The Ultimate Gentleman (Part 2)

Seven

"This food is delicious Mrs Depp.." "Oh please Colette, call me Holly! And it's only an Italian dish I know everyone likes!" Johnny smiled, as he sat at the head of the large dining table where his family dined. "Lottie!!" Jack scolded half jokingly as the five year old lent over her brother's plate to steal some of his dinner with her own fork. "Darling don't do that. It's not good manners to take other people's food is it?" The father said to his middle daughter. "Especially not from Jack!" Lily giggled making the table laugh. "So.. I was hoping I could talk to you both." Jack said maturely looking at Johnny and Holly. "What about son?" Johnny looked at his boy whilst sipping his wine casually. "Well as you know Colette's main home is France, and although she's spending a lot of time here in London and being home schooled like me, that's where she wants to be. It's where she's from..." Holly nodded with a smile on her face. "And this summer, her parents are going off on an art tour, and although she's got some relatives in Paris who are happy to host her. I wanted to ask if she could spend some time with us? Down south? On vacation?" The teenage boy asked nervously.

Holly swallowed silently. The boy in front of her, was no longer the cute 10 year old she had met all those years ago who loved playing basketball and having pancakes for breakfast, he was turning into a man. In fact he was a man. Well almost, he would be 18 soon and her heart couldn't take it. Tears pooled in her eyes without her realising before she squinted them away and turned towards her husband. At the end of the day it would be his and Vanessa's decision, he was their son, and they had the final say as to how much time he spent with his girlfriend. Johnny looked as if he had just been told he was becoming a grandfather. Shell shocked to say the least, so he took a sip of wine before leaning on his elbows on the table. "That's a fairly big thing for two kids your age." He began, making Jack slump back in his chair, "I knew you wouldn't understand!!" He retaliated to his father. Johnny held his hands up in defence. "It was only an observation." "And Lily is fucking off to the island with friends this month and some who are boys might I add. God only knows what she will get up to! All I'm asking is to bring my girl on a family fucking holiday!" Jack pushed his hand through his hair just like his father did when he was stressed and it made Holly smile. "Firstly. LANGUAGE." Johnny said sternly nodding his head towards Lottie and Pippa sat close-by to their elder siblings at the table. "Sorry" Jack mumbled. "All I was going to say, was that's a pretty big commitment baring in mind we are on the second of March, and don't plan to go south until June, and you kids are only 17. Of course Colette is welcome in any of our homes, but your mother, Holly, Samuel and I will have to work on some ground rules AND of course discuss with Colette's parents too but yes I see no reason, why this would be an issue. Colette you're very welcome to spend some time with us this summer. Paris in the heat is dire, and we've got a lot of room." "Thank you Mr Depp." The girl replied sweetly making Johnny smile and nod. Jack looked a lot more comfortable at the situation. "So you're really gonna talk to mum??" He said looking at his step mother, who raised her eyebrows. "You know the rules... don't look at me, I'm just an advisor.. it's the big bosses you have to work on." She giggled nudging her head towards her husband who rolled his eyes. "So Colette, your parents are into art?" Holly asked before leaning towards Pippa and helping her with her food. "Very much so. That's why we are spending so much time here in London. My mother is helping curate an exhibition at the Tate." "Wow, that's impressive." Holly replied. "You've picked a good family then... Both Jack and I are very interested in art." Johnny smiled. "Yes I saw your campaign with Castle galleries. It's wonderful." "Thank you very much." Johnny said proudly. "I'm still embarrassed that my face is hanging in people's homes." Lily said bashfully. "Be thankful, that you didn't help with bunnyman." Jack smirked shovelling a large spoonful of pasta into his mouth. "Mumma I'm done!!" Lottie sat up proudly pushing her empty plate away. "Good girl." Holly said as she began to finish her own meal. Pippa who always followed her sister in every way also pushed her plate away with still half the meal on it. Johnny rolled his eyes at the familiar action. "Come here sweetness." Johnny lent over and scooped Pippa into his lap and pulled her plate towards him before attempting to feed her some more of her dinner.

After dinner, both Colette and Jack were helping Holly to clear up. "Well that's a first!" Lily smirked as she made a fuss over Lottie's school project that she had bought home that day. "What is?" Holly asked as she piled the plates into the dishwasher. "Jack doing chores!!" Lily scoffed before her brother attempted to chase her round the island splashing water off his hands which resulted in Holly leaning into the boy's girlfriend and saying "Welcome to the mad house... are you sure you want to spend some of your summer with us?" The girl giggled before leaning against the side. "I love it. I've always wanted a big family, and being an only child, my house was always so quiet." "Well if you ever want any noise you know where to come!" Johnny smirked as he walked in from the garden after a smoke and noticing the chaos, he began pouring more wine for both him and his wife. "It's fun." Colette added "That's one word for it..." Holly said before scooping up a tired Pippa who was rubbing her eyes. "I think it's almost bedtime for you isn't it?" The mother said kissing her youngest's head. "Can I help with anything?" Colette asked making Holly smile. "Go save your boyfriend. Lily might look elegant and refined but she can definitely take down her brother when she needs to." The pair giggled as Holly and Johnny took the youngest two upstairs.