Chapter Fourteen
Ileant back in my office chair and stretched. It had only just passed eleven thirty, but it felt like an entire day had gone by. So many of the townsfolk are either coming down with the flu or various other ailments. I was already exhausted.
A glance at the wall clock confirmed I still had an hour and half to wait until Perry got here.
He was bringing me lunch and a surprise.
We hadn't seen each other since Saturday night.
I still couldn't believe he'd stayed until I'd fallen asleep, and he'd even tidied up the sitting room and kitchen and had washed my skirt.
I was seriously going to have to up my game.
Perry was proving to be a perfect Daddy.
Each day since Saturday, we'd had hour-long phone calls, some even going longer, talking about everything and nothing.
I'd learned that his family was large and entirely crazy in the best kind of way.
His mother was a retired headmistress who had loved her pupils just like her own children, with warmth and acceptance.
Perry's father, the Earl Bowers, was very much not what most people would imagine an earl to be.
Between his voracious work in the World Wildlife Foundation to picketing fox hunts before they become illegal, the man had a passion for the land and especially the farmers who worked it.
Perry had explained that while the family had a title and the house, it had come to be a costly undertaking.
He helped them run fetes and open houses to keep the house running and when they weren't doing that, they were raising money for the hospital and shelter here in town.
I'd told him I wanted to buy more skirts and not just save them for my middle space. I loved the way they made me feel, and I loved the way Perry had looked at me when I was wearing them. He made me feel sexy and seen. He'd said he would take me shopping for new skirts, and I couldn't wait.
The plan, so I'd been informed, was I was going to meet them this weekend. His mother was very excited to meet me, same with his father. How had I gone from valiantly single to meeting my boyfriend's parents? Holy shit I had a Daddy and a boyfriend.
What the hell had happened?
I was seriously not complaining, but I still had trouble getting my head around the whole thing. Only a few weeks ago, Perry and I were too busy grouching at each other.
Ugh my mug was empty. I probably had enough time to sneak a quick cuppa in before my next patient, a new one from the looks of it. Rhys said they had called and asked for an appointment today and were quite insistent.
“Rhys.” I got up and walked through to the waiting room. Rhys was sitting at his desk glaring across the room. I followed his gaze and my blood boiled. My father was sitting in one of the chairs looking uncomfortable and angry.
“Mr Dandforth,” Rhys nodded towards my father, “got here early and would like to let you know it's not good to be kept waiting and that you have rude staff.” Rhys shrugged, shooting another glare towards my father.
An angry Rhys was much like an annoyed beagle puppy.
Lots of noise but rather cute, but my father wouldn't see the humour where I had trouble holding back a laugh.
“All I asked was to see some ID and NHS number so I could fill out the records for a new patient, and he told me to mind my own business,” Rhys said. Rhys bristled under my father’s gaze.
The man had that effect on most people, and I didn't want to subject him to any more of my father’s toxic presence. I shook my head at my father of course the man had used a fake name to come see me, heaven forbid anyone would know he had set foot in my clinic.
“Don't worry about it, Rhys. Anyone after his appointment?”
“No. Mrs Wilmington cancelled and asked for an appointment on Friday when she's coming into town next.”
“Makes sense. I'll give her a call to check in with her later.” I didn't take my eyes of my father, trying to work out why he was showing up here when I knew that anything medical related, they travelled to their own doctor three towns away.
“Rhys, why don't you take your lunch early, go spend some time with Simon. Lock the door when you leave. Perry knows to go around the back.”
“Are you sure?” Rhys side-eyed my father. “Is this guy here for trouble?”
I shot my father a cold look and sighed. “Probably, but I can handle him. Go on, have your lunch, be back by two.” I waited until Rhys had closed the surgery door before turning back to my father.
“What are you doing here?”
My father ignored my comment and barged past me straight into my office. It struck me that in the years I'd been back in Tewsbury practicing, they had never set foot in my home or surgery.
I walked behind him unconsciously, straightening my shoulders.
The man always made me feel like I was standing in front of a regiment commander, not a parent.
I walked around my desk and sat down in my chair.
I refused to let my father bait me with his silence.
He would either talk or walk out and quite frankly, I knew which option I would prefer.
