The Perfect Match (Blue Heron #2)(53)

“When was this?” Dad asked.

Tom looked at her and frowned. “When was it, darling?” He looked back at her father. “She was slugging another woman, and I said to myself, ‘Tommy old chap, I think you’ve met the woman of your dreams.’”

Carl laughed, then took another huge bite of salt potatoes. The rest of the table was silent. Honor gave Tom a gentle nudge to the ribs.

“I found out who she was, pestered her to go out with me and it was...what’s the phrase, love? Meant to be?”

“That’s beautiful,” Goggy said loudly, giving Honor an arch look. “I can tell how deeply in love you are. Both of you. It’s a love match.” Apparently Goggy had been watching some of those YouTube videos, as well.

“As opposed to what, Goggy? Like, do people get married these days because they hate each other?” Abby asked, earning a snort from Charlie, his first sign of life.

“At any rate,” Tom said, “I understand ours isn’t the only wedding being planned. Congratulations, Mr. Holland, Mrs. Johnson.”

There was a rare silence.

Oh, fungus.

“Honor, you’re getting married?” Abby shrieked, and there was yelling and wine sloshing and exclamations and Mrs. Kellogg burst into tears (not the happy kind), and Charlie left the table.

“We were gonna keep that to ourselves for a little while,” Honor said tightly, turning to Tom.

“Oops,” he said. “Cat’s out of the bag now, isn’t it?” He rubbed his forehead. “I’ll go talk to Charlie.”

“You can’t marry him!” Dad barked. “You just started dating!”

“Do I need to point out your hypocrisy, Dad?” Honor asked as Faith hugged her.

“I’ve known Mrs. Johnson for twenty years,” he grumbled.

“Yet you still can’t call her by her first name,” Jack said.

“And we’re old, Honor dear,” Mrs. J. said. “I have to agree with your father. Take some time.”

“I disagree,” Goggy said, giving Mrs. J. a dirty look. “They should get married. Right away. Otherwise, Tom might—”

“You know what? We’re both adults. We’ll get married when the time is right,” Honor said, watching as Mrs. Kellogg poured ten ounces of wine into a water glass and chugged it.

“I call maid of honor,” Faith said.

“What? I don’t think so,” Pru countered.

“Pick me,” Abby said. “That way, you don’t have to choose between sisters.”

“Or me,” Jack said, giving her a one-armed hug and pouring himself some wine with the other hand. “Man of honor. It’s very hip.”

“We’ll talk about this later,” Dad said. “You can’t be engaged to a man you just met.”

“I can and am, Dad,” she said. He glowered. She glowered back.

Family. Headaches. Heartburn.

“Is there any more cheese?” Pops asked.

If Honor made it through this meal, it’d be a miracle.

* * *

“CHARLIE? OPEN THE door, mate.” At least it wasn’t freezing today, though the wind could cut a foreskin, it was so sharp. “Charlie, come on, don’t be a prat.”

You know, he was just not good at this. Once, he’d thought he was good with kids. That’s why he’d become a teacher. He loved it. Kids like Jacob Kearns, who visibly drank in learning, whose eyes lit up with excitement when they got a new theory; there was nothing better.

But in these three long years since Melissa had died, Tom had really lost his touch. Especially with her son. And yeah, drinking a bit much had been a stupid idea.

The boy stared straight ahead. His eyeliner was smeared. Not a sign of good cheer, wasn’t it?

“Look,” Tom said, bending so he was at eye level. “She’s really nice. I think you’ll like her after you get to know her.”

“Who says I’m gonna get to know her?” he said. Good. At least he was talking.

“I think you will. I mean, nothing will change with you and me.”

“Except you’ll have a wife.”

“Yeah. That. But I still want you to come over, and I want to teach you to box, and come to your school events and all that.” Charlie hadn’t invited him to a school event in years. “Whatever you want, mate.”

No answer.

“Her family are nice, don’t you think? Abby and you must see each other in school.”

That got a flicker of a glance.

“And maybe it’ll be good, knowing some more people from around here. Having more family.”

“They won’t be my family. You’re not even my family.”

The kid knew where to aim, Tom would give him that. “I feel like I am.”

“You’re not.”

“All right, Charlie. I’ll leave you here.” Tom started to go back inside, then turned around and bent down again. “I’ll always love your mum, you know. That won’t ever change.”

“Why? She didn’t love you.”

Another direct hit, right in the testicles this time. It was a second before he found his voice. “Come in if you get cold.”

Honor met him at the door of the big white house. “Is he okay?” she asked as he came into the hall.