Page 100 of The Surrender

“I mean every word.” Jude looks at me. Not them. Just me. I tilt my head, and he tilts his.

“Then welcome to the family.” Dad drops Jude’s hand and opens his arms, and I nearly fall flat on my face in shock. I’m certain Mum would too if she weren’t sitting.

“Thanks.” Jude welcomes his olive branch, accepting the man hug. I’m speechless.

“And you can call me Dennis.”

Mum’s eyes are welling. My world just got a whole lot better.

“Well, since you’re here,” Jude says. “Would you like to eat?”

“Yes.” Mum’s up like a shot, answering for them both. “We’d love to, wouldn’t we, Dennis?”

“Sure. Why not.”

“We might have to settle for the Piano Bar.” Jude comes to me, slipping his arm around my shoulders. “The Orangery tends to get booked up in advance, and it would be cheeky of me to kick some guests off the reservations list.”

“You managed to get a table rather sharpish when you lured me here to seduce me,” I mumble under my breath, for only Jude to hear.

He doesn’t say a word, but his lips twitch in amusement as he leads us to the Piano Bar, my parents all but swooning over Arlington Hall. We sit at a table in the far corner, and Jude hands menus over to each of them. It’s then I remember we’ve already ordered our lunch.

“It’s in my apartment, probably cold by now,” Jude says quietly. “Just reorder.” He goes to the bar, and I lower next to my dad.

“So this is the Piano Bar,” he muses, scanning the menu.

“This is the Piano Bar.” I relax for the first time in a while and take in the wonder of my mum and dad sitting with me.

In Arlington Hall.

After meeting my new boyfriend.

And, better, accepting him.

I feel like a weight’s been lifted.

An hour later, I’m in my element listening to the easy conversation. Jude knows all about the family business and my grandparents, and he and Dad have found a common interest in rugby, of all things. Dad’s talked with keen interest.

“Jude’s brother plays for England.” I speak up, noticing that Jude, once again, hasn’t mentioned it himself.

“What?” Dad’s flabbergasted. “What’s your brother’s name? Wait. Wait a minute. Harrison! Well, would you believe it?” Dad looks at Mum and laughs. “Jude’s brother plays for the England rugby team.”

“Well, that’s impressive. So tell us about the rest of your family,” Mum says.

The atmosphere distinctly shifts, and I watch Jude discreetly as I nibble on a halloumi chip. “Well, there’s Rhys, as you know—he’s my littlest little brother. Then there’s Casey, my biggest littlest brother. He’s a chef.”

“Oh, where?”

“Private mostly. Yachts, dining experiences, that kind of thing. He won’t hang around the same place for long. I think the longest he’s ever stayed put was when he went to France and completed his degree in French culinary in his early twenties.”

“A chef, a sportsman, and a successful hotelier.” Mum looks at me, eyes wide, impressed. “Your parents must be so proud.”

I bite down on my lip, seeing Jude shifting in his chair. “Sadly, my parents are no longer with us.”

“Oh. Oh, that is a shame.”

“I’m sorry,” Dad says. “Were you very close?”

Jude looks out the corner of his eye to me. “Yes. My mother particularly, after she lost my father.”