He was still crouched on the floor with one hand on his thigh and staring up at the ceiling. “I just need a minute. I’ll catch up.”
She understood his implication and left him there, realizing it would be best for all if he didn’t answer the door with evidence of their tryst pitching a tent in his shorts.
On the way to the front door, she took several deep breaths and tried to get her head on straight. She had no idea who would be calling late afternoon on a Sunday: Parker, TJ, Tyler with another angry red envelope informing them they’d lost more money for breaking rules. Perhaps a solicitor selling solar panels who’d somehow made it past the security gate.
She reached for the front door’s knob, and nothing could have prepared her for who was standing on the other side.
“Um…Chuck?” she called over her shoulder after she managed to close her gaping jaw. “Your parents are here!”
Chapter
12
Barbara and Sam Walsh beamedat her like they’d shown up for Christmas dinner. Behind them stood the full camera crew, lenses lifted and pointed.
Olivia was too dumbstruck to do anything but stare. Mercifully, Chuck came jogging around the corner a few seconds later.
“What did you say?” he asked, and raked a hand through his hair, which she had thoroughly mussed.
“I said, your parents are here. Along with the camera crew.”
Chuck came to stand beside her, thankfully back in presentable order, and blinked in shock. “Mom? Dad?” he said like he couldn’t believe they were truly there.
Barb instantly stepped inside and threw her arms around her son. Petite and blond and fluttering her hands like little birds, she hugged him with her head hardly meeting his shoulder. She then reached for his face and yanked his cheek down to kiss it. “Oh, Charlie! It’s so good to see you!”
Chuck stumbled in her grip before he gently hugged her back.
His father used his cane to delicately step over the thresholdinto the entryway. He looked a lot like Chuck, only rounded at the edges, graying, and leaning slightly to the left. “Hiya, son,” he said, and hugged him as soon as his mother released him.
Chuck was still reeling. “Hi. What are you guys doing here—?”
The sound of his mother’s excited gasp cut him off. “Would you justlookat this place, Sam?” she gushed, and spun a slow circle as she took in the entryway. “Oh! And Olivia, my darling!” She pulled Olivia into a warm, soft hug that smelled like flowers and minty chewing gum.
“Hi, Barbara,” Olivia said, just as dazed as Chuck.
“Heck of a house you got here,” Sam said with a chuckle. He clapped Chuck on the shoulder and pointed out the back doors. “Look at that! A pool and everything.”
“Oh mygoodness!” Barb cooed with another gasp. “And the cameras are right here! Sammy, we’re on TV!”
“I don’t think it’s live, Barb,” Sam muttered, but waved into the lens with a grin anyway.
His parents continued to fawn and gush while Olivia and Chuck exchanged a look of complete bafflement. Barb was all but skipping around taking in the sights. Sam leaned on his cane and nodded enthusiastically at everything she pointed out. They chattered like chipmunks.
“Parents!” Chuck eventually bellowed over them. “Why are you here?”
Barb hardly missed a beat as she fluttered back over to him and pinched his cheek. “Oh, Charlie, don’t get excited.”
“Mom, no one calls me that here,” he said with a faint flush.
Barb clucked and swiped invisible fuzz off his shoulder. “Then what do you prefer I call you? My little gumdrop?” She squeezed his face again like she was about to eat him.
The Walsh family was very physical. Always touching each other; always smiling and kissing cheeks. It at once melted Olivia’s heart and filled her with a lonely envy.
“Mom,” Chuck quietly protested again.
Barb released him and flapped her hands. “Sorry, sweetie. I’m just so excited to see you. We’re here because yourproducercalled and invited us for dinner!” She said the word with starstruck glee. “I didn’t think your dad was ready to travel, but when they said it was all paid for and they’d take care of any special accommodations, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to come!”
“That’s right,” Sam said, and thumped his cane on the floor. “First time out and about since the surgery, and so far, so good! Though I have had a healthy dose of painkillers today.” He wobbled a little with a dopey grin that popped the same dimple his son had.