I looked at the snow globe of the Tewsbury lighthouse, a gift from Rhys in my Christmas stocking. I picked it up and tipped it while watching the snow dance around the lighthouse.
“You live here I take it?” My father's voice was like a whip, harsh and loud. I never heard him speak kindly or with an ounce of affection in his tone even towards my mother.
“I do.” I leant back in my chair, crossing my arms and hoping he read my body language and just fucked off.
“You are aware that we are having dinner for our anniversary next week.”
“Anne mentioned something about it.” Anne had indeed brought up the event and how we were both trying to find ways to avoid going, but my father being here did not bode well for our planned avoidance.
“You both need to be there. You can bring someone. I'd prefer you brought Elizabeth but last I heard, she has got herself entangled with some Portuguese tennis player.”
They were actually Italian, and it was the tennis player and his wife and good luck to her. Elizabeth had mellowed since the divorce, and I was happy for her.
“Good for her. She needed a bit more fun in her life.”
“Cullen, how can you say such a thing? The shame her poor mother must be feeling right now.”
“I'm sure once she pulls herself out of her gin coma and remembers she has a daughter, she might feel something.” I shrugged, ignoring my father’s outraged scowl.
“You've been nothing but a disgrace to this family with your perversions. They are already affecting poor Benji. If your mother and I were younger, we would raise him ourselves. Your sister obviously has no idea what she is doing.”
I stood, slamming my hands down on the table.
The rage that had started to build at the sight of my father had now reached its boiling point.
“You will do no such thing. Anne is an amazing mother and a parent to be proud of. Nothing like the vile, hateful parents you and mother were. If you are so embarrassed by us, why do you want us at the damn thing?”
“For the sake of appearances. It wouldn't be right if our two children didn't attend. There will be some very important people attending, and they put a lot of stock in family. If you do this, then you and Anne are free of any family obligations for the foreseeable future.”
“Fine. I'll ask my boyfriend to accompany me.” I wouldn't actually expect Perry to come. I couldn't inflict my parents on him, but it was nice to see my father squirm.
“If you must. I'll get Sophia to send out an invitation. Try to dress nicely.”
I rolled my eyes. “I shall await its arrival with bated breath. Don't worry, Father, I'll leave the arse-less chaps at home and wear something appropriate.”
“Well, it seems we've nothing else to discuss. Goodbye, Cullen.” My father turned on his heel and left, striding out of my office like he'd won some great battle. Why the hell had I agreed to go? I suppose supporting Anne because I knew my parents would bully her into it.
I dropped my head to my desk and groaned. It was going to be an absolute nightmare.
A soft rap on the doorframe had me lifting my head. Perry stood in the doorway looking concerned.
“Hey. Come in.” Perry strode around the table and bent down to wrap his arms around me. He smelt faintly of the hair products from the salon and the spicy aftershave he loved to wear. I immediately felt comforted.
“I saw Rhys heading down the street. He said you had to deal with some arsehole.” I closed my eyes while he held me in the safe cradle of his arms. I could grow addicted to this.
“My father, so yeah, Rhys was correct in his opinion of some arsehole.” Perry loosened his hold on me to pull back and look at my face.
“Are you really okay?” Perry kneeled so he's eye level with me, making it easier for me to lean over and kiss him before I sat back.
“Yes and no. My father wants Anne and I to attend this anniversary dinner for him and my mother. They have a lot of toffs from the area coming and want to pretend they have a happy family.” I lifted my eyes skyward for a second remembering the last time they pulled this crap.
“Anne and I are trotted out as the perfect family members.
Anne is the happy army wife and me the country doctor.
It's all very cloying, and I'd much rather nail my balls to the wall than attend, but it keeps them out of my hair for a few years if I agree.”
“I'm sorry you have to deal with this sweetheart. Is there anything I can do?”
“Um so I might have said I was bringing my boyfriend.” I could feel my cheeks heat as I tell him. Perry's face was impassive for a moment, then broke into a gorgeous grin.
“You mean me, right?” Perry asks.
I shove him and roll my eyes. “No, I mean my other boyfriend.” Perry rose from his knees and pushed me back into my chair, pinning me with his body.