CHAPTER 25 #2
“And you, sweetheart? Milk and sugar?” she asks, still gentle, still kind, even after seeing Remi take my hand in his.
I nod, managing a grateful smile. “Yes, please. Thank you.”
Her kindness softens something in me. I still don’t know where this conversation is heading, but for now, I feel… safe.
Remi must sense how anxious and on edge I am, because he pulls me even closer, letting the warmth of his body seep into mine.
He strokes my cheek tenderly, his fingers lingering on my skin, and in his eyes, I see everything he can’t put into words, steady, quiet reassurance that grounds me instantly.
At last, I begin to relax, leaning into him, soaking in that deep sense of safety only he can give me. While his family begins sipping their tea, I steel myself for whatever reaction may come, knowing that no matter what happens, he’ll be by my side, just as I’ll be by his.
Remi clears his throat, and I can feel his whole body tense beside me; he’s nervous, too, no question. But when he finally speaks, his voice is calm and sure.
“Mum, I waited to tell you because I wanted to do it in person… but it’s been a few weeks now since Maddie and I broke up.”
Emma nods, taking the news in stride. She doesn’t look especially surprised, and neither do Ben or Maude. No one says a word, which somehow makes the silence feel heavier. Then Remi draws in a quiet breath and goes on, his voice a little softer now.
“Since then, something else has happened. Something important, something I wanted to talk to you about in person. I didn’t plan for it to come out this weekend… certain things kind of pushed my hand. But maybe it’s for the best.”
He pauses, turning to me with a look so full of meaning, it takes my breath away. It’s as if he’s asking for my blessing to keep going. I nod and give him a quiet smile, trying to pour everything I’m feeling into it. He smiles back, steadier now, and carries on.
“You already know Sebastian used to date Maddie back in high school. He’s been staying with me in London since she left for New York.
That was actually her idea. And I’ll admit, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about it at first, the thought of sharing my space with a total stranger, especially one who’d dated my girlfriend… ”
He lets out a quiet, awkward laugh, giving them a small, self-deprecating smile.
Maybe he’s afraid of hurting my feelings, but honestly, his initial concerns about me were completely fair. I squeeze his hand, hoping to reassure him, and he picks up on it right away. His shoulders relax slightly, and when he speaks again, there’s a new steadiness in his voice.
“You can probably imagine my surprise when, over time, not only did I start to really enjoy having him around, but I also began to feel something more… something deeper. I was drawn to him, properly drawn to him, and not in a way that could ever be mistaken for just friendship.”
Remi glances up at his mum, his eyes shining with emotion. I hold my breath, tension coiled tight in my chest like a wire stretched to breaking.
Emma rises and crosses the room, taking a seat beside him. She places a gentle hand on his leg and looks at him with the same warmth and love as always.
“Go on, sweetheart,” she says softly. “We’re listening.”
In the quiet that follows Emma’s words, Maude begins cracking her fingers one by one, and for the first time since we met, she actually seems to react to something. I can’t tell whether it’s a good or bad sign.
Remi seems reassured by their silence, as though it's giving him space rather than resistance. He takes a breath and goes on.
“At first, I was confused… I didn’t understand what I was feeling.
I’d never been attracted to a guy before Seb.
But eventually, I realized I’m bisexual.
Even so, Sebastian felt completely off-limits, for all the obvious reasons.
I was still in a relationship, and he wasn’t just Maddie’s ex; he was also one of her closest friends. ”
He glances around, hesitating just a beat before continuing, quieter now.
“I kept telling myself there was no future in what I felt for him. But in the end… I knew I couldn’t stay with Maddie, not when I was falling for someone else.”
“I thought I didn’t stand a chance with Sebastian,” Remi says, pausing to steady himself, “but even if nothing had ever happened between us, I knew I couldn’t stay with her.”
He draws a breath, and for a moment the whole room feels suspended, waiting for him to go on.
“When I realized, much to my surprise, that Seb felt the same way… I knew I couldn’t let him go.
I understand that when Maddie finds out, it’s going to be hard.
And that some of our friends might not understand or approve.
