by Amy Rose
He hangs up the phone and places it back into his pants pocket. “That was my dad. He was thinking of having me over for dinner tonight.” Giving me an explanation for the phone call.
I wave my hand in the air. “You don’t need to explain anything to me,” I say gently.
“I know I don’t need to. But I want to,” is his response.
“That will be nice for you to see them tomorrow,” I state. I think of my family briefly, since they lived close by in the outer suburbs of New York, and often go to their vacation home in the Hamptons. I don’t see them often. Maybe I should make the effort to go and see them and introduce Elliot. How my mother would react to me bringing a man home, especially one as fine as Elliot. My thoughts are interrupted.
“We are pretty close. All of us.” I nod.
Elliot is quiet. I look up to his face. He is fighting with himself internally. “Go ahead. Say it.” He looks down at me, wonder spreading across his face.
“Well. Since we don’t have any dinner plans, we could have dinner with them tonight. If you want to meet them, that is?” I must have looked scared, as he quickly continues. “Or not. It’s up to you, babe.”
I am glad at that moment that he was still holding me as I thought I might collapse.
“Ummmm…”
Did I want to meet them yet? Or wait until Christmas morning? It might help to meet them prior. “Why not? If nothing else, it will make Christmas more comfortable for everyone!” As soon as I voice it, I bite my tongue. What on earth was I in for? I feel self-conscious and then happy, remembering that I had packed my nice wrap dress. It looked expensive even though it wasn’t. I would at least try and look the part.
“I can’t wait for them to meet you, Angie. Man this is great. I’ll give Dad a call back now.” He kisses me quickly on the cheek and then lets me go before wandering into the living room. A few feet away from where I am standing and all I hear is the beginning of the conversation between Elliot and his father. “Dad. It’s me again. Angela and I were just talking and I thought that we might both come for dinner tonight if that works for Mom. What time did you want us to arrive?”
I don’t want to hear any more of the conversation. I thought that I might actually be sick. After knowing Elliot Sands for a such a short time, tonight I would be meeting his parents. What the hell was I thinking, saying yes? I thought of a famous quote just then. “Only fools rush in.” That’s what we are doing, isn’t it? Rushing in? Would this do more harm than good? Would it finish us before we even get started, or would it somehow strengthen the bonds we had just started to create? I don’t know where I am heading in his home, just knowing that I wanted to get away from that conversation. I only comprehend that I have wandered upstairs, toward his study, when I walk through the door. I continue to walk through until I reached the attached room. Seeing the large comfortable chair in the library, I make myself at home.
Ahhh, peace and quiet, away from the man who has me feeling as though I’m intoxicated. How does he make me feel this way? How can I be having feelings this deep for him so soon? I built walls around my heart after Dylan. Thick brick walls. And yet, over the course of twenty-four hours he has burst through them as though he is a wrecking ball. Is it possible to start falling in love with someone from the first date? Because I think that’s what’s happening.
Elliot comes in after me a few moments later. “I wondered where you had got to.” He walks closer and squats in front of me. He has a beautiful smile dancing on his features.
“How did you know I would be here?” I ask.
“You told me you loved to read yesterday when we were here. I figured you had come back for another look.” He pauses, pleased with himself that he knew where I would be.
“Mom and Dad are looking forward to meeting you. I’ve arranged for us to head off to their place for dinner at around 5:30” I don’t know how he does it. But he picks up on exactly what I am feeling. “Don’t be nervous, babe. They will love you.”
I let myself give him a small brief smile. I reach out and take his hands in mine. I love when he calls me babe. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I don’t say anything, I just look at him. I realize that I am completely and utterly under this man’s spell. Why else would I agree to something like this so soon?
“Well, we have a jam-packed schedule over the coming weeks. Don’t we? Dinner with your parents tonight. Then you are flying to see me in Nashville for my work Christmas party in a couple of weeks.” I pause for effect. “Then I’m coming back here again. Seeing your family for Christmas, then staying here for a week. Have I missed anything?”
