“You most definitely are,” Dad replied.
Was it any wonder I loved Evelyn?
She and my mother were scarily similar. Neither one was short of confidence, that was for sure. They liked to say what was on their mind, and I wasn’t sure it ever occurred to either of them to, you know.
Keep it to themselves.
Then again, I could relate to that.
Hmm.
Mum side-eyed him. “Would you like some eggs?”
“I would love some eggs, thank you.” Dad sat down next to me. “How are you this morning, pudding?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “The party is today. I kind of wish I was there to see it after everything, but it’s for the best.”
He nodded slowly. “What can we do today? Would you like to go somewhere and take your mind off it?”
“No, but thank you.” I leant against him, resting my head on his shoulder. “I asked Cam to give Evelyn her present.”
Mum’s eyebrows raised. “You gave her a birthday present?”
“I helped…” I stopped talking. “I helped find gift ideas,” I settled on after a moment. “I got her a bottle of wine and a packet of paintbrushes.”
“Interesting choice,” Dad said.
“Not really. She lamented the giant birthday party and said she’d rather have one of those nights where you drink wine and paint.”
Mum chuckled. “So you got her wine and paintbrushes.”
I looked down, smiling.
“Wouldn’t she need paint for that?” Dad questioned.
“Yeah,” I replied slowly. “I… Hugo bought her paint.”
“Ah.”
Mum snorted. “You co-ordinated his grandmother’s birthday present and you’re sitting here in my kitchen feeling sorry for yourself? Good grief, Sophie.”
“Mandy,” Dad said firmly.
“No. I personally hope he finds out that she’s here and I can meet my future son-in-law.” She peered over her shoulder at me. “People who have known each other for a week do not co-ordinate their birthday presents for a family member.”
“It was a joke,” I replied.
She put eggs in the boiling water and set the timer, then slipped toast into the toaster and set it. “The point still stands. You appear to have gotten awfully close to these people in a very short space of time.”
“Everyone except his mother.”
“She sounds like a right mean cow,” Dad said, nodding slowly.
“Oh, Steve.” Mum took the toast that popped and replaced it with more slices. “Don’t be rude.”
He rolled his eyes.
“I’m going to grab my phone,” I said, getting up and leaving the kitchen.