Wish List: City Love 4

by Belinda Williams

  It did make sense, but it also had the potential to backfire. Dave had officially invited me to his family’s Christmas lunch. What happened if Dave’s mother disliked me as much as his father? It was pretty obvious he adored his mother.

  Then there was the little issue of my work situation. I still hadn’t told my boss. I wasn’t sure why I had let it go on so long. Every time I was determined to tell him, something would happen – a phone call or a client emergency, for instance. One day I’d actually marched into his office with the words on the tip of my tongue. Then he’d snapped at me, in a foul mood about something, and I’d scurried away, making an excuse that it wasn’t important.

  “I don’t know,” I hedged. “I’ll need to think about it.”

  “Well, you think about it and in the meantime, bring those lamps I like down here. They’d look perfect in here.”

  “You’re going to be bossy, aren’t you?” I asked.

  “Incredibly. Just ask Dave. I figure you’ll cope though on account of you being so nice.”

  “I’ll think about it,” I repeated.

  “Don’t think too long. My bet is you’ll be married by the end of next year and popping out kids the year after.”

  “What?”

  She shrugged. “Dave’s been waiting for someone like you. Ever since—” Lauren snapped her mouth shut.

  I looked over at her curiously. “Ever since?”

  “Ever since forever.” She stood up, picked up her plate and walked toward the kitchen.

  We hadn’t known each other very long but I knew her well enough to guess she’d almost opened her big mouth about something. I picked up my plate and followed her.

  “Dave’s never mentioned having a serious girlfriend,” I said.

  She glanced up at me and then back to the sink as she rinsed her plate. “That’s because he hasn’t. A long time ago he did, but that’s ancient history. He’s been too busy with the business and his boys toys.”

  It aligned with what Dave had told me but I couldn’t help feeling I was missing something, ancient history or not.

  “Why does your father hate Dave so much?” I asked.

  The plate clattered in the sink. I couldn’t see her expression because her golden brown curls covered her face. “Dad doesn’t hate Dave. They’re just very different.”

  I stood and picked up my own plate. I wasn’t going to push anymore tonight. Besides, it wasn’t right. If I was even remotely considering moving in with Lauren, I couldn’t put her in the middle of Dave and me. And if I wanted to know more about his past, I needed to ask Dave directly.

  “So what movie are we watching tonight?” I asked.

  When Lauren met my eyes I thought I saw relief in them. “Your turn to pick a pathetic girly movie.”

  I grinned. “Excellent. I’m going to find something that will make you cry.”

  “Which means you’ll be sobbing.”

  “You bet.”

  *

  “Ready?”

  I nodded, although I didn’t feel ready. I smoothed my dress with my sweaty palms. It was bright red, in the spirit of the season, and tastefully fitted with capped sleeves and a scooped neckline.

  Dave stepped in front of me and brushed his hand down the side of my arm. I shivered.

  “You’re cold?” he asked.

  I gave him a shy smile. “No. Hardly.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “We don’t have time now.”

  My smile turned to a grin. “That’s because you wouldn’t let me get dressed.”

  “Every time you do, I just want to undress you again.”

  I put my palms on his chest and kissed him. He pressed his forehead against mine.

  “I mean it. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to,” he said softly.

  I pushed back to look at him. “I told you I want to. I’d like to meet your mother.” Never mind I never wanted to see his father again, but I was a big girl, I could handle it.

  “He’s not going to be nice,” Dave said.

  “Then I’ll just have to be nicer.”

  Dave’s eyes lit up and I was treated to the sight of his happy face. After a month together, I still hadn’t tired of Dave’s genuine smiles. It faded too quickly though. “If it gets too much, just let me know and we’ll leave.”

  “Dave. If I can face my family, yours will be a piece of cake,” I assured him. “So long as there’s no deep dark family secrets I’m not aware of.”

  Dave blinked then scooped the car keys off his bedside table and walked toward the door. “Come on.”