It all sounds ludicrous as I start ticking off events. He just nods. “Yes indeed. We have a busy couple of weeks.” He pauses. “We will be able to get to know each other so much better. I’m looking forward to it. Immensely.” I can see he is being completely honest with me and I feel hopeful that this will actually work.
“Well, you better let me go. I need to go get ready. I’ll need some extra time to pretty myself up and prepare to meet your parents.” I stand up and pull him up with me. Kissing his cheek and walking past him, down the stairs and out the front door. Making my way towards the guest house.
I shower quickly, as I want as much time as possible to apply my makeup and style my hair. Once I am satisfied with the person looking back at me in the mirror I slip into my dress. I pull it quite tight so it will show off my curves. I wasn’t thin, but I had lost weight recently and in turn it has given me more of an hourglass shape. I slip my feet into sandals, spray my perfume a couple more times than usual. Affix my watch on my wrist and grab my bag. It was now 5:00 pm.
I flick on the bedside lamp before leaving the bedroom. Entering the living room I also turn on the large floor lamp next to the couch. I will be able to see where I am going when we get back from dinner.
I sit down for a moment on the couch giving myself a pep talk. You just need to be yourself, Angela. Don’t divulge too much information about yourself. You don’t want to give anything away that might crack open your biggest secret. Therefore, don’t mention your parents. Don’t drink too much and don’t ask too many questions.
I stand up from the couch and open the front door, my intention to walk to the main house. Instead, Elliot is standing there with his arm outstretched, as if he was about to knock on the door. My mouth drops open, he looks so darn handsome. I feel as though my heart is about to burst.
My eyes travel over his body. He is wearing grey jeans and a collared baby blue dress shirt, with the top button open at the collar. I can see that some pale blond chest hair is playing peekaboo at the top. Damn it, I just want to kiss him, right there. When I raise my eyes back to his I can see he is looking over me the same way, except he isn’t thinking about chest hair, I hope not, anyway. “You look beautiful, Angela. Stunning really” He pauses. “Damn I really am a lucky man.” He offers me his hand, which I take immediately and we kiss. Not a gentle kiss either. It is as though we are hungry for each other. When we pull away, we look deeply into each other’s eyes.
“Okay, we better get going before you let me kiss you again. Because Angela, if I do, I think I might just push us back into that guest house, and not stop until it’s time to take you home.”
I let out a giggle at this statement from Elliot. “I agree.” I close the door behind me, as if somehow that will stop him. I then tug his hand in the direction of the waiting car. We wander toward the front house together, our fingers threaded together. Opening my door for me, Elliot helps me into the back seat of the black SUV we arrived in yesterday. I noticed Price is already positioned in the driver’s seat. Once Elliot gets comfortable in the seat beside me, Price turns over the engine, and starts to pull out of the driveway.
We don’t travel long at all. Maybe ten minutes before we are slowing and entering a residential estate. The homes here are just as large as the ones surrounding Elliot’s mansion. His parents must also have money, as I remember him mentioning
they still live in the home he grew up in. I look over at Elliot and squeeze his hand in order to get his attention. “Promise me that you won’t leave me tonight,” I whisper.
He meets my eyes, raises my hand to his lips and kisses each of my knuckles. “I’ll never leave you, Angela,” he replies.
This statement holds a lot more weight than it should. I am simply asking him to not leave me alone with either of his parents and yet his words ring with another emotion. Like there is another promise behind it. One that tells me that he will never leave me, not just for tonight, but for always. I feel giddy, like all my Christmases have come at once. How could he possibly know that this is my biggest fear? The reason I am hesitant to enter a relationship with this man.
