the various chances

chapter forty nine

Jeremy

The plane had taken off. Hannah was sitting between me and Lizzie, well not exactly sitting but rather sleeping with her head on Lizzie's arm. I lift Hannah in my arms, swap places with her so she was lying in my lap with her head on Lizzie's arm. With one hand I lace my fingers with Lizzie's; she wraps hers around mine with a smile on her face.

I could sense the gears running in Lizzie's head with the thought of taking Hannah to her grandmother. She'd brush it off saying she was just nervous about the situation but her shaky hands told the truth she'd been hiding from me. There was a point I regretted arranging this trip as a surprise but she'd assured me very well that she was fine and that she was ready to answer Hannah.

"You should sleep" -I whisper to Lizzie. "She'll wake up", she responds nodding to Hannah. I sigh. Lizzie puts her head on my shoulder and says, "It's alright, I can manage." I kiss her on forehead.

From what I heard, Victoria Pierce was the epitome of a true British person with temper issues. The only person I've ever known from Lizzie's family was her elder sister- Emilia but the thought of seeing her grandmother was churning my insides. I had prepared myself to make the best impression not that it was going to be difficult for me. I charmed Lizzie, didn't I? I am sure I'll work my way through Lizzie's grandmother's heart as well.

The plane landed and we were on road to the house. Lizzie slept during the car ride while Hannah and I played 'Fruit Ninja' in my phone. God, now that Hannah was forcing me to do things kids do these days I was starting to wonder what might happen when I father kids someday. I mean if my kids were to take from their mother than there's nothing to worry but fuck if the Langford gene dominates, it would be a show for my dad.

An hour of constant swipes, hushed shrieks and cheers later, Hannah drifts off to sleep as well. I pull the girls closer to me and a smile forms on my face. I may look normal to others but internally the panic had taken over my system. Why was I scared of meeting Lizzie's grandmother? Was it because as per what Lizzie said I might have to face her temper and fail to make an impression on the Grandma Pierce? I was sweating at the mere thought.

Hours later, we were in front of the house. The stoned pathway lined up with bushes of almost 4-5 ft., pots of various flowers lining up the border separating the walkway and the garden. The house screamed of rich British heritage which could possibly be haunted but had western décor. According to Lizzie, 'Victoria Pierce wasn't named after a queen for nothing.'

Hannah makes a run to the door and Lizzie follows her. I trail behind her with our bags. Lizzie insisted that she'd informed about us coming over but subtracted the 6 year old surprise that was mesmerized by the house, so she shook her head wildly when I asked if we should book a penthouse nearby. I was wrong because the house could totally accommodate all of us.

Hannah's small fist pounds on the door. I gulp and the action catches Lizzie' eyes. She turns to me with a soft smile on her face, "relax, Jeremy, she's not going to eat you." If I was nervous I don't show it on my face and a second later she frowns and asks, "are you worried about making an impression on her?"

Slowly I nod, "I don't want her to think I am not worthy of dating you." She drops the bags and approaches me, gets on her toes and plants her lips on my cheek, "I like the way you are Jeremy. I know you are going to win her over, so relax. Where is the Jeremy whose ass I beat in the Mathematics test?"

A cheeky smile was plastered on her lips. I lean my head down and wipe it off with my lips. The sound of the door opening snaps us out and I watch Hannah say, "Hi" to the person on the door. Lizzie pats my chest once and goes to the door. I look up to see the Victoria Pierce.