  I rushed after him. It was an odd reaction. As soon as I thought it, I dismissed the idea. Dave was one of the most upfront men I knew. If there was something he needed to share with me, he’d tell me. He was probably just as nervous about today as I was. It didn’t change the fact that ever since my conversation with Lauren I’d been wondering about his past and hadn’t yet found the right time to ask.

  I waited until we were in Sally and backing out of the driveway.

  “Dave?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You’ve never really mentioned any ex-girlfriends.” I let the statement hang in the air between us.

  He blipped the accelerator and Sally purred. “That’s because there’s not really been any to speak of.”

  “Why?”

  He glanced over at me as he guided Sally down the street. “Busy with work, I guess. I’ve dated on and off, but nothing serious.”

  “Lauren mentioned one.”

  His hands clenched on the steering wheel. “What did she say?”

  “She said it was a long time ago.”

  “It was.”

  OK. I wasn’t going to push it. Not today. I wondered about his reaction though. Long time ago or not, it wasn’t forgotten. I didn’t doubt his feelings for me for a second, but I did want him to feel like he could be open with me.

  The drive to Dave’s parents took under five minutes. When he turned into the driveway my eyes widened. The house was palatial. A cream, two-level twentieth century residence with arched windows and a wide entranceway with concrete columns on either side. The block of land was easily at least three, possibly four, standard blocks.

  Dave killed the engine. “I mean it, Cate. If you want to leave at anytime, we’re gone.”

  I looked at his profile and tried to imagine him growing up in this house. It didn’t fit. Dave was practical and no-nonsense whereas this house was elaborate and ornate. I wondered if he’d ever felt at home here.

  He came around and opened the door for me. Suddenly his black dress trousers and tailored white shirt made more sense. Most Australian families would celebrate Christmas relaxing in their backyards around the barbecue. I had the feeling the Christmas lunch would be very formal here.

  “There you are!”

  A woman about my height opened the door with a flourish and rushed out onto the landing. I almost skidded to a halt but managed to keep walking because Dave was holding my hand.

  Now I knew where Dave and Lauren got their looks from. His mother wore a navy pantsuit, fitted to a trim figure, but it was her coloring that struck me. Golden hair cropped into a neat bob framed an exceptionally well preserved face. There were hardly any wrinkles around her eyes. Eyes that I immediately recognized.

  “You must be Cate!”

  To my amusement, she rushed toward us. She hugged Dave tightly and I didn’t miss the big squeeze he gave her. Then she turned to me and studied me openly.

  “It’s so lovely to meet you.” She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “All the oldies are dying to meet you. Come on.”

  I shot Dave a questioning look and he just gave me one of those half-smiles.

  I wondered what I was in for.

  Chapter 34

  I genuinely enjoyed getting to know Dave’s extended family. There were a lot of ‘oldies,’ as his mother called them. Mainly aunts and uncles – Dave’s mum came from a big family. In fact, the only relative on his dad
’s side of the family was a lone uncle, Michael’s older brother, Keith.

  Dave, Lauren and I were the youngest there and we passed the hour before the sit down lunch speaking with most of them. They all seemed quite excited to have me there. It was a nice surprise. Michael merely nodded once when he saw me and spent the rest of the time in the corner talking to his brother.

  “Not as bad as you were expecting?” Lauren asked as we made our way to the dining table.

  “Not at all. You have a lovely family.”

  “You mean Mum has a lovely family. Dad’s never quite fitted in.”

  I couldn’t help feeling she was right. If I was worried about Michael being cold to me, then I needn’t have. He seemed cold and sullen to everyone.

  We sat at the table and my heart sank a little. Lauren was to my left, with Michael sitting on her other side at the head of the table. Opposite us were his mother, Angela, and beside her, Keith. Maybe things would prove awkward after all. Oh well, it had been better than I’d expected so far and at least it was civil. Nothing in my family had ever been this well mannered.

  After the meals were served, Angela addressed me. “So, Cate, you’re a financial planner? How wonderful. And you met Dave when he became a client of yours?”

