The Kind of Hoax That Leaves a Lump in Your Throat

My parents arrived on Wednesday and were staying in nearby hotel since we didn’t have the room to put them up. They didn’t mind though. Then again I wouldn’t if I were them since they were staying in the nicest hotel in town.

I rushed home Thursday as quickly as I could in order to get ready for them taking us to dinner that night. It was one of the poshest and expensive restaurants around and they said they were paying for the whole thing. At least josh got his free dinner.

There’s a certain way you have to dress when going to places like this. Meaning I had to go buy a dress. Fashion isn’t my strong point but I’d been getting batter with help form coral whose bump was now beginning to show. Safe to say she wasn’t too happy about it.

We went dress shopping together and I found the most amazing dress. It was deep red and the skirt was short at the front and touched the floor at the bottom. I think it was just my lack of height that made it touch the floor.

Coral loved my choice and couldn’t believe I’d picked it myself. For the rest of the time we were shopping she kept telling me what a proud sister she was. She on the other hand went for something airy and floaty, wanting to conceal the bump

I’d been in the shower, done my hair and make up and put my shoes on. All that was left was jewellery so I decided to crack out the good stuff. My jewellery box had a lock on it and whilst I was trying and failing to open it, I heard the door open downstairs and then someone come up.

My door opened then and I turned to find josh stood there looking smarter than I’d ever seen him before. His eyes raked over me and he let out a low whistle before closing the door behind him and slowing making his way over to me, his eyes never leaving mine.

My legs were pressed up against the table behind me and when he’s finally made his way over to me placing his hands on my waist and I put mine around his neck.

“Do you know how hard it is to try and keep my hands off you when you look like that?”

His voice was deep and quiet and it made my stomach tie in knots. If only he knew how it was for me to keep my hands off him full stop.

His hands travelled lower until his fingers touched my leg and then up under the skirt of my dress, getting higher and higher. Where his skin came into contact with mine it felt as if sparks were going off. My breath hitched in my throat and I could feel him smiling against my skin where he left a trail of butterfly kisses down the side of my neck.

“Josh” I managed to get out somehow he carried on. He moved his lips to my ear, down along my jaw and then back to my lips.
His hands got lower again picked me up to sit me on the table behind before standing between my legs and carrying on.

“How’s about we skip this dinner. I can think of other ways we can spend out time together” he teased and for a second I actually contemplated skipping dinner and spending the evening with josh between the sheets. It’d been far too long since we’d been that close.

We were snapped out of bubble by the sound of coral shouting up the stairs.

“Violet? Josh? Can you come down I’ve got something to tell you”

We sighed in unison and I rested my head on his shoulder. I felt his hand travel up and down my side before he helped me down from the desk.

“To be continued?” he winked and I felt myself blush furiously. He kissed my temple and helped me sort myself out again before we went down to se what coral wanted.

I left josh and Sonnie in the lounge because Sonnie was freaking out. This was his first time meeting our parents and with what they were here for, he was on the verge of running for the hills.

Josh calmed him down and told him they were nothing to worry about, and by the time coral and I went back to them he was a lot calmer. I sat next to josh and he put his hand on my knee and kissed my forehead before I laced out fingers together.

“So what did you wanna tell us?” I asked coral, and she sat on sonnies’ knee, who was sat in the arm chair.

“So I may have told a teeny tiny lie” she said and when josh and I looked at each other confused and back to her she carried on. “Mum and dad don’t know about the baby. I didn’t want to tell them over the phone.”

“So how did you get them over here?” I asked confused.

“Just said I had something really important to tell them that I’d rather tell them to their face. Plus I said I missed them. That was kind of the deal breaker” she smiled and I just shook my head with a slight smile. “I think they were just happy to hear from me and said yes to anything”

Before we could say anything else a car horn beeped outside telling us our cab was here. We all scrambled out and Sonnie sat up front with the rest of us in the back, me in the middle.

The ride was short and once we were there, josh and I went to the bar and let Coral and Sonnie see the rents first. We had just ordered and were standing at the bar when josh slid his arm around my waist and kissed my cheek, and placing his lips to my ear.

“I feel like I need to assert my authority, everyone’s looking at you”

“Are you sure their not looking at you? I mean you are Josh Franceschi” I taunted and he laughed, shaking his head.

“I can assure you, since they are all men looking this way, that it’s you they’re looking at. Not that I blame them. If I wasn’t with you I’d be staring at you too”

“Awe” I cooed and kissed his cheek. “Well I only have eyes for you”

“And it’s so true, I only have eyes for you” he sung quietly in my ear.

“Very clever josh”

“You started it” he said and the barman came back with our drinks. “Come on you, let’s go” he said taking my hand and leading me through the masses of people. I felt eyes on me from every direction so I kept my eyes on the floor.

It felt weird to have this much attention on me. I was usually the one that drifted into the background that no one saw. It was uncomfortable to say the least, being looked at like you were a piece of meat so I just stayed close to josh.

The place was huge and divided into little rooms, but our table was in the main dining room. We headed there and as soon as we came in my mum jumped up and pulled me into her. I felt josh move past us and when I peeked up he was giving my dad the ‘bro hug’ thing. I remembered how much they’d bonded over the time we spent with them and smiled at them.

