Chapter 11
Mrs. Blake didn’t hide her animosity from Becky the following morning. The younger woman felt it immediately when Colin’s parents came down to join her in their expansive living room. But Mr. Blake was so happy; he was full of smiles.
“You are most welcome.” he placed a hand on Becky’s shoulder when she stood up to greet the couple. He quickly glanced at his son and gave a subtle nod of approval.
“Thank you, sir,” Becky said and sat. Tension crawled up her spine as Colin’s mother refused to say anything still. Colin’s assurance that the older woman would change her mind by the time she saw her was not working at all.
“Hope you are feeling better now, sir?” She asked Mr. Blake about his health.
“Oh yes, dear, thank you.” He smiled. “We are so happy to meet you,” Mr. Blake said with delight.
He looked at his wife sternly, before his face broke into a quick smile. Mrs. Blake’s face then softened, and she said, “you are welcome Bec….. Becky. How are you doing?”
“I am fine, thank you ma’am,” Becky answered.
“Let’s sit down,” Mrs. Blake said and the four of them settled down. “Colin said you work with Evelyn Benson’s foundation, the Open Arms,” Mr. Blake said.
“Yes, sir,” Becky replied to him with a smile.
“That’s very good,” he said. “You ladies are doing so well with the foundation. Keep it up. Evelyn took after her late mom, very loving and giving.”
“You can say that again, sir,” Becky agreed with him.
Colin, who had left the living room, returned with a tray that he placed on the end table beside Becky. On the tray were a bottle of water, a pack of fruit juice, a plate with four cupcakes, and a glass cup. He picked up the pack of juice and wanted to open it, but Becky stopped him, “not now.”
The doorbell rang at that moment. One of the house staff went to get the door and ushered two couples in. Colin’s parents stood up to welcome them.
Mr. and Mrs. Blake had been receiving visitors since they came back to town. Colin took Becky to his apartment to give his parents the chance to attend to their visitors.
Numbness settled over Becky as they walked into Colin’s living room.
He kissed the bridge of her nose, “don’t worry, in no time she will warm up to you. That’s my mom for you. If she sets her mind on anything, it’s not always easy to convince her otherwise.”
Becky sighed deeply, “if you say so,” she shrugged. “What if, eventually, she convinces you to give Debbie a chance?
“No, she can’t do that,” he reached out and cupped her face in his palms. “Look at me, it’s you I love.” He sucked in a deep breath, his Adam’s apple blobbed. “I have known Debbie since I was a child, and I have never had romantic feelings for her. I love you Becky and I promise you nothing will make me disappoint you. I swear with my life.”
She gently placed a finger against his lips, and hushed him, “Shhh, that’s too much.”
“No, it’s not,” he retorted.”I am making a promise to you.”
She looked up at him, feeling that special connection with him again. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her head to his chest. “I love you forever, Colin Blake,” she murmured against his chest. “I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
“I love you forever and ever, Becky Andrews. And it’s you I want to spend the rest of my life with.” He tightened his hold on her, “and nothing can change that.”Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
They stood like that for a long time in silence. Expressing their love for each other with just their hearts after that.
When they returned to the main house for lunch after the visitors had left, Mrs. Blake became friendly with her. Becky knew her husband must have talked to her. The older woman was chatty. The ladies talked majorly about charity works. His parents left for the wedding after lunch. While Colin and Becky returned to his apartment.
“You see now, huh?” Colin smiled and pulled her in for a kiss as they sat down in front of the TV. “I told you she would warm up to you.”
Becky nodded, forcing a smile for Colin’s benefit, and placed her head on his lap. Something told her the older lady was only putting up a show.
Please, stay for the night,” Colin’s hand caressed her breast over the top of her dress. “I will take you home after church service tomorrow.”
“I didn’t tell my parents that I will spend the night here,” she looked into his eyes. “And again, what will I wear to church?”
“Those are simple problems.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You will call your parents and tell them you are staying here for the night and as for what to wear to church, I think it’s high time you had some clothes and accessories here for times like this. So we’ll go shopping now.”
“Shopping?” She sat up, her brow arching up. “But you just did some shopping for me a week ago.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He curved an arm around her. “I want us to go shopping now. You need to have a full wardrobe here.” He kissed her shoulder.
She shrugged and giggled. “If that’s what you want.”
“Yes, it is, sweetheart,” his grin widened. He turned her back onto his lap again and bent his head to kiss her. His hand returned to her breast to caress them.
They got back home after ten at night. After over four hours of shopping, they went for dinner and, afterward; they went to the cinema. They settled for a romantic comedy, which they both enjoyed thoroughly.
When they got out of the car, he called two of the house staff to bring all the shopping bags inside, even though Becky would have done it gladly.