  Cue awkwardness. I smiled. Very pleasantly. “Actually, Dave and I met when he came to rescue me from my hot water heater. It burst and made a horrible mess.”

  Angela nodded with a look of concern, although I noticed her forehead didn’t share in the concern. Obviously her maintenance regime included Botox. “Oh dear. How awful, although I’m sure Dave knew what to do.”

  I felt Dave squeeze my leg under the table and I grabbed my glass of wine. “He did. He was very efficient.”

  “He’s always been good with his hands.”

  I nodded, and dropped my eyes, not sure where to look. Dave gripped my leg harder and I darted a quick glance in his direction. He was concentrating on his meal, his shoulders moving with silent laughter.

  “Um, Mum, keep it out of the gutter,” said Lauren.

  Angela’s mouth formed a neat ‘o’ when she realized what she’d said, and I didn’t miss the dark glare Michael shot Lauren. Angela reddened. “Oh, do forgive me, Cate. Poor choice of words, but perhaps not entirely. You two do seem very happy together.”

  I felt Dave’s silent laughter intensify even though I wasn’t looking at him.

  “Angela,” Michael said, with some distaste.

  Angela didn’t even look at her husband. “Ignore him. He’s no fun. Not good with his hands at all, if we’re being honest. He’s too refined for that.”

  I didn’t miss the mischievous glint in her eyes. I took a long sip of wine, really not sure what to say. Was she just having fun or was it an intentional barb?

  “Now, Angie,” said Keith, from beside her. He was very different to his brother. More rugged and heavy set, with well worn laughter lines but similar gray eyes. “He can’t have been that bad. You left me for him.”

  I chewed my mouthful and swallowed carefully, trying not to choke.

  “Oh yes,” said Angela, not missing my attempts to keep my food down. “Didn’t Dave tell you? Keith and I were high school sweethearts. Then Michael hired me as his personal assistant and the rest is history.”

  Michael appeared distinctly uncomfortable with this revelation. I could understand why, given his earlier derision of me, but I wasn’t about to bring up his hypocrisy.

  Keith grunted. “All part of his evil plan, I’m sure, but Angela was quite the head turner in her day.” He smiled at her fondly. “Still is.”

  Angela reddened slightly. “Yes, but then you found Nancy, God rest her soul, and you were perfect for each other.”

  Keith nodded, and I didn’t miss the sadness in his eyes. “She passed away five years ago.”

  I gave him a sympathetic look.

  “While you’re enjoying the trip down memory lane, I’m sure you’re boring our guests,” Michael said.

  Angela didn’t respond, but she did change the subject. The discussion turned to more mundane topics like the house, and then eventually to the idea of me moving in with Lauren.

  “I think it’s a great idea,” said Angela, “although I don’t know why you don’t just move straight in with Dave.”

  “Mum.”

  For a split second, I imagined Dave as a young boy filled with embarrassment about his very sweet, but outspoken, mother.

  “Sorry,” she said, but she didn’t appear to be. I was beginning to see there were some definite similarities between Lauren and her mother. “Dave can be a slow mover. Just give him time.”

  “He can also be reckless.”

  The table fell silent at Michael’s words.

  “Dad,” said Lauren.

  Michael turned to Angela. “Did he tell you he won’t take our money?”

  Angela finished chewing on her mouthful before answering. “I’d say that’s entirely up to him.”

  “And that’s just the problem, you’ve always left it up to him.”

  “He’s a thirty-two-year-old man.”

  “There isn’t anything man about him.”

  “Excuse me!” Oh crap. That had been me.

  Everyone turned to look at me.

  “Cate,” Dave said softly. “Leave it.”

  “Yes,” Michael agreed. “I’d suggest you stay out of it, young lady. Your assessment of the situation is hardly based on facts.”

  “And what facts are those?” I resisted clamping a hand over my mouth. Where had that come from? Was I really about to have an argument, over Christmas dinner, with Dave’s father?

  Michael leaned forward so those gray eyes bored into mine. “The fact that I know my son better than you do.”