We pulled apart and she held me at arms length. “Oh my darling you look beautiful” she said on the brink of tears before hugging me quickly again. I moved onto my dad and gave him a hug whilst josh hugged my mum. She said something in his ear and patted his cheek lightly whilst he just smiled like an idiot and replied quietly to her.

The table was round and coral sat next to mum with Sonnie on her other side. I sat down next to Sonnie with josh next to me and then my dad was in-between josh and my mum.

“Everything go ok?” I said to Sonnie, who now looked like some of the weight had lifted.

“Yeah, just the other part to get through now” he joked and we all settled into light conversation. A waiter came shortly and took our order and soon enough we were all eating. Talk about speedy service.

“So then, what’s the big new?” my mum asked when everyone was pretty much finished, looking at coral with her brows raised. Coral took a deep breath and moved to grab Sonnies hand before starting.

“So there’s kind of three bits of separate news, but they all link. Better get the big bits out the way first. Mum, dad…” she started and I thought she might not be able to finish, but he squeezed her hand and she finished what she started. “I’m pregnant”

All talking at our table stopped. I looked over to my parents and I could see they were shocked and not to sure what to think. Coral looked over at me in a panic and I gave her a look that told her to carry on speaking.

“I know this may seem sudden and weird cause Sonnie and I haven’t even known each other long, but I love him, and I don’t know it just feels right like this was meant to happen.”

I looked back at my parents and their faces had softened, now looking warmer. They still didn’t speak though, like they were to afraid to say anything so again coral carried on.

“I’m happy guys, happier than I’ve been in a while. Sure it wasn’t how I planned thing, but right I don’t think I’d want it any other way” she said, looking at Sonnie for the last part before leaning over and giving him a small peck. “Which leads me to the other bits”

I felt josh’s hand on my knee again and looked up to his face and asked me what the next bit was just with a look. I just shrugged and we carried on listening to coral.

“We’re also getting married, and buying a house”

Now it was time for mine and josh’s faces to look shocked. Married? Moving out? When did this happen?

No one said anything, all trying to process the information because I know that’s what I was doing. I looked over at josh for some reassurance but he looked like I felt.

“Where are you moving too?” I found myself saying and coral looked over at me with a slight smile.

“Not far away at all. In fact the house we were looking at is just at the end of our road so we’ll still see each other all the time”

“Well love, if you’re happy, I’m happy” my dad spoke up. “Congratulations to the pair of you”

“Thank you daddy” coral said with tears in her eyes. She got up and gave him a hug and soon we were all up and hugging. “Let’s celebrate with desert” she announced and we all cheered and sat down.

“What you getting?” I asked josh and he just shrugged.

“Not sure I really want anything” he said his eyes scanning the page. “I think I’ve eaten too much” he said drumming his hands on his body. He really hadn’t but I just went along with him. Something was definitely wrong there.

“Well why don’t we share one, I don’t think I can handle one myself” I told him and he looked at me with a small smile.

“Well how romantic” he said playfully, “if you insist” he winked before leaning over and placing his lips to mine briefly, but it still made the butterflies erupt in my tummy.

So we ordered one with two spoons, but I still ate most of it and once we were done mum and dad paid. We all offered to chip in but the refused saying it was their treat.

We invited them back to ours for coffee but josh and I got a cab back since we couldn’t all fit in their car. I was glad for the time alone with him though. We sat in the back, as close as two people can get. I rested my head on his chest and he placed his head on top of mine.

I wished the ride was longer but soon enough we had to get out. Everyone else was already by the time we arrived and my mum wanted to talk to me alone in the kitchen.

“So anything you and josh wanna tell me, no marriages or pregnancies you need to announce?”

“No mum” I laughed and she placed an arm around me.

“Well I wouldn’t be surprised. The way that boy looks at you…” she drifted off with a massive smile on her face. “I’m just so happy for you violet. You seem more… I don’t know the word but you just seem more together if that makes sense”

I smiled lightly at her comment. “I guess so”

“Like two people who have gone through something bad, but come out stronger in the end” she explained and I couldn’t help but smile widely.

“Well things have been a bit shit lately, but it’s all behind us now. Everything’s perfect.”

“That’s so good to hear” mum said and hugged me again. “This is a very nice house too. You’ve done so well for yourself violet, I’m so proud” she said with tears spilling form her eyes.

“Don’t cry or I’ll start” I said although I could feel the tears in my eyes.

“Sorry” she said pulling back. “What do you think about what those two have got themselves into then?”

“Honestly mum, Sonnie is such a great guy, I’ve know him for a while and he really is a sweetheart. But they bring out the best in each other and I’m not worried at all”

“Well you know them better then I do so I guess I should stop worrying” she chuckled and we joined the rest of them in the lounge.

Zahra and Oakley came home and I introduced them to my parents, and they ended up joining us for a bit. When they went up to bed mum and dad decided it was late and they needed to head off. After they went, Sonnie and coral went up which just left josh and I.

“So you still up for Saturday?” he asked, referring to Elissa’s gig.

“I wouldn’t miss it”

“Good” he smiled. “I guess I should get going” he huffed and a felt the sadness drift through me. “How’s about I stay Saturday night? Here is much closer than Dan’s place.” he said and I perked up a little bit before nodding enthusiastically. “Perfect”

I walked him to the door and we shared a very long goodbye. Not that I was complaining. I’d take whatever I could get. And the gig was only two days away, I could survive that.