Page 27 of Persuading Penny
“How’s my favorite little niece?”he said.
“And me!”Tommy shouted as he jumped up and down on that same second to last step. “What about me?”
Cliff set Georgina down and prepared to catch Tommy in the same manner.
“All right, kids,” Reagan said. “Let’s give Uncle Cliff a chance to take his jacket off.”
I stared at him, numb. Why hadn’t Keely told me he’d be here? No, why had I not suspected that he would.
“Penny,” Reagan said. “I’d like you to meet my brother-in-law, Cliff. He’s going to be working in Bath for the next month or so.”
I slowly took the final steps down and faced him. “Yes,” I said with more calm than I would have thought myself capable of. “We’ve met.”
“You have?”
“I’m the production accountant on the same movie Cliff is working on.” My voice was unbelievably smooth all the way.
Cliff’s lips parted ever so slightly, and his eyes widened with surprise for a split second before he caught himself and resumed his stoic stance.
Was he surprised by my cool response? Did he expect me to remain bothered by his presence?
No, I wanted to say.I’ve moved on.I’m over you.
“Oh,” Reagan said. “Isn’t that a coincidence. Great. Then I guess you two will have a lot to talk about.”
Just before the situation became even more awkward, Keely and Hugh arrived.
“Cliff,” Keely said. “I was hoping you’d be here tonight.”
He immediately reached out to take her hands in his and give her a quick and friendly kiss on the cheek.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Reagan noticed the complete lack of such a greeting where I was concerned. Did no one notice the coldness that ran between us?
Richard joined us, once again wiping his hands on that tea towel. “Dinner is going to be ready in half an hour, but if you would all come to the dining room, I have a nice and light little appetizer that I’ve prepared.”
We all followed him to the dining room and took a seat.
Reagan and Richard initiated a conversation about the history of Bath, with Hugh and Keely giving their takes on some notable spots, but Cliff and I stayed rather quiet until the topic of movie making came up.
He went on to chat with Keely and Reagan, while Hugh discussed law with Richard, and I listened to the children who kept me busy with stories of their various adventures since arriving at Copperfield Corner.
I tried my best to concentrate on what they were saying instead of eavesdropping on Cliff’s part of the movie making conversation. But as their discussion turned to the technical aspect of movie making, I finally gave my full attention to the children.
“...and then the frog jump up into my face,” Georgina was saying.
“And I caught three frogs,” Tommy added, working hard to get three fingers up to show me.
Throughout the dinner, Reagan and Richard were warm and attentive hosts, ensuring we all had plenty of water and/or wine, or whatever else we might need. After each course, Reagan cleared the dishes, insisting we all stay right where we were and that she did not need our help. Moments later Richard would arrive with the next course and the next and finally dessert.
“I don’t know if it will be any good,” Richard said. “But I wanted to try a very English treat, a Banoffee Pie.”
“What the hell is that?”Cliff let out with a crooked grin.
“Uncle Cliffy,” Georgina said, shaking a scolding finger at him.
“My apologies. Let me start again; what in the world is that?”
The little girl nodded in acceptance of his new phrasing.
