In My Life I Love You More

Chapter Six

Josephina and John stood before her parents, her siblings observing the encounter with keen Josephina and John stood before her parents, her siblings observing the encounter with keen interest from the comfort of their seats.

It marked a significant occasion for Josephina, inviting someone home to meet her family after quite some time. Yet, she felt assured that John's presence was innocuous, seeing no harm in introducing a friend to her parents.

"Welcome to our humble abode, John. I'm Emilia, Josephina's mother," Emilia greeted, taking the initiative as her husband remained reserved. She extended her hand to John with a warm smile, mirroring her daughter's charm, a testament to their shared genetics.

"It's a pleasure, Mrs. Miller. Your bakery crafts some of the finest desserts I've had the pleasure of tasting," John complimented, observing a blush grace Emilia's cheeks at his words.

"Oh, please, I'm sure you've experienced exquisite cuisine, being a renowned musician and all," Emilia deflected modestly, but John waved off the notion.

"There's nothing quite like a home-cooked meal; it reminds me of my auntie's cooking back in Liverpool."

"And where do you call home, then?" Beau interjected, his deep voice cutting through the air, momentarily adding tension to the atmosphere.

"Liverpool, sir."

"Hmm." Beau remained reticent, prompting Josephina to intervene, gently nudging John towards the hallway.

"Not so fast," Beau's commanding voice stopped them in their tracks. "I'm not done."

"Of course not," Josephina muttered under her breath, audible only to John, who fought to suppress a laugh.

"I'm aware of your kind, musicians. They're not always the most reliable partners, and I'm uncertain about my daughter dating one," Beau stated, crossing his arms, eliciting a frown from Josephina.

"Daddy, I trust John. If only you'd trust—" Josephina began, but Beau silenced her with a stern glance.

"You stay quiet," Beau commanded, his gaze fixed on John, who stood firm, refusing to engage in frivolous games. If he were, he wouldn't have agreed to this meeting in the first place.

"I intend to treat her with the utmost respect and endeavor to make her happy while we're together," John asserted, his demeanor unwavering under Beau's scrutiny.

"What about when you return to England?" Beau pressed, and even Josephina looked to John for his response, her expression inscrutable.

"I'll visit as often as I can, and I'll stay in touch through calls and letters. Money won't be an obstacle for me to fly out here," John assured calmly.

Beau paused, contemplating John's words before extending a hand, which John accepted as the older man shook it firmly.

"You've got rough hands. A sign of hard work... I can respect that. Despite the unconventional nature of your profession, you've dedicated yourself to it. Thought you might be one of those posh Englishmen who do nothing but sip tea and meddle in other countries," Beau remarked, releasing John's hand, eliciting a snicker from Colt in the background.

"Beau!" Emilia gasped, playfully swatting her husband's arm.

"They do drink tea, Milly. But why settle for tea when there's good coffee to be had?" Beau retorted.

"You probably don't fancy tea since your lot chucked it into the harbor," John quipped, surprising the family with his wit, especially the patriarch.

To their amazement, Beau chuckled. Not uproariously, but enough to break the tension.

"Damn right we did," he said, patting John's shoulder, who barely flinched. "You two have a splendid evening. John, ensure she's home by 2:00 am," Beau instructed with a pointed finger.

"Daddy, I'm not a child," Josephina protested with a roll of her eyes, already weary of the exchange.

"As long as you live under my roof and eat my food, you'll abide by my rules," Beau retorted firmly.

"Yes, sir," Josephina conceded, her cheeks flushed as John smirked down at her.

"Rest assured, I'll take excellent care of her," John assured Emilia as they made their way to the door.

"I trust you will," Emilia replied warmly, bidding them farewell with a smile and a wave.

As they departed, Gabriella and Colt remained in the living room, processing the exchange.

"What in the world was that?" Gabriella turned to her brother, a mixture of disbelief and amusement on her face.

"That was more intimidating than when Dad put me to work butchering cows on my sixteenth birthday," Colt remarked, shaking his head as Gabriella laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder.