Page 65 of Persuading Penny
Richard reached out for my hand and kissed it, then shook Cliff’s hand. “Congratulations to you both. I’m so happy to finally see you two together.”
Cliff looked at him with surprise. “What do you mean,finally? You didn’t know about our past.”
Richard clapped Cliff on the back. “That’s what you think.” He winked at me as Reagan pulled me in for a tight hug.
“I do hope you’ll come visit us in the States. The kids just love their Uncle Cliff and they’re so eager to get to know more about their Aunt Penny.”
“We’ll be sure to go,” I promised.
After hugs and kisses to the kids, the Healys left Copperfield Corner.
As Cliff and I turned to return to the few remaining guests, Keely and Hugh came up to us.
“What a beautiful ceremony.” She looked at Cliff. “And your brother is quite a talent. I thought he was a lawyer.”
Cliff laughed. “He is. Cooking is just a pastime.”
“Even more impressive.”
Hugh shook Cliff’s hand as I gave Keely a final hug.
“I know you two are set to go off on your honeymoon, and I’m going to have a lot on my plate with post-production, but I was hoping we could have a quick meeting...let’s say in a month or so.”
“We’ll be back and very well rested before then,” I said.
“You two can come for dinner.”
“Sounds good.”
As she and Hugh left, the others also took their leave. They stopped by, commented on the fantastic food and offered more good wishes for a happy and long life together.
With everyone from the movie gone, only my mother and father remained.
“Well,” Mum said. “Are you two off to your honeymoon tonight?”
Cliff smiled. “We’ll be sleeping in Bath tonight and taking a flight out to Bali tomorrow.”
“Bali,” Dad said. “Where the hell is that?”
Mum shushed him. “I hope you have a wonderful time, dear.” She cupped my cheeks and cried.
“Mum,” I said. “I’m not dying. I’m not moving. I’m just going on my honeymoon.”
“Oh, I know. But then what. Where will you live? Will you move to the United States? Will you become an American? We’ll never see you.”
“By the time you come back, we’ll probably have sold Copperfield Corner,” Dad added with a touch of sadness. “Between the debts we still owe and the house being way too big for just the two of us...”
“Dad,” I said, sympathizing with his concern over the house. “I thought renting out the house had fixed that.”
He shook his head. “It’s going to buy us a few more months, but then...”
“If I may,” Cliff interjected. “I’ve already contacted your creditors and have made arrangements with them. If you choose to sell Copperfield Corner because it’s become too large, that’s your prerogative, but your debts should not be the reason.”
Dad smiled. “Do you mean to say that you...?”
“Yes, sir. All is taken care of.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