  Something in me snapped. I could almost feel it breaking as I gripped the stem of my wine glass tightly. I’d had a lifetime of family members telling me who I was – or who I wasn’t – that I wasn’t good enough, that I wasn’t worth anything. My father might be days away from death, but Dave’s was alive and well and he needed some serious re-education.

  “Let’s consider what I do know,” I said, my voice dripping with helpful pleasantness. “Firstly, Dave’s the most reliable man I know. From the moment I met him, he’s been there for me. He does it quietly, which is probably why you don’t notice. Do you know about all the little things he does for Lauren? To make her life easier? Well, he does them, every single day without making a fuss.”

  “Cate.”

  I ignored Dave. “Or how about his business?” I continued, also ignoring the hard set to his father’s jaw. “Do you know about that, Mr. Worthington?” There was no way I was calling him Michael right now. “Have you seen the way he manages his staff? I bet they don’t even realize they’re being managed half the time. He has such an easy way about him, and they respect him because they like him. Did you know that? Or the fact that he’s grown that company in the last five years more than it grew in the last fifteen?”

  “While this is all very interesting,” Michael said, sounding bored, “it says more about my son’s skills in the bedroom if you’ve mistakenly developed that opinion of him.”

  “Dad,” Lauren said, shooting him a filthy look.

  Oh my God. He’d not only managed to insult his son in front of everyone, but me too. After my rush of words, I found I had nothing further to say to this man who was an impenetrable wall. Whatever his so-called facts were based on, they were set in stone and he seemed to be completely incapable of seeing Dave for the man he really was.

  Dave pushed his chair back and stood, his eyes not on me, but on his father. They flared with anger. “Come on, Cate. It’s time to leave.”

  I took his hand, my heart aching for him.

  “Oh! Don’t leave. Please,” begged Angela. “Cate, I’m just about to clear the dishes. Why don’t you help me? Dave, could you go down to the cellar and pick some dessert wine?”

  It didn’t escape my notice that in her
attempts to smooth things over she hadn’t once addressed her husband.

  Dave sighed and met my eyes. I nodded and gave him a reassuring look. I didn’t want to leave like this. As much as anything, I wanted to prove to his father that I was here to stay.

  Satisfied I wasn’t about to run screaming from his family home, Dave nodded and stalked off, in the direction of the cellar, I was guessing. I helped to collect the dishes from the table and was relieved when Michael excused himself with Lauren following hot on his heels.

  In the kitchen – a room bigger than my entire apartment – Angela and I set about putting the dishes in the dishwasher.

  “I’m so sorry, Cate,” she said, handing me a plate. “My husband is not an easy man.”

  “No, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.” I was still quietly reeling from my confrontation with Dave’s dad.

  “Don’t be silly. The old codger needs it from time to time but as you can see he rarely listens. I gave up trying years ago. It makes me so sad.” She handed me another plate, which I bent to put into the dishwasher. When I straightened, I saw she was gripping the edge of the sink, her shoulders shaking while she cried silently.

  “Oh, Mrs. Worthington!” I rushed to her side and because I didn’t know what else to do, tentatively put an arm around her shoulders and rubbed her back.

  She sniffed. “Please, it’s Angela.” She plucked a tissue from a nearby box and dabbed at her eyes, still looking impeccable. “The truth is, it breaks my heart. Dave and Michael have never seen eye to eye. Even when he was a boy, they never got along. Michael had this idea of who he wanted his son to be. Studious, successful, university educated. Dave never lived up to any of it. He wasn’t interested in school. Oh, he was bright enough, but he just had better things to do. Like play sports or tinker with cars.”

  She tucked the tissue into her trouser pocket. “Has Dave told you about my father?”

  I nodded.

  “They were so close. Like two peas in a pod, and Michael hated it. I think he was jealous of the bond but I encouraged it because David gained so much from it. He wouldn’t have the self-belief he does today if not for their relationship. Then Lauren had that awful accident.”