Chapter 8

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Sitting back in the driver's seat, I feel exhaustion weigh down on me. Daniel closes my door before striding around the front of the car. He takes the seat next to me, and I flash him a weary smile.

Daniel leans across to kiss my waiting lips. "You're amazing." He speaks softly with his eyes still closed.

I chuckle quietly in response. "I've just spent the last two hours either crying or listening to Caroline being sick."

"Don't deflect what I've just said!" He bites his lip as he looks over at me with raised eyebrows. He knows me better than I know myself sometimes. "That was a really big deal in there, and you handled it beautifully." He pushes a strand of my hair behind my ear. "The bond that you two have is really something."

"I know, I'm very lucky to have her." I agree with a nod.

"And she's very lucky to have you in her corner, Sarah too. I'll say it again... you're amazing." Daniel looks at me seriously as though he is waiting for me to make some witty comment so I don't have to accept his compliment. But, the way his blue eyes strip away my defences makes me realise that he means what he's saying.

"Thank you." I whisper as I kiss him again.

Starting the engine, I begin the drive back to our rented house. My phone vibrates in the centre console, indicating a message has come through. "Can you have a look at that please?" I ask Daniel while I focus on the busy central London traffic. "I think it'll be Mom."

Daniel picks up my phone and reads from the screen. He chuckles at the message. "Your Mom is so formal in messages it makes me laugh! Lizzie... full stop... on our way... full stop... hope all is well with you and Daniel... full stop... will stop to eat on journey... full stop... dad said estimated journey time is three hours... new line... love mom and dad!"   

I burst out laughing at the formal style in which Daniel reads her message. "Don't make me laugh, I need a wee!" I exclaim feeling a pressure building on my bladder.

"Sorry! I'll distract you. So... have you thought how you want to tell your parents?" He asks while I pray for the traffic to clear.

"I keep thinking about it, but I don't want to fall apart again!"

"Just see how the conversation flows later and tell them when it feels right."

I nod in return and reach across to place my hand on Daniel's thigh. Opening my mouth to explain how excited, but nervous I am to tell my parents that they're finally going to be grandparents, I feel another lump rise in my throat. My thoughts are then disrupted when Daniel's phone begins to ring.

"It's the estate agent." He explains before he answers the call. Although I can only hear one half of the conversation, I'm quickly able to establish that Daniel won't set a maximum budget for the house. "Look, Eve. The price of the property is really secondary for us." His tone is measured as he speaks, knowing that I'll be uncomfortable with the fact that for once in my life I shouldn't be worried about how I'm going to afford something. I keep my eyes on the road, so I don't give away how uneasy I feel. Eve must be talking as Daniel remains silent for a while. "Perfect! You have the email with the list of our requirements." He listens again. "Great. We look forward to seeing you then. Bye."

"No budget, huh?" I ask, but keep my state straight ahead. I see familiar roads signs, indicating we're nearly back at the house. Thank God, I feel like I won't be able to hold my bladder much longer.

In my peripheral vision, Daniel shrugs like it is completely normal not to have a budget for your next home. "This house needs to have everything we both want, so... no budget."

Turning into our street, I feel thankful that this conversation is practically over. I fight the unreasonable urge to scream at him that feels like a ball of electricity in my stomach. I have no idea where this frustration of Daniel behaving like money means nothing has come from, but if I say one word I know I'm going to lose my shit.

Quickly as I can, I pull onto the drive, jump out the car and enter the house. Once I've used the toilet, I feel a little more rational.

Daniel is sitting on the sofa, watching TV. His attention is firmly on the news, so he doesn't notice me watching him. Guilt gnaws at me while I stand and look at his beautiful profile. The way his thick dark hair now curls behind his ears makes my heart melt.

The issue with money is my problem, not his. I refuse to make it an issue, no matter how alien it feels. Daniel has never used his wealth to show off or manipulate anything around me, so I know I need to separate my personal baggage from the situation before we argue.

"Lizzie!" He shouts loudly, presuming I'm still in the toilet. "You OK-" He turns to see me standing in the door way and practically jumps out of his skin. "Holy shit! Don't creep about!" He roars, and for a second his expression is one of pure anger. But then he meets my shocked stare and his features immediately soften. "You scared me!" He rubs his hand down his stubble.

My breath catches in my throat at his overreaction, but I decide to let it go. My parents will be here soon and I just haven't got the energy to argue with him. "I wasn't creeping anywhere." I respond calmly. A feeling of unease sits in my gut.

"Sorry, Lizzie. I'm just still on edge." He explains with a tight smile.

****

The front door knocks in the same rhythm that I knock with, and I know my parents are here.

"I'll get it." Daniel shouts from the living room to me upstairs in the guest bedroom.