But there’s something I want to make absolutely clear: I never cheated on her.
Sebastian and I only started getting close after I ended things with Maddie.
And believe me, we both tried to fight what we were feeling.
But it was no use. In the end, we chose to give this a real shot, because maybe… we both deserve that chance.”
He turns to me with a gentle smile, still holding my hand, then looks back at his family, quietly bracing for their response.
The moment of truth has arrived, and the tension is so thick I can barely breathe. My head starts to spin, until, all at once, Emma wraps her arms around both me and Remi, pulling us into a warm, heartfelt hug. Her voice trembles with emotion as she speaks.
“Oh, darlings… You have no idea how happy I am for you. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to come here and tell us everything. That takes so much courage, and I’m so thankful you trusted us enough to share your story.”
She turns to Maude and Ben then, her eyes shining, and calls them over with a gentle look.
They approach slowly, as if unsure what to do, until Ben leans in and hugs us both, clapping our backs with such enthusiasm I nearly fall off the sofa. Maude, after eyeing us from head to toe with a neutral expression, surprises me by addressing me directly.
“Don’t be scared off by those two,” she says, nodding at Emma and Ben. “They’re a bit much, but totally harmless.”
Then, to my surprise, she reaches out a hand and says simply, “Welcome, Sebastian.”
I’m so overwhelmed with relief at being embraced by Remi’s whole family that a lump rises in my throat and my eyes sting with tears. But before I can properly fall apart in front of everyone, Remi gently draws me back into his arms, holding me close.
I bury my face in his chest, dampening the front of his T-shirt, and feel his breath warm against my ear as he whispers, “See, baby? What did I tell you?” Then he hugs me even tighter and presses a kiss to the top of my head.
I hear Emma chuckle nearby. “You’re absolutely smitten, darling… I hardly recognize you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this sweet with anyone in my entire life.”
“Same,” Maude adds dryly, which somehow makes it even better.
I can’t help but smile, heart full, proud to be the one bringing out this softer side of Remi. And if I have anything to say about it, he’s definitely getting spoiled with extra cuddles tonight.
I feel a flush rise up my neck, and it takes real effort to rein in the usual rush of heat his closeness stirs in me, definitely not the time for a family-level diplomatic incident.
Honestly, it already feels like a minor miracle that everyone took the news of Remi’s bisexuality, and of us, so well. The last thing we need now is to steer the conversation toward our sex life.
With the tension finally lifted and everything out in the open, we all settle into the comfort of warm tea and buttery biscuits Emma has so thoughtfully laid out. For the first time since that horrible outing with my own parents, I feel... at peace. Genuinely happy. Maybe even hopeful.
Knowing Remi’s family is in our corner makes me believe, just maybe, our friends might come around too, especially for him.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen how much they mean to him, how deeply woven into his life they are.
But also for me, because I don’t want to lose Anne, or the new friendships that are slowly, carefully beginning to grow.
Before any of that, though, there’s one conversation we can’t put off much longer.
We need to talk to Maddie.
Remi’s mum must be reading my mind. She gently steps back from the stream of chatter between him and Ben, something about the horse fair and people they both know, and lays a gentle hand on my arm, her expression warm and full of care.
“How are you, sweetheart? And please, call me Emma… Remi mentioned you've had a rough time at home. You don’t have to say anything, not unless you want to, but I just want you to know, if ever you need someone to talk to… I’m here.”
I instinctively place my hand over hers.
“Oh, Emma… you have no idea how much you and everyone else here have already helped me. Honestly, it’s been more than I ever expected.
Thank you for the offer and for everything.
I promise I’ll keep it in mind. I’m not quite ready to talk about what happened yet…
but being here, surrounded by so much kindness, it means everything. ”
She smiles, visibly moved. “And to me, it means everything to see my son this happy. Remi’s had his share of hard times, haven’t we all, but I’m so proud of the man he’s become.
I don’t think I’ve ever told him that properly.
After his father passed, there was a light in him that dimmed.
And even with all he’s accomplished, his work, his life in London, I could always tell something was missing. ”