Teacher's Pet

Chapter 20

Niall races across the room, embracing the woman.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" Mom? Oh crap, it must be Maura! Shit this is so not how I expected to meet her! I hope she'll like me.. I stand up, walking awkwardly to the two hugging family members. Maura opens her eyes and they're teary. She pulls away when she sees me.

"I'm so sorry to have interrupted you, Niall. I didn't know you would have.. company." She says, looking at me.

"Hi, I'm Hannah. You must be Maura, I've heard a lot about you." I offer her my hand in greeting.

"Hi Hannah." She shakes my hand, giving me a smile then giving Niall a 'explain yourself' look.

"Mom, this is my girlfriend, Hannah." The second he drops the g word, his mother's face lights up and she squeals, giving me a bone crushing hug.

"FINALLY! My baby boy has found a girl!! AND she's European!" she chimes. I laugh, looking at a very red Niall.

"C'mon mom, give her some air!" he tells her, pulling her from me.

"I'll help you bring your bags in."

"Oh no need, Greg is doing that."

"GREG IS HERE!" Niall lights up, like a kid at Christmas, and runs outside.

"Isn't he the cutest?" Maura asks me, smiling.

"I know right! Sometimes I can't believe he is 21."

"Sometimes I can't believe that either. You kids grow up so fast."

"Is there anything I can do to help you settle in? Would you like something to drink?"

"A tea would be amazing, thank you sweetie." She gives me a look of exhaustion and gratitude. I walk into the kitchen with her and try to think where everything could be. I turn the kettle on and wait for it to boil.

"So how was your flight, Maura?" she lets out a huff.

"It was soooo long!"

"I know what you mean! When I came here, we had to make a few stops. Did you stop anywhere?" I find the tea and mugs so we're closer.

"Yes, we stopped in Singapore."

"Really! I've wanted to go there! How was it?"

"It was incredible! A big culture shock! They have a lot of beautiful things, too!"

"That is so great! I cannot wait to go there.. How was the plane? Any turbulence?"

"Ugh! There was so much turbulence on the way here I thought I was going to be sick! At least I had Theo to look after so that was a nice distraction."

"Any milk? Sugar?" I ask, opening the fridge.

"Only a bit of milk, please. One sugar."

"Wait so Theo is Greg's little boy?"

"yeah"

"And he's here?"

"yeah.."

"Heck yeah!! I love kids!" I do a little dance, stirring sugar into the cup of tea, then handing it to her.

"I think you'll love Theo. Thank you so much, sweetie."

"Where are those boys? I'll go check if I can help them." I walk out of the kitchen to the rental car. I see that no one is there, except for a blonde boy in a baby seat. I open the door and the boy is playing with a toy car.

"Hey there Theo, I'm Hannah!" I say in a high pitched voice.

"Nahnah" he says in a cute little voice.