Forever Love at Wildflower Lock (The Wildflower Lock #4)

Chapter 16

16

It was only when Theo’s parents disappeared into the house that Daisy let out a long sigh of relief that sounded more like a gasp. A moment later, Theo was standing by her side, taking her hands.

‘Well, I guess I know what you mean about standoffish,’ Daisy said. Now that she was away from the situation, the conversation they’d just had was starting to sink in. ‘She did that on purpose, didn’t she? Calling me the wrong name?’

Theo paused. A slight cough caught in his throat before he released it as a groan.

‘I’m sorry. I’d love to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I did say there was a reason I lived so far away.’ He shook his head and let out a groan even longer than the first one. ‘I honestly thought introducing you was the right thing to do, so we could tell her about the engagement together, but she’s much better when there are more people. I should have thought about that. I mean, I’m sure she’ll get better. It’s a defence mechanism, you know? Mum always has to feel like she’s got one over on you. I have no idea why, but after that, she tends to mellow out a bit. But if it’s going to be too difficult, we don’t have to stay.’ As he looked down at Daisy, a sense of sadness and disappointment filled his eyes. ‘I can ring the hotel. See if they can squeeze us in for an extra night.’

Daisy was torn. In her opinion, Penelope needed to do a lot more than mellow to become anywhere near palatable. After all, who aimed to get things over on people they didn’t even know? Certainly not the type of person she would choose to spend any time with. But however strong a dislike she had taken to the woman, she was still Theo’s mother, and he wouldn’t have brought her there to meet his family unless it was important to him.

‘No, it’s fine,’ Daisy said, trying to project an inner strength and positivity she didn’t feel. ‘I’m sure she was just nervous about meeting me, too. I mean, she’s bound to be a bit wary of this girl her son moved back around the country for. Especially when they’ve never even met me.’

‘Exactly,’ Theo said, relief washing over his face. ‘I’m sure when we tell them about the engagement, they’ll be over the moon, just you wait and see.’

Excitement returned to Theo’s face and with it, a sense of optimism in Daisy. It had been a rough introduction, that was all. And it wasn’t like she and Theo had had the best first meeting. Yes, the more she thought about it, the more she decided that the old line about first impressions wasn’t really true at all. Theo’s parents would love her and she would love them, too. She was sure of it.

As she slung her bag over her shoulder and slipped her hand into Theo’s, she looked up at him and frowned.

‘Did they say we are sleeping in the guest bedroom? Is that what they did to your room after you moved out?’ she said. ‘Made it for guests?’

Rather than replying normally, as Daisy had expected Theo to do, he let out a loud scoff.

‘Oh no, the guest wing has always been there. They turned my room into storage for Mum’s dress-making and Dad’s golf clubs.’