“I’m your mother. I don’t have to call before coming to visit. You’re my only son, surely you haven’t forgotten.”
“Of course not, mother.”
“Which is why I brought you a gift,” she said. “Elizabeth Thomas.” I looked behind her at the empty doorway.
“Mum, you came alone.”
She sighed like she couldn’t believe what an idiot I was. “Of course, she’s not here. Keep up, Charles. Her family is in property development. Miles Thomas owns half of the Lower Westside.”
“Good for him. Mum, I really can’t talk right now.”
“She’s beautiful,” she said. “Look.” She pulled her phone out of her handbag and shoved it in my face. I pushed her hand away.
“Mum, I’m sure she’s lovely. I just told you I can’t talk right now.”
“Of course not. We have plans”
I stared at her. “We?”
“The Thomases are hosting a charity dinner tonight and they’re expecting us. I told them we would be there. What a nice way for you to meet your future bride. Oh, did I say bride? Well, that remains to be seen.” She looked at me impishly. I didn’t know where to start; her barging in here where she could run into Brenna at any moment or her inviting me to a charity function to meet a woman without telling me first.
“I’m not going, mother. I have plans tonight.”
“You can’t turn this down, I accepted on your behalf. They’re expecting you.”
“You shouldn’t have before asking me, mother. I’m not going. I’m not canceling plans to meet them. What is the charity event even for?”
“Plans?” she scoffed. “Are you meeting Niall? Don’t spend so much time with him, sweetheart, he’s gormless and has no prospects. Go get dressed. They want us at eight.”
“You always spring these things on me, mother. I’m not doing it. I told you. I have plans I have to honor, and they matter more to me than this meeting with your newest girlfriend for me.”
Her veneer of politeness dropped. I saw her jaw work and she squared her stance. “Have you forgotten what you did?”
“What?”
“Annaliese Barringer. I spent a whole afternoon talking to her mother, trying to explain, making sure we weren’t completely blackballed from their company. You humiliated me. Do you know what a slight like that could have done to your, and in turn my reputation?” she asked. She poked a finger into my chest. “Frankly, young man. You owe me.”
The wind went out of my sails. Annaliese Barringer hadn’t crossed my mind in weeks. Since reuniting with Brenna, she had become my number one focus. I knew that I was going to pay for what I did, and this kind of punishment wouldn’t have come as a shock if I wasn’t trying to make things work with Brenna right now.
She was going to have to hear about Brenna at some point. I wasn’t ready for that. There was nothing she could do about it, but I already knew her reaction wasn’t going to be happiness. We’d have to cross that bridge when we got to it. There was still time before Brenna started to show.
“I can’t do this, mother. Something else some other night but tonight, I can’t cancel my plans.”
“I expect to see you there. Do not embarrass me again.” She turned and started to walk out, then stopped. “Or I’m moving in here and parading a new woman in from of you every night until you choose one.” She left.
I sighed, clutching the bridge of my nose. Tonight, was going to be a long night.
16
Brenna
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I would have known that voice anywhere. That woman almost ruined British accents for me. Seven years, and she was back too. I didn't know why she hadn't crossed my mind this entire time. How the hell was I going to have Charlie back in my life without her?
Oh my God, Aunt Veronica. Niall kept going on and on about his aunt Veronica, how did I miss that? Charlie didn't mention her though. I wonder why, I thought cynically. I plastered myself to the wall and edged down a few more stairs so I could hear better. I missed the beginning but I was pretty sure she told him earlier that she wanted him to go to a charity auction or something, tonight.
“Annaliese Barringer. I spent a whole afternoon talking to her mother, trying to explain, making sure we weren’t completely blackballed from their company. You humiliated me. Do you know what a slight like that could have done to your, and in turn my reputation? Frankly, young man. You owe me.”
“I can’t do this, mother. Something else some other night but tonight, I can’t cancel my plans.”