“Yeah a bit, Mums husband Dean is a mechanic, I used to help him sometimes, and I just got to like cars. It was me that told dad to buy this; he had a crappy old Audi before”
“Ahhh a crappy old Audie, how terrible?”
I shake my head laughing. I would be happy with a crappy old Audi any day.
~
Mr. Wilde Snr lives on the Beach Road in Brighton. The house is enormous, very modern looking and spread over three floors. There are already a half dozen cars on the drive but Gabe has no problem sliding into a spot. He seems to be good at sliding into just about anything, especially me I think to myself and instantly blush. I step out of the car and turn to move the seat to let Sophie out, who's been sitting behind me. Gabe is doing the same for Ava and I can feel his eyes on me, over the top of the car.
“What?” He asks, frowning and smiling at me. I just smile back and shake my head. As we walk towards the house, Gabe puts his arm around me and gives me a kiss, for reassurance I think.
“Please Dad, would you get a room. Lauren is going to have pash rash and it won't go unnoticed by Jackie.You know that”
“And what exactly would you know about pash rash young lady, how many boys that shave have you ever kissed?” Gabe asks, and I get the feeling, he's serious and definitely not joking. Ava turns around and looks at him, one hand on her hip. Steely blue eyes into steely blue eyes, shit, sparks are going to fly. He’s bristling, he stops in his tracks waiting for her answer and I can feel the tension in him
“Actually” she says and I hear and feel him draw in a breath and hold it as he waits for her to continue. I squeeze his hand.
“About the same amount as you have” she laughs and sticks her tongue out at him. He closes his eyes, letting out his breath, I loosen my grip on his hand, both our palms are sweaty. He looks down at me and we both shake our heads
“Oh she is so going to keep you on your toes Gabriel Wilde”
“Fuckin tell me about it, that's two of you I have running rings around me now”
That makes me catch my breath. It makes me feel... Special?
Ava and Sophie have gone, I can hear her calling
“Pops? The party can start now, I'm here, your favorite grandchild, Pops where are you?”
“You ready for this?” He rubs his thumb back and forth over my knuckles as he looks down at me.
“As I’ll ever be” I smile as I speak. We move towards the door, and then he stops and pulls me back.
“I’ve never done this either Lauren, I’ve taken women on dates to work functions that my family have met and obviously they met Nina, but never like this, I’ve never bought anyone to my Dads house to meet my family, I just want you to know that”
Shit, don’t let me cry, not now, I have mascara on, I will look a mess. I swallow and simply nod, too scared to attempt speech, in case the tears escape.
~
Charlie's house is set out similar to Gabe’s, with the living areas upstairs so as to be able to enjoy the views. He leads us up and into the huge open kitchen/family room. I try straight away to work out who is who before the introductions start. Gabe’s Dad is on us instantly. He gives Gabe a hug, and then turns straight to me.
“This is Lauren dad, my erm…” He looks at me and trails off, “Lauren, my Dad, Charlie Wilde” What’s that all about. What am I then, nothing? Thanks Gabe for the reassurance, just when I needed it most. Cheers. I plaster on my smiley face, after I shoot Gabe a look that lets him know I am well and truly pissed off with him.
Charlie moves straight in for a kiss on the cheek then a handshake.
“Lauren, good to meet you, glad you could make it. Which team do you go for?”
Knowing he was talking about AFL I deliberately say “West Ham, actually”
“Ha, yeah. Don't think they're playing in today's final”
“Well in that case, the Swans”
“No way. You've got to be loyal to your state, it’s gotta be the Hawks”
I know little about Aussie Rules, my Dad, Jay and the boys never followed it, the round ball game of football was more their thing and of course rugby, but the little knowledge I do have, I put to use.
“Well that's true but the Swans were originally South Melbourne Footie Club before they moved to Sydney in the 80’s to promote the game up there”
He looks from me to Gabe and smiles and nods, “ahhh a Pom who knows her Aussie rules, I like it”
Next we say hello to Zac and his wife Sam.
“So, The Angel Gabriel has finally had to do the chasing ehh, Lauren? Good on ya. It's been a pleasure to finally see him fall apart over a woman these past few weeks”
Sam shakes her head at him.