“Remember, I helped with his parents’ anniversary party,” I said.
“Oh, yes, of course. But that’s done, isn’t it?” my father asked.
Devin gave his head a disapproving shake toward me. “The party was a success. Convincing Serena to see me in a non-professional situation has proven more difficult.”
“Oh!” My mother gasped.
I rolled my eyes.
“Serena is a smart woman who has a son to think about,” my father said, maintaining his fatherly duty.
“Andrew is a great kid.” Devin ruffled Andrew’s hair.
“Devin has an airplane and he’s going to take me for a ride, huh Devin?” Andrew tugged on Devin’s hand. Devin winced a bit, probably because it sounded like showing off to have a plane.
“I did say that.”
“Well…let me go get dinner finished,” my mother said, fluttering her hands about. “Honey, why don’t you help me,” she said to me. I knew that meant she was going to grill me.
Then again, that would leave Devin alone with my father who clearly wasn’t sold yet on him. Maybe he’d scare Devin away enough that I didn’t have to worry about his change of heart over relationships.
18
Devin
I meant what I said about being willing to see where this relationship with Serena would go. If over time, this draw I felt to her remained or grew stronger, chances were that I’d want to marry her. With that said, maybe agreeing to meet the parents wasn’t the best idea. My intentions were good in that I wasn’t using her just for sex. But I think she was right in that her mother was already planning our wedding and her father was ready to interrogate me.
At least Andrew was still around. Maybe he’d protect me.
“Want a drink, Devin?” her father asked. Was this a test? Should I say no, so I don’t look like a lush? Do I say yes to be polite?
“An Irish boy like you probably likes whiskey,” he said.
I nodded. “I like whiskey. You must be Irish too.”
He nodded. “Full bred. Alyse too.”
“Am I Irish, Grandpa?” Andrew asked.
“Through your mom, yes.”
I supposed that meant his father wasn’t Irish. I’d tried to push away thoughts of Andrew’s father. It was crazy how unsettling it was to think of another man touching Serena. And clearly, he didn’t respect her as he left her pregnant. What sort of dumb-fuck would do that?
I’d taught her a lot about sex the week I was with her five years ago, but she’d still be naïve about men, I supposed. And someone took advantage of that. I hated the idea of that too, although I could see she loved her son.
I wanted to ask about the boy’s father, but I knew I shouldn’t in front of him.
“What is Irish?” Andrew asked.
“It’s people who are from Ireland, or born from people from Ireland,” Mr. Moore explained, as he handed me a glass of straight whiskey.
“Are you from Ireland?” Andrew asked him.
“No, but my parents were as were your grandmother’s,” he said.
Andrew turned his inquisitive eyes to me. “Are you from Ireland, Devin?”
I shook my head. “No. My grandparents were. I’ve been there though. It’s very pretty.”