My past tells me something. The people who I love leave me. Whether it be my grandparents, who had no choice, I know, but still they are gone. My parents leave me every Christmas, taking off on a fantastic vacation, never even asking if I would like to go, too. Liam has left me for his fiancée, once again not his fault, friends do that. And he hasn’t technically left me, it’s just we don’t see each other anywhere near as much as we used to. Then there is Elliot, the one I know will leave me in the future.
We soon come to a stop and I see that we are parked out the front of a large house. In the evening light I can see that it has similar elements to Elliot’s, however this one appears to be a newer construction.
I prepare myself, by taking several deep breaths. Elliot has slid out of the car already and is making his way around the back of the vehicle, on his way to open my door. He really is a gentleman. You can do this, Angela. It’s just dinner with Elliot’s parents. The door beside me opens, Elliot’s hand is outstretched, ready for me to take it. I make a rather graceful exit, thankful for my flat shoes, and stand beside him. With our hands intertwined we walk a couple of steps to the front door. Elliot lifts his free hand and knocks on the door, announcing our arrival. Here goes nothing, I think to myself.
~ Chapter Twenty-Six ~
We don’t have to wait long at the door. Exactly long enough for me to inhale, hold and exhale five deep breaths. It opens slowly and I see a kind gentleman standing in the door. I know instantly this is Elliot’s father as they look so similar. Arthur is shorter than Elliot by a good inch and his hair still shows some evidence of the sandy blond it once was. However it has now been mostly taken over by the more dominant grey in some areas. He smiles warmly at us both, before giving his full attention to his boy.
“Son. It’s so good to see you” He reaches out and pulls Elliot close in a hug. I notice that Elliot reciprocates completely. They clap each other on the back three times.
Upon releasing Elliot, Arthur looks at his son and clasps his shoulder. They then both turn their attention to me. “Angela. This is my father, Arthur Sands. Dad, this is Angela.”
I smile and offer my hand in a handshake which Arthur takes immediately. He has quite a firm grip. A handshake of someone who does this action quite often. “Hello Mr. Sands. It’s lovely to meet you.” Momentarily it feels strange to refer to him this way, as only a couple of weeks ago this was how I referred to the man standing next to me.
“Angela. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. Please come in. Oh, and call me Arthur.”
I nod. “Thank you, Arthur” He stands to the side of the door and allows us entrance into his home.
Elliot’s hand locates my own, intertwining our fingers. Once we are inside he pulls me along a hallway toward the back of the home. This hallway hasn’t got the same grand feel of Elliot’s. Although there are lifted ceilings, close to ten feet high, the architectural features are lacking. Two large glass pendants hang from the ceiling at equal intervals providing light. The walls, painted in a deep navy blue above a white wainscoting base, makes it feel as though it is coming in on me. I walk hurriedly beside Elliot towards the light at the end of the tunnel.
The end of the tunnel is a large living area flooded with artificial light from the many lamps scattered around the room, along with the large crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the room. While I am looking around, I notice a petite middle-aged woman with honey blonde hair sitting in a single armchair. She must have heard our footsteps as she looks up and upon seeing her son she smiles and stands up, walking over toward us all in one fluid movement.
I notice that she is still a very attractive woman. Her hair cut just so to frame her face. Her frame, although petite, is very womanly, keeping her looking youthful. The lack of wrinkles is disconcerting for a moment, until I pay a little more attention to see she is wearing a full face of makeup. Her eyes are the same hue as Elliot’s. This has to be his mother, Maggie.
“Elliot. Sweetheart. Come give your mother a hug” Her voice is soft, although I believe I could hear her from the other side of the room, it is that clear. I expect him to release my hand immediately. Instead he continues to keep our hands together until the last moment possible, when he reaches around and hugs her with both arms, kissing her on both cheeks. As soon as he releases her he takes hold of my hand once more. His movements are not lost on his mother, her deep blue eyes following like a hawk.
“And you must be Angela?” She reaches out to me offering an embrace. I hug her back with one arm as Elliot refuses to let go of my other. Her two arms are around me, rather loosely.