"OK." I shout in return, quickly plumping the pillows on the bed to make sure their room looks perfect. Glancing back as I exit the guest bedroom, I smile as I appreciate Daniel's help, despite the pain he was in, to make sure my Mom and Dad will be comfortable staying with us.

I can hear their initial greetings before I approach the curve of the stairs. Descending the stairs, I watch my Mom engulf Daniel in an emotional hug. She then pulls him back at arms length to study his face. "You look like a million dollars! Almost back to your old handsome self, but nothing a hair cut wouldn't sort!"

"Thank you, Julie... I think!" He chuckles at my Mom's usual lack of tact.

"Well I think you're looking bloody brilliant, son!" My Dad corrects Mom as Daniel holds out his hand to shake my Dad's hand. However, a goofy grin spreads across my face when I watch my Dad ignore Daniel's hand. He pulls Daniel into a hug and softly slaps him on the back.

Daniel leans into the hug. "Thanks, Simon."

"There's my girl." My Dad says as he glances up the stairs, over Daniel's shoulder. He releases Daniel and walks to the bottom step. "How are you feeling?"

I wrap my arms round him and immediately feel more relaxed now he's here. "I'm good, Dad. You and Mom OK? How was your journey?"

"We're fine. Journey was OK... long." Dad says wearily before Daniel gestures to the living room, leaving Mom and I in the hallway.

"Hey, Mom." I kiss her cheek before she holds me tight.

"Hey, sweetheart." She speaks slowly as she studies my face. She gently strokes my cheek. "Everything OK?" Her voice becomes strained. She knows I'm hiding something.

"Yeah." My response is much higher than I expected.

"Lizzie? What's going on?" She says swiftly. Her expression is full of concern, causing worry lines to furrow across her brow.

I take her hand. "Come with me." My voice cracks. I can't hide anything from her, not after all the deceit and secrets from when I was with Ed. 

Dad and Daniel turn to us as we enter the room. Dad's warm expression drops like a stone. "What is going on?"

Mom sits down heavily next to Dad. Immediately, she grips his hand with white knuckles. He rests his other hand over the top and gently pats her.

Opening my mouth, I find I cannot speak. The words just won't form inside my head. My eyes fill with tears as memories of their excitement about Charlotte overwhelm me. Daniel swiftly steps to my side and wraps his arm tightly around me. I gratefully lean into him.

"Lizzie, whatever is going on... whatever has happened... we're here for you both." Dad speaks slowly and calmly, but I can tell by his pinched expression that he's close to tears.

"Do you want me to tell them?" Daniel asks me softly. I nod, clamping my jaw in an attempt to hold my emotions together. He kisses the top of my head. "Julie, Simon... you are going to be grandparents. We're around eight weeks pregnant." Daniel's voice is thick with emotion.

My dad jumps up out of his seat like a jack-in-a-box and launches himself towards me. "Oh, my baby girl!" He blinks back his tears as he engulfs me. Realising Daniel has been pushed out, he holds out one arm for Daniel. Dad then hugs us both tightly. "I'm so happy, son!"

Over dad's shoulder I see that Mom hasn't moved an inch. She's unusually silent as her hands clasp across her mouth. "Mom, are you happy?" I ask as Dad releases me.

Slowly, I sit down next to her and grab both of her hands, pulling them away from her face. I hold them gently in mine as she finally looks at me. Tears free flow down her cheeks, leaving lines in her makeup.

"I'm going to be a grandma?" She whispers through her tears.

"You are." I smile broadly.

"You will make a wonderful mother... I'm so proud that you're ours, my darling." She kisses my cheek before standing to face Daniel. She reaches across to take his hand in hers. "Thank you for bringing my little girl back to us. I've never really said this to you before, but I'm very grateful that you love her the way you do. The love you two have for each other after everything you have been through is something to be treasured... and this baby is so lucky to have parents that will show them what it truly means to be loved."

Daniel's lower lip wobbles as he grabs my Mom and cuddles her. I watch as they both cry against each other before Dad puts his arm around my shoulder. We both witness Daniel and Mom share a moment that I know I'll remember for the rest of my life.

Once they separate, I want to tell them our final bit of news. "Mom, Dad... just one more small thing." I grin at Daniel, who beams back even with his puffy eyes. Mom and Dad look at each other in confusion. "We're having twins!" I shriek.

"Twins!" My mother shouts.

"Good Lord!" Dad exclaims with a chuckle. "Daniel, there are some excellent cigars in our suitcase. I believe it's time to celebrate! Shall we?" 

Daniel nods in agreement. "I'll open the brandy, shall I?"

"Yes!" Both Mom and Dad practically shout in unison.

"Cup of tea for me, please!" I fake my grumpiness, making Dad chuckle.

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