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“Oh? Boys’ day?” Lacy asks, her smile small but there, and I sigh.
“Since you won’t let me go with you, I need a distraction,” I murmur, keen to take the opportunity with Sawyer in town to talk to him about the situation at Lacy’s college while she isn’t here.
“I will be fine, I promise. Mom is the one doing the hard work today, not me,” she reiterates as I see her trimming the stems on some wildflowers that Harvey picked for her. She was only popping in to get the paperwork she needed for the hospital today but took the time to cuddle my son after he presented her with the bouquet this morning, and now she is taking great pride in getting them ready for the vase. I like having her in my house, moving around my kitchen; this whole situation is very domesticated, and it feels good.
“Morning, lovebirds,” Connor says, waltzing into the kitchen like he owns the place. Lacy rolls her eyes as I shake his hand and give him a backslap.
“Door was open!” Sawyer says, announcing his entrance. Connor comes and goes from place so regularly he is almost part of the furniture, so I’m not surprised they just walked in.
“Nice flowers. Pick them yourself?” Connor asks Lacy, clearly teasing her, and I see their dynamic now. At first, I was jealous, but now I see them more like siblings. It’s hilarious, actually.
“As a matter of fact, they are from Harvey,” Lacy says proudly. “Did you tell the boys how much you luuurrved the massage in New York? So much so, you are hiring the therapist and practically dragging her to Whispers?” Lacyteases him, and Sawyer and I cough out a laugh. Connor was less than impressed that he had a sound healing massage when I whisked Lacy away from her work commitments back in New York, but Connor doesn’t have a quick comeback like he usually does, which has me squinting at him.
“Are you blushing?” I ask, shocked. Connor doesn’t get embarrassed about anything, and now my interest is piqued.
“Shut up,” he mutters, before heading to my refrigerator and opening it, grabbing out the juice.
“What did I miss?” Sawyer asks, and Lacy and I look at each other in shock at the coy way Connor is acting. I’m about to push him some more to find out exactly what happened in New York with this therapist, because something clearly did, when my gate intercom buzzes again.
“I’ll check it!” Harvey hollers as I look at my best friend. A grin slowly comes to my face at the realization that Connor Whiteman is not as infallible as people might think.
“Who is it, buddy?” I ask Harvey as he walks back to us.
“Ahhh, it’s Poppy and Nanna,” he says, and I still.
“Who?” Sawyer asks, frowning, and I run my hands through my hair. Of course they didn’t tell me when they were arriving. So typical of them to just turn up unannounced.
“My former in-laws,” I say as my eyes flick to Lacy.
“Oh shit, I didn’t know they were here; otherwise, wecould have come by tomorrow,” Connor says, and I shake my head.
“I knew they were coming; I just didn’t know it was today. They failed to mention exactly when they might come to town.” Seeing them now is one of the last things I want to do today.
“I should go. I’ll just get these beautiful flowers in some water, then I will leave you all to it,” Lacy says with a tight smile as her movements quicken, clearly uncomfortable with the situation on top of what is already a stressful day for her.
She is beautiful today, even with a million things on her mind. I don’t care if my former in-laws meet her. It was bound to happen one day; it might as well be now because she isn’t going anywhere. Before I can say anything else, I hear the front door open.
“Anyone home!” my former father-in-law yells out as he walks in like he owns the place. Not that dissimilar to Connor, yet Gordon is no friend of mine. I take a deep breath to steel myself, trying to remain courteous for Harvey’s sake.
“Good morning, Gordon. I wasn’t expecting you today,” I say, letting him and everyone else here know that their visit is unexpected.
“Oh, Gordon, you said you told him we were coming,” Gloria, my former mother-in-law, huffs from behind him. “I hope we’re not interrupting?” Coming into the kitchen, she sees everyone here. Dressed to impress, high heels on and fully made up, as only a socialite from the city can be.
“Not at all. You remember, Connor. And this is myfriend, Sawyer,” I say to her as I step forward and kiss her on the cheek in greeting. It hasn’t gotten past me that Harvey remains back at the table, obviously not eager to see them either. I don’t blame him. He hasn’t seen them in a while, and even then, their visits were few and far between, despite them wanting full control and say in his life. They are practically strangers.
“And this is my partner, Lacy,” I introduce them, my gaze finding Lacy in the kitchen, but I freeze as soon as I take her in. She’s holding the vase of flowers, smiling and looking radiant, but then her eyes lock on my father-in-law, and she goes deathly pale.
“Lacy?” I question, as Connor frowns and takes a small step toward her protectively, and Sawyer looks at my in-laws inquisitively.
“Lacy?” I move toward her and take the vase from her shaking hands, and she clears her throat.
“I need to go,” she says quietly, looking at me, my father-in-law, and back to me again. I can hear her breathing quicken, and she seems a little panicked. While I expected meeting my former in-laws may create a little awkwardness, I wasn’t expecting this level of fear. She swallows audibly before she gives everyone a fake smile and practically bolts from my kitchen, striding right out the door.
I look over everyone, confused, before I shove the vase of flowers into Connor’s hands and run after her.
“Lacy,” I call out as I reach her outside my front door. “Wait.” Grabbing her elbow, I turn her to face me. My breath catches at the petrified look on her face, and my senses heighten.
“Talk to me, baby. Tell me what’s going on,” I ask her, searching her eyes. Clearly, she isn’t okay. I can almost feel the unease vibrating from her body, but I have no idea why, and it has my heart pounding.