Page 125 of The Betrayal
“Scotch?” Killian walks over with a crystal decanter.
“Where did that come from?” my frown pinches.
“My secret stash,” he winks and the guys all follow him out into the living area.
“How are you doing?” Liz asks me as she pops the electric kettle on and raids through the cupboards for her Yorkshire teabags.
“Yeah okay, feel like I am getting a bit more energy now,” I admit as I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and take a mouthful, then I offer one to Amora, but she shakes her head.
“I'll have a tea,” she smiles at Liz, her cheeks pinching pink.
“Me too,” I hear another light well-spoken brit and Amora's face lights up.
“Mum!” she chimes, running into her mother’s embrace.
“Oh Amora, I have missed you so much,” her mom holds her tightly and I feel a tightness in my chest. A tightness I have never felt before. I rub it out, ignoring it.
“Amora,” A deep, gruff voice follows, and I can't help but stare, Amora is such a blend of the two. Her dad's eyes, her mom's skin and hair color.
“Dad,” she sighs, and he kisses her on the cheek, his eyes find me and he gives a sort of smile that tugs at the corners of his mouth. A scar runs from his ear, down his cheek and ends at his nostril. I try not to stare, but it’s a little hard not to.
“Hey darling.”
“How rude of me,” Amora's mom walks over to me, “I'm Royal, Amora's mother, and this is my husband, Xavier.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” I smile.
“Likewise,” her eyes focus on me a moment before they fall to my bump.
“Your father has told me so much about you, he is very proud,” her head tilts slightly and her cheeks must hurt from the constant smile she wears.
“I bet he is,” and I know my tone is dripping with sarcasm.
I take the dish from her that’s filled with roast potatoes and Xavier places an apple pie down before opening the refrigerator and placing a tub in there. What is that?
“Custard.” he says, answering my unspoken words but my wondering mind.
“Oh.”
“Tea?” Liz asks Royal.
“Oh yes, that would be lovely.”
“I'm Reese's mum,” she continues, and they both fall into easy conversation. I take that as my cue to walk out the kitchen and make sure the table is ready.
“Where is Nate?” I ask when I look at the time. We agreed to meet at three, it's quarter to four.
“I'll call him,” Keaton says as he pulls out his phone.
“At least we have candied yams this year,” Reese says happy as a kid who has been handed candy.
“No one cares for the candied yams,” Connie rolls her eyes.
“Don't start this again. You purposely sabotaged them before.”
“I did not!” She places her hand across her chest.
“You did,” Reese nods and Killian lets his head tip back making some weird groaning noise, Mateo occupying Celeste with her toys on the middle of the rug that sits in the center of the living area.