Obstinate and Headstrong

Part 12

But that doesn't mean I'm going to drop down on one knee today...

What on earth could he have meant by that? 

Is this something he's thought about? 

No, that's absurd! 

This is William Knight we're talking about, there's no way that he could feel that way about me. We haven't even gone on a date!

Is that something he wants? 

Does he want to start dating...

A nudge from William draws me back to the present.

His eyes were facing forward, but the slight smirk on his lips showed that he knew I had zoned out. 

"Are you going back overseas anytime soon?" Charlie asked as she crossed her legs to get a more comfortable seat on the couch. 

"Well they have asked me when I planned on coming back," Julie answered, "but I've been trying to delay it as much as possible," she continued, squirming. 

Shortly after settling back home, Julie got a casual job at a vet that didn't take up too much of her time. I just assumed that she was content at the moment. She hasn't mentioned anything about going back to teaching abroad. 

"I don't blame them for wanting her back!" came my mother's slightly slurred voice, "Julie has always been better than all of the other teachers at the school."

Julie turned scarlet.

"Mother, that's not true..." she tried to interject.

"There you go with that modesty of yours. We all know it to be true. I bet none of the other teachers stayed as late at night to prepare everything for the following day as you do. Or spend money from their own pockets to improve the classrooms and buy extra books and activities for the children..." Our mother continued.

"Mother..." I tried this time, taking in Julie's pained expression due to all the attention that she was receiving. 

"Frankly I was surprised that you have stayed home as long as you have, I know how much you love those children." She went on as if there was no interruption.

"Well, Mrs Bennet, maybe William can agree with me on this, but it does not really seem like work if it's something you love doing. I myself know how hard it is to pry yourself away or keep a sense of balance when it comes to my company. In fact..." Collin piped in.

I didn't even have the chance to be grateful that he saved Julie from further humiliation. Collin simply replaced one form of torture with another.

He droned on in that monotonous voice of his, attempting to hold William's attention, to the obvious dismay of everyone present. In the interest of remaining civil, all of us bore the subject of his blasted company every time he brought it up but it was becoming significantly harder as the evening progressed.

You would think that Collin would have run out of steam after dinner and dessert had been served, but that simply wasn't the case. The man was giving my mother a run for her money, as even she started dimming and brighting on the couch at some point.

Father had gone upstairs over an hour ago to retire, which surprisingly got little protest from my mother. I think she was just surprised that he managed to stay as long as he had.

Hailey, Julie and I had gone to wash and pack away the dishes somewhere in between in the hopes that this would subtly convey the message that it was time for everyone to take their leave. Considering Collin was still talking by the time we got back, the message clearly didn't deliver to the desired address.