Devereux House

8

Carter

"You good?" Jackson asks me as I walked into the living room.

"Yeah why?"

"Havent seen you in 2 days?" He says. "I was at Bella's. Her roommate's been in New York."

"So fucking weird. You in a relationship. You usually return after fucking a girl. You dont stay for two days."

"Is it a bad thing?"

"Your knuckles look terrible." He says. "Mother dearest will notice that."

"I will make it my mission to not show it." I smile.

"Nose ring." He says and I sigh and take it off putting it in my pocket. "So youre not obsessing over Bella? Stalking her to a club, beating up her friends?"

"If youre fine with anyone touching Ivy thats up to you Jacks." I say.

"You are such an asshole." He says as he gets up hearing the lift ding. Ivy pops out and I look at her. "Hi Ivy." I say smiling. I hug her and look at Jackson who rolled her eyes.

"What is happening?" She asks. I put my arm around her and look at Jackson. "Just missed you." I say as I kiss her cheek.

"You asshole get off my girlfriend." Jackson says. "Hes trying to justify punching people for touching Bella."

"Oh. Why we surprised? Last month he punched that guy who pushed you in the club." She says rolling her eyes.

I hear the lift again and watch Bella appear. She looked beautiful as always in a light grey dress with a flower pattern at the skirt, that was more covering than the usual dresses she wore. It had long sleeves and came just to her knees.

"Hello." She smiles. "You think Mrs Williams-Devereux will aprrove?"

"Yep." I say. "Im sure she will."

"You guys suited and booted."

"There is only way to break bread with mother." Jackson says. We head out and I drive us to my parents house. The long journey was filled with Ivy and Bella talking and jokes made.

Mrs Hawtin greets us at the door.

"Hi Mrs Hawtin." Jackson says

"Hi boys. Well men should I say." She says. "Hi Ivy, nice to see you again."

"Hi Mrs Hawtin." She smiles.

"This is Bella." I tell her. "What a stunning young woman, welcome." She beems. She looks at me again and smiles. "Dont make it weird." I tell her. "Im not!" She says frowning. "Just happy to see you bring a girl home."

"Thanks not-mother." I say and she rolled her eyes. "Carter." Bella wimpers. "Its okay. You get used to his dry humour after 21 years." Mrs Hawtin says and Jackson laughs.

She guides us to back garden where my mother stood. She was looking at the flowers set up on the table. I wished my father was here. He was a good buffer between me and my mother. He was in France for a royal event.

"Hello mother." Jackson says.

"Hello." She smiles. "Thought it was a lovely day and we could have lunch outside."

"Great idea, its nice out." Jackson says.

"Ivy. Im so glad you are here." She says before she looks at Bella. "Isabella." She says. "Welcome. Lets sit."

My mother sits down at the head. I sit down next to Bella opposite Jackson and Ivy.

"So mom, how have you been?" Jackson asks.