Page 88 of The Vow We Made
“She’s not a baby anymore. I bet she’d be good to talk it over with. Women see things differently to us. It might help.”
He sighs. “Maybe, but I’m not ready.”
“It will be okay mate, I promise. You’ll do the right thing for both of you, I know you will.”
“Thanks Aiden.” He calls over the bar to get some service. “Another or is it time for a tequila shot?” he asks hopefully.
Unfortunately, I have to let him down. “Just another pint. I’m on earlies tomorrow and they won’t thank me for tuning up with a hangover.”
“Fair play.” He orders and sits back on his stool pensively. “How would you and Victoria like to come over for dinner next week? I want you to meet her.”
This is another first. Luke has never done the whole couple thing. “That’s a great idea and Victoria will love it.”
He raises his glass. “Cool. Here’s to next week.”
I raise mine. “Here’s to it.”
I see him now in another light. With his offer of dinner comes something else and I see it as clear as day. Luke is looking to the future and introducing us to the woman who has changed his world. It’s the first step to a different and probably more fulfilled life, and although he doesn’t realise it yet, he’s already accepted his situation.
* * *
It’s late when I get back to Victoria’s place, but I couldn’t leave Luke until I was absolutely sure he was okay. It took another three pints, so maybe I was better off going for the shot he offered.
I creep into the house as quietly as I can, when I’m greeted with a unison of, “Shhh.”
The three of them, Victoria, Bronte and Faith, have their ears to the wall and glare at me as if I’m about to ruin their snoop-fest.
“What’s going on?” I whisper.
“It’s Will and Steph. They’re in the middle of a real ding-dong,” Victoria explains.
I take off my coat slowly, as if it makes a difference to the volume of noise in the hall, and I hear for myself what is going on when Will’s voice booms through the door, “You lied to me and now I feel like a fucking idiot!”
“I didn’t lie, I just didn’t tell you. You’re being over dramatic.”
“What the hell happened?” I ask all three girls before Faith turns her attention to Victoria.
“He doesn’t know yet?”
Immediately Bronte whisper shouts and points my way. “You’ve got to tell him.”
Victoria throws me a warning stare and I have no clue why. “Aiden, come here,” she says, grabbing my arm and pulling me to the kitchen. When we get there, she spins around and is still whispering. “Will’s found out about Steph’s family.”
“What?”
“I know and the girls don’t know that I’ve already told you, so this is me…tellingyou.”
I nod, “Right.” And wonder why women have to make everything so bloody complicated but it’s not worth my while to question her. I’ll move on, it’s easier. “I take it he’s not happy.”
“What do you think?” Arms crossed, she jerks her head in the direction of their raised voices.
“How did he find out? Do you know?”
“They published an old photo of the whole family inHELLOmagazine. Her parents did a shoot for their 40thwedding anniversary and they took the family photo from their bloody archives.”
“Since when did Will start readingHELLO?”
She taps her index finger against her bicep. “Someone put a copy through his letterbox.”
