Undeniable (Cloverleigh Farms #2)(126)

“Oh, shit.” Oliver looked out the window. “I think it is.”

“What are they doing here?”

“My parents must have convinced them to come up for dinner.”

Sure enough, my mother hopped out of the passenger seat and waved happily. “Hello there!”

“Hi, Mom!” I called, waving back. Then I squeezed Oliver’s hand. “Sorry. Maybe we can finish this talk later?”

“Uh. Yeah.” His faced looked a little pale.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine.” He gave me a smile that was slightly less reassuring than I wanted it to be.

But I opened the door and got out, heading around the car to greet my parents. “What are you guys doing here?” I asked, giving them both hugs.

“Nell called this morning and said we had to come up for the night,” my mother said as my father pulled their bags from the trunk.

“Oh, really?” I laughed. “I wonder why.”

“She said there would be something happening I wouldn’t want to miss.”

“She did?” I glanced over my shoulder at Oliver, who was grabbing our bags from the back of his SUV. “I wonder what it is.”

“Probably just a ruse to get us up here,” said my father as he shut the trunk.

“Is April watching the desk?” I asked.

“Yes. Mack and Frannie are both working overtime too,” my mother said as we made our way toward the front porch. “I think they even drafted Mack’s girls to work.”

I laughed as we climbed the steps. “Good. We’re going to need extra help. Oliver and I have big plans for Cloverleigh.”

“Do you?” My mother glanced back and forth between us, obviously thrilled. “I can’t wait to hear about them.”

The front door of the cottage flew open and Oliver’s mom appeared. She was slender and maintained her physique with plenty of tennis and golf. Her shoulder-length hair was the same shade of auburn it had been as long as I’d known her, and she always wore it down with a headband that matched her outfit—today it was white shorts, a hot pink cardigan sweater set, Jack Rogers sandals, and pearls. Always pearls.

“Hello, darlings!” she called. “I’m so happy you’re all here!”

“Sorry we’re late,” I said as she embraced me. Her perfume smelled like lilies of the valley. “We got a slow start this morning.”

She released me and winked. “I totally understand. Don’t worry about a thing, I’m just delighted you’re here. I’m delighted about absolutely everything!”

I wasn’t exactly sure what she meant, but I smiled. “Me too.”

There was a whirlwind of hugs and kisses and greetings. Uncle Soapy came in to give stiff hugs and hearty back slaps. Oliver took our bags upstairs, then came down and took my parents’ luggage up as well. Hughie came in to shake my father’s hand and kiss my mother’s cheek. Aunt Nell shuffled us all through the house and out to the back patio. Through it all, I barely had time to exchange a glance with Oliver, but every time I looked at him, he seemed a little more miserable.

Out on the back patio, Soapy made drinks at the “bar,” which was really just a table set up with glasses, ice, and bottles of gin, vodka, scotch, and mixers. The rest of the extended Pemberton family gathered on the patio—Lisa, pregnant Charlotte and her husband Guy, Lisa and Hughie’s children, Joel and Toddy, and of course, Gran.

She ambled over, tiny and frail but still stylish in her trousers and blouse, a sweater draped over her shoulders and a strand of pearls around her neck. Her hairstyle was identical to Oliver’s mother’s, but the color was entirely silver. She held a G & T in one hand and the handle of a cane in the other.

“Hello, Gran. Happy birthday.” Oliver dutifully kissed her cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“Never better, darling. Thank you.” She turned to me. “So good to see you, Chloe. I couldn’t be happier about everything.”

Again I wondered what the heck everyone was so happy about—did they know about the business already? “I’m so glad to hear it. Happy birthday.” I kissed her cheek. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. You’re looking well.”

She laughed graciously. “Thank you, dear. I try. I’ve got two new hips now, did Oliver tell you?”

“He didn’t.” I winked at her. “But you know men. They forget all the important things.”

She winked back. “They certainly do. If you just accept that, you can avoid a lot of fights in married life.”

“Gran, can I get you a chair?” Oliver asked. “Why don’t you come sit down?”

“Thank you, dear, but I think I’m going to go up to my room for a little rest before dinner. I don’t want to fall asleep before the excitement.”

“Sounds good, I’ll help you up the stairs,” said Oliver quickly, taking her arm. “Be right back, Chloe.”

“No rush.” I smiled and let my mother tug me over to the bar, where Uncle Soapy poured me a drink. I sipped it and smiled and chatted with everyone, keeping one eye on the patio door, watching for Oliver.

When he came out about fifteen minutes later, he grabbed a drink from the bar and came over to where I sat with my parents. He took a great big gulp before sitting in the chair next to me.