Life is Precious (The Watsons Book 1)

Chapter 2

I was accosted when we entered the house; the older kids who were allowed to stay up past nine had all been waiting for my return in the living room.

Clarissa took over her mother when I entered, grasping me tight in her arms.

She held me at arm's length. "Are you alright?"

I smiled and nodded, hoping to erase the worry from her eyes. "I'm fine." The twins and girls gave me a hug also. Even the boys weren't beyond the emotions of this.

"You never told us you go there when you're..." John's voice was sad and somewhat lonely.

"When I'm upset, or sad, or...yeah," I replied sullenly.

They must have all discussed my return because everyone, aside from John, including Clarissa, said goodnight and then slunk upstairs.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"We need to talk," John replied.

"About what?" I frowned.

"Don't play dumb, Regan," he said. "What happened back then?"

"When?"

"When I announced I had a girlfriend and then you...left."

"It was coincidental, I was reminiscing..."

"Really?" he asked, sceptically. "It was too sudden."

"Fine, okay," I wanted to admit it but I couldn't. I couldn't tell him how I felt, so I lied. "I was imagining you moving on with your life, and it just made me think that my parents would never get to see me achieve things and...become a teacher, you know." I lowered my head for effect and just because I didn't want to look him in the eye.

John snaked his arm around my middle and pulled me towards him. "I'm sorry. I just thought that you didn't want to meet Blair."

And here she was again, deposited into the conversation. I was back to resenting her.

I lied again. "No, I'd like to meet her." Not.

John's grin was huge. "I can't wait for you to meet her, she's coming round for lunch tomorrow."

I kept my facial expressions in check, but inside I was already imagining what she'd be like and how much I'd hate her. "That's great," I replied. "Let's go to bed now. I'm tired."

That night I fell asleep quickly. Maybe all the drama was a sedative.

****

I was up late the next morning, which was unlike me since I was usually up when the sun left its bed. So much so was I late that Clarissa had to come and wake me.

When I came down, everyone was already outside for breakfast.

"You're looking nice this morning," Finley said, and I punched him on the arm for his sarcasm. I added a kiss on top of his curly blonde hair, which he reeled from. I hadn't showered yet, let alone brushed my hair.

When I finally did have a shower and get ready, the family was outside, minus the eldest son.

He was sitting on my bed when I came back dressed from the bathroom after brushing my hair. I hadn't expected him, so it gave me a start.

"Woah," I breathed.

"Sorry," he grinned. He lay back and patted the space beside him. It didn't take long before I was nestled beside him.

Why was my love unrequited?

"So I start work next month," he mentioned. "And...I think it's time for me to get serious."