Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 23007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“I’ll get your suitcase, Pum Pum.”
“No need, Dad. I’ll grab it in the morning. I have stuff up here. Happy Anniversary.”
After shutting myself in my room, I pull some pajamas out of my dresser. I strip down and throw the One Direction T-shirt and pair of shorts on. Only then do I remember my foot is killing me. I look down at it and see the bruise already starting to form. Oh, well, nothing I can do about it now. I slide into the crisp sheets of my bed.
Well, that was certainly interesting.
When I wake up in the morning, I’m not surprised the find the four of them sitting around the dining room table, eating breakfast. Fully dressed in proper pajamas, thankfully. I pour myself a cup of tea from the teapot on the table. I grab some toast and bacon and sit down. Ray and Dad are reading the paper, while Rita and Mum talk quietly. I have several months before I have to be anywhere. My next shoot doesn’t start until May. It’s filming in Sussex, so plan on staying in London for a good long while.
“Sweeting, you must have a lot of questions for us,” Rita says.
“Not really. I just can’t be calling you and Ray by your names anymore. So, I’ve decided to change that up if there are no objections.” No one says anything, so I continue. “I think Mama and Da, will work, like before. What do you think?”
“I think that would be lovely,” Mum says, grasping Mama Rita’s hand.
“We all do, Pum Pum.”
“How long are you home for?” Mum asks.
“At least until May. I can stay at a hotel if that’s a better option. I know you gave up twelve years together for me. I don’t want to be the cause of any more separation.
“We wouldn’t dream of it, Patience. This is your home.”
“Technically, I bought it for you, but…”
“But nothing. Stay as long as you like. It’s not too weird for you is it?” Dad asks.
“Well, other seeing way too much of Da, it’s fine.” That garners a laugh. “I do have one question though.”
“We all have sex,” Mum blurts out before slapping a hand over her lips. Everyone looks over at her.
“Uh, good for you, but that’s not what I was going to ask.”
“Sorry. Continue.”
“How did this happen? How did you know the others would be into it?” I take a bite of bacon in order to stop talking.
“Oh, well. Ray and I were roommates at university and so were they. We hung out and dated casually, but it felt like something was missing. One night we had a few too many beers down the pub and one thing led to another. I had never and still haven’t been attracted to another man. Just Ray.”
“It’s the same for us too,” Rita says.
“Love will do that to you. Pure and simple. Love knows no boundaries and it never fails, always remember that, Paysh,” Ray says, surprising me. He’s usually the funny guy. I’ve never heard him say anything so… poignant before.
“Hear, hear,” Dad says, rubbing his arm.
“Alright, enough of that,” I say wiping a stray tear that escaped at his words. Suddenly, the doorbell rings. “I’ll get it,” I say, leaving the dining room. Moving to the front of the house, I pull the front door open.
“Delivery for Miss Patience Winters. Patience Winters? Where have I heard that name before?” He looks at the label and back at me several times. “The movie star, Patience Winters?”
“I wouldn’t say star, but yes I am she,” I say, offering him my press junket smile.
“Wow. Cool. Sign here,” he says thrusting a iPad at me. Using my finger, I sign it. “Could you also sign this? My daughter loves you.”
“Sure, do you have a pen?” He pats his pockets down with one hand, but comes up with nothing.
“No, shite.”
“Hang on,” I say reaching into the bowl of crap mum keeps by the front door. It’s mostly change and rubbish mints, but I find a mini hot pink Sharpie in the mess. I sign my name to the piece of paper, a receipt, I think. I take the box from him and thank him. Opening the box, I find a note and a gorgeous red gown, along with all the proper Regency undergarments. Holy shite. Are these crotchless drawers? I’ve never worn anything so elaborate before.
Wear this tonight. Get your own shoes, girl. XX Holly.
This is how I find myself being cinched into a corset tighter than a vise by my mums ten minutes before my taxi is set to arrive, but we did it. I stare at myself in the mirror not recognizing myself. Rita curled my hair to look like Daphne’s in Bridgerton. My boobs are right under my chin, and the pearls I borrowed from Mum look amazing, just kind of nestled there.