“Yes. I’m Angela. Thank you for having us over for dinner, Mrs. Sands,” I reply.
She smiles warmly at me. “Oh. There is no need to be formal. Please call me Maggie.”
“Ah. You found your mother, then.” Arthur comes around the corner at that moment and commences to walk toward us with two wine glasses in his hand. He offers them to Elliot and me when he reaches where we are standing. Once we both have our wine in hand, he says “Come. Let’s sit down,” and wanders over to a large wingback armchair, the matching one to Maggie’s just-vacated arm chair.
Elliot pulls me with him over toward the two-seater couch. Sitting opposite his father, we are seated. He lets go of my hand finally, only to then place it on my thigh. He is making a show of how comfortable we are together and even though I am nervous, I feel relaxed too. This is mainly due to the fact that my dress is cut well and falls below the knee, especially when I sit down. I look respectable. I’m covered up.
In an attempt to show Elliot some form of public display of affection, I decide to place my hand on top of his own. I feel a lot more confident. His body contact does this to me. It also gives me great joy that he seems comfortable keeping body contact with me at all times. Even in front of his parents. And in truth, it helps settle my nerves that are running rampant in my body.
Maggie has returned to sit down in the arm chair that she was seated in when we first entered the room. “So, Angela. Elliot mentioned that you will be heading home tomorrow. If you don’t mind me asking, where is home for you?” She is looking at me, awaiting an answer.
I can’t believe that they jump straight into asking me questions. So much for my plan of sitting back and watching the family dynamic, hopefully going through the night relatively unnoticed. Well, I better give this lady an answer. Remember, Angela, don’t give out too much information.
“Unfortunately yes. I do need to head home tomorrow. Nashville is home for me, Maggie. I relocated from New York four years ago.”
I feel Elliot give my hand a small squeeze, he thinks my answer is perfect, he is supporting me. Letting me know that he is here for me throughout this evening. I lift my glass to my lips and wet them without drinking any liquid. I have to ensure I don’t drink too much alcohol tonight. However, what it would appear to everyone else is that I am sipping my wine.
“How on earth did you two run into each other, then, if you’re based in Nashville?” This time it is Arthur asking the question.
I prepare myself to answer but Elliot starts before I can.
“I’ve purchased a property on the outskirts of Nashville. In the suburb of Belle Meade. Angela and I met when she sold me t
he property.”
I am thankful for him answering the question for me. As he did earlier for me, I reciprocate, providing a small squeeze to his hand.
I notice his parents both nod and look at each other. “Another project son. You know how I feel about you taking on more projects. You already work too hard as it is.”
It is his mother who speaks this time, her statement full of motherly worry. “Please tell me it will be a quick turnaround?”
I know that they are asking about selling the home once it is complete.
“I’m not sure I will sell this one, Mom. It’s similar to my home here in Greenwich. I think I may use it as a vacation home” This shocks his parents. Maggie’s eyes appear to double in size at this comment.
Arthur is next. “But you always sell once you’re finished.” As though he is simply stating a fact.
“Not always Father. You will understand when you see it. You will see why I fell in love with it and just had to own it.” At this comment I notice them both look at me. No doubt they thought this statement had a double meaning and that I had something to do with this. As though I am the one who suggested he keep a hold of the property for when he comes to see me. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I need to lay some cards straight on the table.
“I understand your thought process, Arthur. I will be appraising the property once it’s complete, to provide Elliot with a new sale price. I will also be keeping him abreast of any changes in the sales market so he knows when the market is hot. I have also advised him that I will be happy to list it for him when the time comes. If he chooses to sell.”
They simply nod at me. Their attention goes back to Elliot as soon as I stop speaking.
“You have certainly given me a lot to think about, Angie.” He leans in and gives me a soft peck on the cheek. It is so quick it feels as though the window was open, allowing a soft breeze to touch my face as it blows past.
