“Hey, y’all.” A voice calls from the foyer.
“Mom?” I look up and see my parents walking into Christian and Vanessa’s home. I jump up from where I am sitting at the dinner table and head straight over to them, pulling them both into my arms. “It’s so good to see you both. What are you doing here?”
“We heard the good news and we just had to come and celebrate.” Mom smiles as she looks over my shoulder.
“Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, so nice to see you again,” Olivia greets them from behind me.
“Her accent is just so adorable; it’s like talking to the Queen.” Mom pushes me out of the way and cuddles Olivia. “You need to call me Viv, and that hunk over there is Frank. You’re family now.” Tears well in Olivia’s eyes as she is strangled to death by Mom.
“Good to see everything worked out, son.” Dad slaps me on the back. “Now, I need a beer,” he states, walking off to where everyone else is seated.
“I’m so happy you two found each other again.” Mom squishes us together. “Just so happy. Now where are my grandbabies? Ness, show me your belly, I want to feel them moving,” she hollers through the house.
“Wow, that was pretty amazing.” Olivia smiles at me.
“Yeah, I know. They told me they couldn’t come. But they are known for just showing up unannounced, so be prepared,” I warn her. “Poor Christian and Vanessa got a fright when my parents surprised them in their home after they got married in Vegas. They were half naked when they noticed my parents sitting on the couch.” She giggles at the image.
“I would have died,” Olivia laughs. “But I like it, they are so much warmer than my parents,” she says, sounding a little sad.
“I’m sure we can smooth things over with your parents. I know you have to go back soon to sort things out with the estate.”
She sighs, “Guess reality is hitting. You and me stretched between two continents...I hate the sound of that.”
“Hey,” I soothe her fears, grabbing her face. “You and me, no matter what, we will work it out. We just need to communicate with each other.” She smiles at me. “We are going to have growing pains adjusting to a new normal, but I have faith we can do this.” Honestly, we are lucky that we do have the money to be able to travel back and forth between the UK and America, otherwise it would make our relationship much more difficult.
“I will need to get back soon, I left so abruptly. I have nothing with me.”
“I know darlin’, we can leave whenever you want. I probably need to meet your parents as well.” She makes a face at that comment. “They’ll love me, look at me, I’m so pretty.” This makes her laugh.
“True, I’m sure you have had many mothers falling at your feet.”
“Well, I am the lead singer in a band, it’s only right that everyone swoons over me.” There’s that giggle again. I will do pretty much anything to hear it.
“Okay, well I guess a couple more days and we should head back.”
“Not a problem. I’ll organize everything.” Giving her another kiss, I want to make sure she is happy.
“I’m so happy for you.” Mom gives me a kiss on the cheek. Olivia is sitting chatting with the girls, touching Sienna and Vanessa’s stomachs as the babies kick. My heart is expanding at the thought that I want Olivia to be in the same situation as them sooner rather than later.
“Thanks, it’s so good to see you,” I reply, taking a sip from my beer.
“I knew she would be the one.” Mom smiles at me and I roll my eyes.
“We weren’t in that place then, except I knew she was different to all the other women.”
“I’m glad she finally came around.” Mom squeezes my knee.
“You aren’t going to hold what happened against her are you?” Mom was upset when it was revealed Olivia had a fiancé but she had faith that deep down Olivia would work it out and realize I was the better man for her.
“Of course not, sweetheart, she was in a tough position. Olivia thought she was doing the right thing. I can’t fault the girl’s loyalty to her family even if it was misplaced a little. It means she is going to be loyal to you and your family when the time comes.”
“I’m going to propose to her, just don’t know when.” Mom gives me a big, squishy hug and showers kisses all over my face.
“All I want is for my boys to be happy, and they are. I am one happy momma.”
“Might be a while before we have kids.”
“There’s no rush, sweetheart. You and Olivia have so much to work out in regards to your living situation, adding kids into the mix at the moment might be a little much.” I raise my brows at her, she’s been begging for grandkids for years. “You’re off the hook for a while as Christian is giving me those little girls, so I will be fine for a year or so and then you need to get on it,” she laughs.
“You and Dad thought about our offer?” Christian wanted to buy our parents a home near us. He and Vanessa are going to need their help with twin girls arriving in the next couple of months.
“We love our home, but…” Pausing, she gives me a smile. “Now that you are settling down as well and will probably have kids soon, I’m thinking we just might.” Christian is going to be ecstatic over this news, I know he’s been worried about being a dad to twins.
“Christian will be happy. They are going to need the help.”
“Oh boy, will they! Two little girls, I’m sure the lungs on them are going to be very good.”
“Liv needs to go back to England in a couple of days.” Mom nods, listening. “I’m worried that her family is going to hate me.” We have been through so much we don’t need any more obstacles.
“Sweetheart, don’t worry about it. They need to ignore the outside.” She points to my tattoos. “They need to look on the inside, and they will soon see that their daughter has found a man that treats her right, adores her and will look after her.” I look out to where Liv is and just hope that they will be accepting, because I know as much as they have hurt her, Olivia’s family means the world to her. She’s already chosen me once over them; I don’t want her to have to do it a second time.