‘Be glad that you won’t have to strip to earn your uni fees, young man,’ Amy said, aiming a furious look at her stepson. ‘Bet there’s plenty of male students out there doing a bit of the Full Monty for some cash.’
‘A stripper,’ Jamie’s dad repeated, his wide eyes still fixed on Libby, who was trying to extract a resistant Rosie from the climbing frame.
‘Dad,’ Jamie said in a warning tone. ‘Before you start – ’
‘I thought you were supporting her?’
‘What? No. She makes her own money and she’s in the middle of her medical degree so – ’
‘Medical degree?’ His dad’s wide eyes shot to Jamie’s and the old bastard bit his lip. ‘Oh balls. I’ve made a right pillock of myself, haven’t I?’
‘Dad,’ Jamie growled. ‘Itoldyou she was a medical student.’
‘Giles, you never listen, you stupid bugger,’ Jamie’s mum put in, aiming a frustrated look at her husband. He shrugged and threw up his hands.
‘I thought she was a bloody loafing sponger like the last dozen. My hearing aids have been playing me up. A lot of the time I just nod along when you lot are on about something.’
Jamie’s mum rolled her eyes and put her hands on his hips. ‘Giles, you can hear just fine, you just choose not to listen. For goodness sake, does she look anything like the others?’
‘But …’ Jamie’s brow wrinkled in confusion. ‘But I thought you approved of the others? I thought that’s what you wanted for me?’
Bunty sighed. ‘All we’ve ever wanted for you is to be happy, darling.’
‘But I thought you wanted me to be with someone … er … someone who …’
‘Oh God, please don’t say someone from anicefamily. Is that why you brought home all those vapid girls? Darling, we are not living in the eighteen hundreds.’ Bunty narrowed her eyes at him. ‘And we’re not snobs, although I’m starting to think perhapsyouare.’
Giles looked over his son’s shoulder to Libby and smiled. ‘By Jove, what is she wearing? Is that a Storm Trooper?’
Jamie sighed. ‘Yes, Dad, she’s kind of intoStar Wars.’
‘AndGame of Thrones,’ Will put in helpfully. ‘Oh, andHarry Potter, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Doctor Who...’
‘Never seen a dolly bird dressed like that,’ Giles said through an amused smile. ‘Are those holes in her jeans? How eccentric.’
‘You like her now because she has holes in her jeans?’ Jamie asked, his eyebrows going up in confusion.
‘Jamie.’ Giles focused on his son and his voice became softer. ‘The last woman you brought home was stunningly beautiful, dressed top to toe in designer clothes, the very definition of high-maintenance, and she had not done one bloody proper day’s work in her life. The girl before that wasn’t much better. You, my boy, have a type.’
‘Dad – ’
‘I’m afraid that when I looked at this woman I didn’t get past her face and I made assumptions. Add in the child and our experience with your bro – ’
Giles broke off and glanced at Will. ‘It’s all right, Grandpa. I know Mum was a total bi … not a nice person back then.’
‘Will, it’s not that – ’
‘And I know she’s never worked a day in her life either. I love her, but I’m old enough to understand those things about her.’
‘Well,’ Giles cleared his throat. ‘I didn’t know that this Libby girl was an entrepreneur and an independent lady on her way to being a doctor. That changes things.’
‘Great,’ Jamie bit out as he watched Libby struggle up the steps towards them with a reluctant Rosie. ‘That’s great, Dad but thanks to you I’m right back at square one. Again.’
*****
‘Thank you so much for everything Mrs Grantham,’ Libby said as she lowered Rosie onto her feet and then grabbed her hand to stop her making a run for it back to the climbing frame. ‘But we really must be going.’
‘I’m afraid I’ve been the most terrible arse,’ Jamie’s dad said, moving past his son to block her path.
