she making fish pie? Because if she is; I don’t want
to. Urgh it’s disgusting.” Nate licked out his tongue and shook his
head.
Ed laughed and ruffled Nate’s hair. “No, it’s meat and
potato pie.”
“Oh okay,” Nate replied and he skipped off back down the
pathway.
Ed and Lucy laughed as they watched him run away from them.
“Is that okay with you?” Ed asked as he drew a line in the
soil with his toe.
“No problem, you can just drop me off at Dad’s.” Lucy
ran a hand through her hair.
“No, no,” he protested. “You’re invited too. I
told Mum we were going for a burger, and she insisted that we go there instead,
so she can meet you. She’s quite protective of Nate you see.”
“Oh blimey, what if she doesn’t like me or think I’m good
enough for her son, erm her grandson?” Lucy blushed, hoping that Ed
hadn’t noticed her slip of the tongue.
He didn’t appear to. “God, no she’ll be fine.
She's lovely, and I’m sure that she’ll like you.”
“I don’t want to intrude though.”
“I’ve told you, it was her idea.” Ed looked at Lucy
expectantly, waiting for her reply.
“Oh…okay then if you’re sure.”
“Great, that’s brilliant. Come on then, let’s catch
Nate up.” Ed went to catch hold of Lucy’s hand but quickly thrust it into
his hoodie pocket instead.
“Okay,” Lucy sighed, feeling nervous already.
As they pulled up on the drive, Lucy felt her stomach lurch
and her hands start to sweat. What if Mrs Bryce didn’t like her and
insisted that Ed find someone else to look after Nate? She was actually looking
forward to it now as Nate was such a lovely little boy.
“Are you okay?” Ed asked. “You look a little scared.
Nanny isn’t that bad is she Nate?” Ed laughed as he turned to Nate, who
was unbuckling himself in the back.
“She’s okay. She shouts at Grandad a lot but never me
and Daddy.” With that, he jumped out of the car.
“Now I feel worse,” moaned Lucy. “You two are
obviously her golden boys.”
“Believe me, she still tells me off from time to time.
Come on, she won’t bite.” Ed opened his door as he smiled at Lucy.
“Let’s hope not,” she muttered to herself.
“Mum, Dad, anyone in?” Ed shouted as he stepped into
the large hallway.
“In here love,” came the reply.
“She’s in the kitchen,” Ed explained, nodding towards a door
on the right. “Come on through. Hi, Mum,” he said to Georgina’s back as
she stood at the sink, washing a pan.
“Hi love, are you okay?” She turned to face her
son. “Hello dear.” She now looked at Lucy and wiped her hands on
the tea towel slung over her shoulder.
“Mum, this is Lucy Meadows.”
“Pleased to meet you Lucy.” Georgina took Lucy’s hand
and shook it firmly.
“Hello, pleased to meet you too Mrs Bryce.” Lucy gave
what she hoped was her most winning smile.
“Georgina, please, Mrs Bryce makes me sound like my
mother-in-law, and if you’d ever met her you’d understand why I don’t want to
be like her - dreadful woman.” Georgina’s laugh tinkled in the air.
“Anyway, sweetheart, how are you?” she asked Nate, hugging him to her.
Nate hugged her back. “I’m okay Nanny,” he replied,
now escaping from her arms.
“Listen Nate, how about you go and introduce Lucy to Grandad,”
Ed said, turning Nate towards the door.
“Okay, come on then Lucy, let’s get this over with.”
He caught hold of Lucy’s hand and pulled her out of the room as all three
adults laughed at his precociousness.
“Ed,” Georgina hissed. “Why didn’t you tell me that
you were bringing Lucy for tea?” Georgina slapped Ed on the arm with her
tea towel.
“I know I’m sorry. I asked her to come for a walk and
burger, to get to know Nate a little more before she looks after him next
week. I’d forgotten that you’d asked us for tea until it was too
late. There’s plenty isn’t
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