Golden Luckenbooth

Twenty

"Oh, my goodness!" Gemma says, her eyes shimmering as she rests her hands on her knees where she is bent over laughing alongside me. If only our families had some clue as to why we're giggling.

Awkward as fuck.

When I wipe tears of merriment from my eyes, I glance around at the gathering, all of whom are watching Gemma and I as if we've grown extra heads. No such luck. The truth is likely more unexpected, and I've no idea how anyone is going to react.

'Awkward as fuck' is the best description of this entire event.

"Well," my dad says, "does anyone know why we're all here together? Not that I mind celebrating Christmas with others. It's a time of joy and togetherness after all." Pointedly, he glances between me and Harry, and my stomach (or rather the bean there) does a twirl.

Guiltily, Harry and I trade a glance.

"Yes," Harry says softly, and a room of eyes swivel in his direction as he approaches me and rests his hand on the back of my waist. "We wanted you to get to know each other and us before sharing."

"I think we can dispense with that archaic nonsense." As usual, my dad takes no prisoners in his approach to barrelling through a situation. "We've all met now, so why don't you get on with it? Anna?"

It's when he turns his attention to me that I feel like shrinking and hiding. He's always been able to make me squirm with just his words and a look. Shortbread quickly approaches my side, and I gratefully thread my fingers in her damp fur.

Clearing my throat, I observe the gathered group. When I turn my head to Harry, he gulps and gives me a nod. Seeing the anxiety on his face doubles my own, but I guess there's no better time than the present. It's the worst thing ever to disappoint your parents, and I suspect that will be the reaction. I'm not ready.

"Sure. Why don't we all sit down?" Gesturing towards the living room, Harry and I hang back waiting for the hordes to settle ahead of us.

When the foyer is empty, Harry turns to me and takes both of my hands, causing me to release my Shortbread security blanket. "Well..." he begins, "...we can sneak out the back. Hide at the Garden House. Or head to your house. Just disappear."

My smile matches his mood. "Yeah, sure. We can simply avoid this altogether."

"Except that we had reasons for doing it –"

"--and reasons for doing it this way with both families at once."

"Besides, they'll figure it out in another month or so whether we tell them now or not."

"Plus you spent all that money renting this estate for the weekend. Would be a shame to waste it."

He nods his head at me, and we each take a breath.

"We've got this, right? Just rip off the sticking plaster?"

"Seems like we're going to have to, so yeah."

"I forgot my copy of our speeches." He shrugs.

"Me too. Sounds like we're going to have to just wing it."

"Sounds like," Harry smiles sweetly at me before he raises our joined hands to his lips and presses a kiss on my knuckles.

"We've got this, right?" This time, it's me who asks the question.

"Just keep picturing how nice it will be to sink into that clawfoot tub upstairs afterwards."

"Mmmmm...would be a better picture if..." I stop myself because the words that were about to escape were 'if your legs were wrapped around me'. We're no longer those people.