Chapter Six #4
Taking a deep breath, Louis kept his tone level. He was keeping his promise to not upset anyone. He would not hurt Rosie, no matter how much her parents stabbed his buttons.
And they were well and truly stabbing them repeatedly at full force.
“They are, actually. But family time is more important to them.”
Her mother huffed at that. “Any siblings?”
“I have two cousins, Vincent and Emerald. I am very close to them both, Emerald especially. Biologically she is my cousin. By circumstance she is my sister.” He paused, swallowing. Sadness flickered across his face as he remembered his loss.
His mother waved her hand, expecting him to expand. It had caught her interest, and she wanted to be nosey.
“Mother, he doesn’t have to give you details,” Rosie chided. “You are a stranger to him.”
Clearing his throat, he shook his head. “No, no. It’s fine. I brought it up. Emerald’s parents died when she was young. My parents took her in.”
“How sweet.”
Could you sound any more insincere?
Louis swallowed again, holding back his emotions. Rosie winced. He didn’t deserve this. He was a good man. That one was a direct hit, and he was hurting. Grief was not something to just brush over.
“Mother . . .” Rosie warned.
“Anastasia,” her father chastised, now stood in the kitchen with them. Then he amazed everyone and squeezed Louis’s shoulder. “I am sorry for your loss. And for Emerald’s. My wife’s words are uncalled for. Your parents did a wonderful thing for a child that needed them.”
Sighing, Rosie’s mother nodded. “Yes. You are right, I am being hard on him. I, too, am very sorry for your loss.”
Well, at least that was something.
Squeezing Louis’s arm to show affection, Rosie then kissed his back, so he knew she was there for him. However, right now, the kitchen was getting crowded and he needed time to breathe.
Leading her parents into the living room, she distracted them with questions about what they had been up to in the hope of giving Louis some space. He did it all, the cooking and cleaning. He set out the table and took their suitcases up since they had left them in the hall.
Even her mother was impressed when they sat down to eat.
There was almost complete silence since Rosie only heard the sound of cutlery on plates.
The food was utterly delicious, melt in your mouth perfection.
Her parents avoided speaking, clearly noticing they had pushed too far and didn’t want Louis to potentially get upset and angry.
Once finished and tidied away, Louis claimed her hand before turning to her parents.
“I am sure you would like to freshen up and unpack after your long journey. I took your suitcases upstairs for you and put them in the room Rosie indicated was yours. Could I please borrow your daughter for some time alone? We will just be in the garden.”
Her mother gave a single nod. “Since you cooked, and you are not going far, that is acceptable.”
Thank goodness for that.
Squeezing her hand with a victorious smile, he let go and headed back out to his car. Coming back in, he had a telescope and many blankets.
“What is this?” she asked, intrigued.
Shrugging, he suddenly went shy. “I remember you saying that you like looking at the stars, so I thought you might like to see them closer.”
That was . . . super sweet. That had been a very small comment weeks ago, and he had remembered.
“Are you serious?” She gasped. “I have never used a telescope before. I would love to see the stars in more detail!”
His smile was one of pure relief, and his shoulders relaxed. Clearly, he had been worried about it. There was nothing to be worried about, since he had pinpointed something special to her and made it even better.
Leading the way to her back garden, he set it all up on the grass, and now she could see why he wanted her to dress warmly. Cashmere was right at home on the blankets, so it looked like she was joining them.
“You just so happened to have a telescope and some blankets in your car?” she teased. If this was not something he did, did he buy this specially for her?
“It belongs to Emerald. I asked if I could borrow it, and I picked it up on my way to get you. This is her thing,” he answered honestly.
“I had no idea where to start when I went shopping, so she suggested using her equipment. Then I could see what you liked and go from there. I have detailed instructions on how to use it.”
“You plan to do this again?” she asked, her heart stopping.
Did this mean what she thought he was talking about? If he was planning on getting equipment just to use with her . . . he really was in this for the long game.
He asked you to be his girlfriend, duh.
But it was just now sinking in how real this was. He even put up with her parents for her.
Sheepishly, he started picking the grass. Seeing this strong man go shy made her smile. He was just as unsure about all this as she was.
“I am hoping to. Many times, actually. If you would like to?”
His gaze swept up and met hers. Grasping his cheeks, she pulled him in for a quick kiss. It was barely a peck, but it still felt like butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
“I would really, really like that.”
Excitedly, she looked through the telescope and gasped.
They were so beautiful seeing them closer.
So bright and sparkly. There were so many colours, too.
Never had she done this. Content with lying on the grass and staring at the sky, she thought that would be the closest she would ever get.
This was what brought her peace. She could have bought her own telescope, but that took time.
Research. Unfortunately, her job had consumed her time.
For a few quiet moments, Louis just let her watch the stars. Leaning back, she offered him the opportunity. He did a quick look, but his body language told her he had something to say.
“What is it?” she asked quietly.
Wincing, he leaned back. “Now I can see why you are how you are,” Louis said softly. “Why you need control. Perfection.”
She scooted away from him, embarrassed. Her cheeks flooded with heat. This was such a new relationship, and now he had met her parents. She hadn’t even prepared him, not thinking they would appear so soon.
“I am sorry,” she whispered, fighting back tears.
“Nothing to be sorry for.” Louis squeezed her hand, making her look at him.
His expression was so sincere. “That is no judgement. I am simply saying that I understand you better now, and I will be more respectful of that.” He grinned.
“However, I will say you owe me another date. One without your parents.”
That made her laugh. “What did you have in mind?”
Tapping his chin, he took a moment to think. Judging by his expression, she knew he was thinking about something and was just being dramatic to make her smile.
“Vince, Emerald, and I want to do an off-roading day, and we have it planned for next weekend. We get to go to the beach. See some awesome views. Take a picnic. I would love it if you came with me.”
“Will it get muddy?” she asked, thinking about how imperfect she would look at the end of the day.
He grinned. “Most likely. Emerald likes to test out her gadgets.”
“So, I get to meet your cousins in person?”
For some reason, that thrilled and terrified her. Meeting the family made it more official.
He met yours and dealt with it as a surprise, so this is only fair. And you get prior warning.
True.
Besides, she also had another advantage over Louis in this matter. She had spoken to them on the phone, so she at least knew them.
“Only fair. I met your parents,” he teased.
How hard could meeting them be? She was one hundred percent sure they would be warmer to her than her parents were to Louis.
Besides, he had done so much for her just today. Like the dinner. Moving the suitcases. Watching out for her. The telescope. Putting up with her parents. This was her chance to show that she was invested in him and his own interests.
Decision already made, she answered, “I would love to.”