he is with her.

“Come in, come in,” she waves him inside, and then her gaze lands on me, eyes twinkling with something that feels like knowing.

“And who is this?”

“Hi! I’m Nataly,” I say, going in for a hug before she even has a chance to hold out her hand. Might as well establish right away—I’m a hugger.

As we step inside, I inhale.

Cheese. Garlic. Warmth. The air is thick with the kind of smell that feels like childhood, like home-cooked meals and a lifetime of tradition.

Nathan’s grin is instant. “Mmm, Gran, is that cheese pudding?” He turns to me with a sparkle in his eye. “My favorite.”

“What’s cheese pudding?” I ask, genuinely intrigued as we make our way through the hallway toward the kitchen.

“Only the greatest thing you’ve never had,” Nathan says, flashing a grin before slipping his fingers between mine.

Oof. Okay. His favorite mealandhe’s holding my hand? Yeah, I’d say we’re off to a solid start.

We step into the kitchen, and the first person I notice is a tall, dark-haired, beautiful woman by the fridge, grabbing some drinks. Then my gaze flickers to the older man sitting at the table—Nathan’s dad.

Nathan clears his throat. “Hey.”

His dad looks up. “Hello there,” he says, standing and pulling Nathan in for a brief but firm hug.

I straighten, a little nervous on the inside but externally chill. “Hi! It’s so nice to meet you! I’m Nataly.”

“Graham,” he says, and before I can even overthink it, I lean in for a hug.

A second later, the beautiful woman at the stove turns around with a warm smile.

“I’m Sarah,” she says, stepping forward to hug me as well.

People say Nathan and Sarah look alike, but I don’t really see it. Maybe it’s one of those things that only shows in baby photos. Maybe I just need to see baby pictures. Ooo somebody give me some baby pictures! I need to see photographic evidence of this man growing up. I’ll bet he looked cute. Although, scratch that—I’m really here for the embarrassing ones. The awkward school photos. The bad haircuts. The weird childhood phases.

I, unfortunately, have plenty of those. I went through a stage when I was 10 where I was on thechunkierside. I asked my mom to burn those photos but they may be lying around somewhere at the house as my mom sneakily would’ve wanted to keep them. I did one of those JC Penney photoshoots when I had my double chin. I shudder at the memory. We’ll keep those hidden from him.

But before I can ask for baby pictures, another man comes through the door.

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