Chapter 17
17
The inside of the house was every bit the country chic that Daisy had imagined from the outside.
Dark oak flooring in the hallway gave way to a tiled-floor kitchen, where duck-egg blue counter tops were fashioned in a traditional style, with an Aga nestled at one end and a large dining table in the centre. The windows were deep-set and whitewashed, accented with small roller blinds, whilst large troughs filled with herbs sat on the windowsill. It was the type of house Daisy had dreamed of, when she first thought of growing up, getting married and having children. The type of house where you could hear the thunder of feet on the floorboards above you and rattles of laughter as siblings chased one another up and down the staircase and around the copious garden. It was the type of kitchen where she could have imagined propping a little one up on a stool and teaching her to make scones and cakes, the way her mother had done for her. A house filled with laughter and love. That was what it felt like this house should have been, yet at that moment, it felt as if both those aspects were thoroughly missing.
‘I take it the drive was all right?’ Theo’s father asked. Daisy was well aware that they hadn’t yet been introduced, but given that he had made no attempt to speak to her, she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to extend any form of greeting. Instead, she lingered behind Theo, like she was some terrified schoolgirl, not a grown businesswoman who was meeting her fiancé’s family.
‘Traffic was good, actually. We left early. Thankfully, Daisy’s used to the early mornings, what with the coffee shop and everything.’
Daisy smiled gratefully at Theo for trying to include her in the conversation, but before she could comment, Penelope was speaking again.
‘Ahh, yes. You’re a waitress, isn’t that right?’
‘No, I’m not,’ Daisy replied tersely, only to see the flicker of satisfaction on Penelope’s lips. Of course she knew Daisy wasn’t a waitress. She was goading her and Daisy had stupidly bitten, but she wasn’t going to let Penelope get the last laugh and so she continued, ‘I have to say, I have great admiration for wait staff, though. I know how difficult some of the people I have to deal with as the owner of the coffee shop can be. And that’s only takeaway. I can’t imagine how tough it must be when you’re stuck serving rude, entitled customers on a table you can’t get away from.’ She locked her eyes on Penelope as she said this last line, making it entirely clear who she was talking about. As Theo’s mother pouted, Daisy smiled as broadly and warmly as she could. ‘But I happen to love my job, running my own business, which is doing incredibly well, actually. I’m very lucky.’
If it was possible to hear someone’s teeth grinding together, Daisy was certain she would have done, as Penelope’s lips twitched and pursed as if she was having to stop herself from snarling. A paused elongated between them, and Daisy was sure she was about to bite back, but instead, Penelope offered her only a beaming smile.
‘Well, then, I’m sure this weekend will be quite the relaxation you need. Now, I’ll put the kettle on. Was it tea or coffee you wanted?’
‘I’ll have?—’
‘Actually, Mum,’ Theo said, cutting across Daisy before she could speak, ‘the drive over was really hot and sweaty. Daisy and I were just saying how we’d like to grab a shower before we have a drink. You don’t mind, do you?’
Penelope’s smile twisted, tightening and contorting as she peered down her nose.
‘Of course not, darling. This is your home. You may do as you wish.’
‘Thank you.’
‘There are spare towels on your bed. Try not to get them too dirty.’