Page 70 of British Daddy to Go

Sean

Mum and Dad were beyond thrilled when I called last night to tell them Maggie would be joining us for dinner.

I left out the part where she’d been held captive in her own home. Mum can be very sensitive, and she has a habit of taking on cases that she wants to fix. Maggie, aside from needing someone to get her out of her parents’ apartment, doesn’t strike me as the type to need fixing. If anyone can survive what she went through and turn around to do something incredible, it’s my Maggie.

I love the sound of that: my Maggie. When she told me she loves me, I’d nearly died. She had beaten me to the punch! It was worth it to see the look on her face when I’d told her I felt the same way. We’d spent the entire night showing each other just how in love we are.

“Are you sure I look okay?” Maggie asks. I look her over and hope the bulge in my pants won’t be visible to my parents.

“You look incredible, as always.”

She looks at her dress, unsure. “I should have worn one of the dresses I bought on sale at Macy’s instead of one I made.”

I kiss her temple. “I promise, you look incredible, Maggie. My parents don’t care what you wear. They’re going to love you.”

The not caring part is only a small bit of a lie. My mother does care about dress code, but Maggie falls well within what is appropriate for this restaurant. I suspect Mum will like Maggie’s dress very much, especially when she finds out it’s Maggie’s own design.

“If you’re sure,” Maggie says, allowing me to guide her into the restaurant. My parents are already seated at our table, but they’ve only been waiting for a few minutes. Any longer, and Mum would make pointed comments about the importance of being on time. She doesn’t hold back, not even when she’s meeting someone for the first time. She once yelled at a friend of mine for putting his elbows on the table. We were nine, and he had just moved to our neighborhood. He never came over to my house again.

My parents stand when they see us. Maggie is likely nervous, but she hides it well.

“You must be Maggie!” Dad bellows, disrupting the entire restaurant. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. My son has been quite worked up since last week. I’m glad you worked things out.”

She smiles up at me. “I’m glad, too.”

Mum looks Maggie up and down. “Where did you get this beautiful dress?” she exclaims. “I adore it!”

Maggie blushes. “I actually made it, ma’am.”

Mum’s hand flutters to her chest. “You are so talented!” She turns to me. “You didn’t tell us your girlfriend had so much talent.”

I roll my eyes. “It didn’t exactly come up, mother.”

“Well, now I know, and I want you to make me a dress. Would you do that for me?”

My girl’s eyes get wide with excitement. “I’d love to! But you should know, I’ve never made a dress for anyone but myself.”

Mum shrugs. “That’s okay, Maggie. You clearly have the talent to make it happen. We’ll get together before I head back to England, yeah?”

“Yes, of course!”

With that finished, we take our seats and wait for the waiter to offer us drinks. When we’ve ordered, my parents decide to interrogate Maggie.

“Where did you go to school?” Dad asks.

“I went to a public school in Brooklyn,” she answers, her cheeks red.

I slip my hand under the table to squeeze her knee. She doesn’t need to feel embarrassed! I went to what passes for public school in England. My parents had wanted me to get the real educational experience they thought I would miss out on at a private school.

“And for college?” Dad prods.

Maggie wrings her hands nervously. “I didn’t go to college.”

Mum looks shocked. “You went to a technical school, then?”

“No, ma’am.”

“So you’re self-taught? My, how incredible! You’re so talented, dear. So talented!”