The Summer I'll Never Forget.

24.

After the conversation I had overheard, I knew that I would be called to a family meeting, I just didn't expect for it to be at the table in the dining room, each family with a notebook. It felt more like a business meeting than a family chat.

"so, Hayley. I don't know how much you and Lucas have spoken, but in case you haven't spoken much I will tell you and your parents what he has decided, and he will ask the big question"

I froze, my dad stiffening beside me. "no, you may not have her hand in marriage! Mandy, you don't agree with this surely?"

"poor choice of words" she said, holding her hand up. "sorry, I meant that he has a big question to ask, one that we do not expect to be taken lightly"

"that makes it sound no less like a proposal" dad deadpanned.

"why don't we let them get on with the chat, then we can find out what the question is?" My mum said, stopping my dad from going off on a rant.

"okay" Mandy started, looking up at me. "Lucas has decided and basically demanded, that wherever you go, Hayley, he will follow. As you are moving back home, he has made it very clear that he will be returning to the UK too. Now, before we can continue any further than this, Lucas you have a question for the Smiths?"

"yes" he said, coughing awkwardly. His mum being a manager of a big company back home means her family meetings are run like her company - strict and official. We always feel like we're under a microscope in these meetings.

"go ahead, son" Joe, Lucas' dad added.

"As you well know, mum and dad are staying here in the US, and I would like to go back to the UK. So I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind if I stayed with you?"

My mum and dad looked at Mandy and Joe like they had grown 2 heads each. "you're okay with him living half way across the world from you?"

"Mum, it's hardly half way across the world" i said, rolling my eyes.

"Well it isn't exactly up the road, is it Hayley?" My dad snapped.

"I do understand that you might not want me to be living with you due to mine and Hayley's relationship. I fully understand that having your daughter's boyfriend live with you at 16 is not the best idea in the eyes of a parent, but I will be coming back to the UK either way. I hope you say yes to me staying with you because honestly, It will be the easier option for me. But if you say no, it does not mean I won't be coming back - I will still be returning to the UK but I will be having to find my own place to live. It will be hard but I will do everything in my power to make it work so that I won't be 'half way across the world' from Hayley"

I stared at him with such admiration. He just admitted in front of both our parents that he will follow me anywhere, basically saying that he loves me in front of them and I haven't even said it back to him yet.

"do you love her?" My mum asked out of curiosity, her eyes incredulous at Lucas' speech.

"yes" he replied strongly. He left no room for argument.

"I don't mind you coming to live with us Lucas. I think it will be good for you both to be close, but there will be rules if it happens." my mum said, nudging my dad to join in.

"i also do not mind. I won't say I am thrilled, but that is just because I am a father. I love you, Lucas, like you're my own son. I would be happy to have you live with us, you should know that we would say yes without even asking. You're family"

"thank you" he said, coughing and looking down. Was he crying?

"thank you" Mandy said, smiling at my mum and dad. "it's helpful, I can see his mind is made up and trying to get him a place of his own would have been beyond difficult. But, now that has been sorted, we need to look into the paperwork. We will need to sign over temporary guardianship to you for the foreseeable future, and also set up a direct debit so we can pay you for him"