Chapter 16 Becky #3
She told herself that this wasn’t the end of the world.
They’d make it through Christmas and then end it.
He’d had relationships that had ended before.
This was simply going to be another one of those.
They’d say it was amicable. They’d realised they just weren’t compatible.
That way it wouldn’t impact on their parents’ friendship.
Her confidence in her plan lasted until they walked back inside the house.
There, standing in the hallway, were Will’s parents, his mother’s eyes glistening with tears of joy and his father beaming.
His mother rushed over to them and wrapped Becky in her arms, hugging her tightly.
“Oh Becky, Becky, my dearest girl.”
Becky stood rigid. This was her worst nightmare. Also, was it possible to break ribs with a hug? Who knew Will’s mother was so strong.
“Jenny called us, and we came straight over! Why didn’t you tell us!
Oh, I’m so excited I’m all over the place.
Don’t be upset—I’m sure you wanted to tell us yourselves, but we couldn’t wait.
We’re so happy! This is the best Christmas gift you could have given us.
” She gave Becky another squeeze and then turned to her son.
“I don’t know whether to scold you or hug you—”
Becky wanted to say go for the scold—it hurts less but Will had already stepped forward to give his mother a warm hug.
“Hi, Mum.”
“That’s all you’re going to say?” His mother sniffed. “Why didn’t you say anything to us before now?”
“Well, because I—” Will met Becky’s horrified gaze across the top of his mother’s head. “We hadn’t really planned to announce it yet. It wasn’t the right time.”
“But what better time is there than Christmas, when the whole family is here to celebrate together? Your sister is going to be thrilled. What time is it in Canada? When can I call her? She has been worried you’ve been spending far too much time working.
” His mother turned and reached out a hand to Becky.
The tears were now streaming down her cheeks.
“You’re so right for him. I’ve always known it. ”
Becky opened her mouth but no words emerged so she closed it again. Had Will’s mother been drinking? She was talking as if they were a match made in heaven, not a match made in desperation.
“Mum.” Will was calm. “You’re embarrassing Becky.”
“Don’t be embarrassed!” She squeezed Becky’s hands.
“You’ll give him a reason to come home in the evenings instead of spending all those hours in the hospital.
Perhaps you can even persuade him to take a lunch break.
He’s very good at his job of course, and we’re proud, but in the end there is more to life than work no matter how important that work is. Family should come first, every time.”
Becky couldn’t breathe. She was swamped by panic. She’d kidded herself that this was controllable but it was already bigger than she could handle. She wanted to hide behind the Christmas tree the way she had when she was very young.
This was terrible. Awful. What had she done?
Not only was this not what they thought it was, but it was clear that she wasn’t who they thought she was either. They saw her as some stay at home siren who would lure her son back from the hospital with the promise of lunch and lingerie.
Becky thought about the hours she spent in front of her laptop. “Work is important to both of us.” She finally croaked out some words but no one was listening to her.
His mother seemed to have gone into some sort of excited trance and her own mother was almost as bad, looking on with a happy smile.
“I always knew,” Will’s mother said. “I always knew the two of you shared something special. I said it years ago, didn’t I, Paul?” She looked at Will’s father, who nodded dutifully.
“You did say it. On more than one occasion.”
“I said, those two are perfect together and they don’t even know it .” She was beaming. “How did the two of you finally get together? I want all the details.”
It was like a very bad sitcom.
Becky was reeling. “Er—it was—” Her voice tailed off.
She didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t anticipated having to answer questions.
What had she started here? Panic tickled the back of her throat.
She needed to tell them. Right now. Before this became more complicated than it already was.
This just wasn’t fair on them. Or on Will. “Look, all of you—I need to—”
“It was sudden,” Will said smoothly, interrupting her before she could finish her sentence. “It crept up on both of us. And now this is all a bit overwhelming for Becky so I think we should all try and relax and tone it down. No more questions. She doesn’t love being the centre of attention.”
Thank goodness for Will. Thank goodness he knew her so well.
But he’d just made everything a hundred times more difficult for himself. Couldn’t he see that?
“No, of course. Forgive us, Becky,” Will’s mother said, but she exchanged a quick delighted smile with Jenny that clearly said I can’t wait to talk about this with you .
“Why don’t we all go back to the living room and have a drink next to that beautiful tree,” Jenny said.
“Jamie, take an order from everyone. It’s the party tonight so if people want to stick with tea that’s fine.
I have a beautiful blend of spiced Christmas tea that was a gift from one of Martin’s patients. It’s delicious.”
She urged everyone across the hallway and through the door where the fire was flickering and fairy lights were twinkling. So many fairy lights.
Becky had never seen so many lights in one place in her life.
She blinked, dazzled. It was like being inside Santa’s grotto or on a movie set. Her mother had clearly gone mad. Either that or there had been a sale in the local lighting store.
“I love this room.” Hayley gazed around her with something close to wonder. “It’s everything I imagined Christmas would be. Just perfect.”
So that explained it. Her mother had done it for Hayley. Making the place extra Christmassy.
Becky felt a burst of love for her mother but made a mental note not to come into this room with a hangover.
Percy was curled up behind the tree and Becky contemplated joining him.
“Well.” Her mother sat down, perched on the edge of the sofa. She looked happier than Becky had seen her look in a long time.
Her father, however, looked distracted.
Becky frowned as she studied him properly. He looked tired. Now that he was retired she’d expected him to look refreshed and energetic.
Was something wrong? Was it the stress of having everyone home or was it something else?
Making a mental note to find some time alone with him later, she sat down on the sofa next to Will.
He took her hand and she gave his a grateful squeeze.
She owed him. And she’d find a way to repay his kindness, and she could start by giving him an immediate escape.
“This is all very exciting, but I’m sure Will needs to get home,” she said, watching as Jamie walked into the room carrying a tray rattling with cups. “It has been a long journey and—”
“We were talking about that.” Will’s mother exchanged looks with Jenny.
“We agreed it makes no sense for the two of you to be separated over Christmas now that we know your secret. So Jenny and Martin have kindly invited Will to stay over the holidays, and we’re coming over to join you for Christmas lunch.
I’m bringing extra turkey and pigs in blankets!
After being friends for all these years I can’t believe our two families are going to be officially joined together. All together for Christmas.”
Stay?
Officially joined? All together for Christmas? Somehow they’d gone from fake dating to fake forever.
Becky closed her eyes. She couldn’t handle this. She wasn’t built to tell lies. She was hopeless at it.
And she had no idea how to untangle the mess she’d made.