Too Haught to Handle (WAYHAUGHT)

Chapter 9

Nicole had an office in her mother's house, a short drive from her flat. Her mother provided Reiki therapy from her home, which was more than large enough to accommodate both businesses. Nicole had two people working for her as part of her support team, who came in each day to organise the logistics and paperwork of the various events. Nicole had suggested Waverly meet her mother, whom she was very close to, after several months of them as a couple.

At first Waverly was reluctant. She didn't want to be shown off to Nicole's mother, but she knew this was something Nicole wanted, so she agreed to visit one Saturday afternoon. Nicole's mother was lovely. German by birth, she had moved to the UK and married Nicole's father, a stock broker, remaining in the UK to raise Nicole and her younger brother Harry. Waverly couldn't help but giggle to herself at the name Harry Haught, thinking it must have been an awful burden to carry at school.

Nicole's mother was gracious and welcoming. She asked Waverly about her job and Sam. Waverly relaxed. Harry made an appearance during a conversation about Reiki. Tall, very good looking like his sister, he too oozed sex appeal. Behind him was his new wife. Much younger than Harry, equally tall, blond, whom he had met in Tokyo while on business. She had been working at one of the night clubs, as an escort and Harry had fallen for her. It was easy to see why. She was stunning, if aloof. She knew she was good looking and appeared to carry that knowledge under her nose. She greeted Waverly with a kiss on each cheek, before exiting the room with Harry trailing behind.

Nicole went to make some tea. Once out of the room, her mother took Waverly's hands in hers.

"She's quite taken by you," she smiled. "You're good for Nicky. She needs someone calm in her life to keep her grounded. She can be too much sometimes."

OK, even Nicole's mother was admitting she was too much, Waverly thought to herself. She was now fully aware of what 'too much' meant in terms of Nicole, having been with her long enough, close enough to understand what everyone had been hinting. She wasn't sure she was Nicole's counterbalance, but chose not to comment, feeling it best to let Nicole's mother think what she thought about their relationship.

It felt strange. Nicole's mother gave the impression that Nicole was falling for her. Waverly simply didn't feel that. She knew Nicole liked her. She knew she liked Nicole. There was just something missing, something slightly amiss. Their relationship had never reached that comfortable 'beyond the butterflies' stage, where you knew the other person. It was always on edge, stuck in the raw excitement phase you have when a relationship is first starting out. It never seemed to progress from there.

Waverly and Sam had been invited on a corporate bonding weekend at a posh hotel in Surrey. Both were excited. It would be their first weekend away together and both were looking forward to spending time together. Partners were invited, but Waverly was unsure whether to invite Nicole, as it would change the dynamics between her and Sam. Eventually she relented, after some persuasion from Sam, who thought it would be great fun having Nicky in the mix. It would. That was the trouble.

Nicole drove her and Waverly to the hotel. As they swept into the car park in Nicole's Audi R8, several members of Waverly's team looked on in admiration. They were even more impressed when they saw Nicole emerge from the car. Several of the male members of her team couldn't take their eyes off her. Nicole knew how to make an entrance.

The weekend was immense fun. Nicole entertained herself with spa treatments, while Waverly and Sam took part in various 'team building' events. Joining them for lunch, one of Waverly's team asked Nicole what she did for a living and on hearing she ran corporate events, asked if she would take a session in the afternoon. Nicole was only too happy. She shined. This was her natural territory and she was very, very good at it. Waverly was clearly impressed, if a little embarrassed. Everyone came up to congratulate Nicole after the session. It was one of the best they had taken part in.

"Told you she'd liven things up," Sam winked, as they left the room, for a fifteen minute break.

"I know," Waverly replied, feeling Nicole had made herself the star attraction of the weekend.

On the drive back to Waverly's flat, Nicole suggested they drop by her father's home. Her parents were divorced. Nicole's father now lived with his secretary in a farmhouse not far from the hotel. They pulled up outside his home, which was modest in comparison to the house his ex-wife lived in.

Nicole's father was exactly like Nicole. Charming, attentive, very good looking. Waverly considered he would be quite a catch if he wasn't already banging his secretary. Oh, wasn't Nicole's father.

"Do you want to stay?" Waverly asked, as she got out of Nicole's car, in front of her flat.

"I'll find a parking space."