Forbidden Harmony (Harmony Falls #3) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,136

Preacher.” Daniel waved at him. “You’re all right, man.”

As Addison’s father helped Daniel up the stairs, her mother smiled at Preacher. “So, you’re our Addie’s Preacher. I’m so happy to meet you. I know it’s late, but will you come into the kitchen and have some tea?”

He stared blankly at her. Addie’s Preacher? What the hell was happening.

He had no idea but having a cup of tea with Addison’s mother was number one on the list of very bad ideas. “Oh, uh… I should probably get going.”

“Just one cup,” she said. She walked down the hallway and disappeared into the kitchen. After a moment, feeling like a very large sandbag had been dropped onto his head, Preacher followed her.

She’d already turned on the electric kettle and put tea bags into three mugs. “I guess I should ask if you like tea,” she said.

“I do.”

“Good,” she said. “Sit down, Preacher.”

He sat, or rather his knees unhinged and he mostly fell into the chair. He watched in stunned disbelief as Addison’s mother set out a delicate porcelain cream and sugar set and a plate of ginger cookies before pouring hot water into the mug and handing it to him.

She smiled when she caught him staring at the cream and sugar set. “Isn’t it divine? I bought it at a flea market in this little town in England. Clark and I went to Europe for our fifteenth anniversary. Have you ever been to Europe?”

“No,” he said.

“Have a cookie,” she said and pushed the plate toward him.

“Mrs. Moore, I appreciate the cookies but -”

“Call me Belinda,” she said. “Thank you so much for giving Daniel a ride home. Clark and I do appreciate you looking out for our boy.”

“It was no problem.” He shifted in his chair. “He, uh, he gave me this address by mistake.”

“I’m not surprised,” she said. “He seems to have had a terrible lot to drink.”

She sipped at her tea. “So, it really is lovely to meet you. Addison has told us so much about you.”

“She has?”

“Yes. She hasn’t stopped talking about you since we got home. It’s a shame that it didn’t work out between the two of you. It’s clear that Addison is very taken with you. Why, she wasn’t this upset when she found out that dirty dink Harrison cheated on her.”

“I… she… what?” he said.

Addison’s father walked into the kitchen. Preacher stood and shook his hand when he held it out to him. “Clark Moore.”

“Simon Wells,” Preacher said.

“Good to meet you,” Clark said. “Are you a friend of Daniel’s?”

“Honey, Simon is Addie’s Preacher.”

“Oh, right, of course!” Clark pumped his hand a couple more times. “Real nice to meet you then. Addie hasn’t stopped talking about you since we got home. Have a seat. Did you try some of Belinda’s ginger cookies? They’re delicious.”

Preacher sat down again as Clark sat next to Belinda. She pushed the cookies closer to Preacher. “Try one, Preacher.”

He took a cookie and bit into it. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled at her husband. “Did you get Daniel settled?”

“Yes. He’s in bed and on his side with a bucket beside the bed. I’ll check on him again in a few minutes. Thanks for bringing him home, Preacher.”

“You’re welcome,” Preacher said.

“Do you prefer to be called Simon or Preacher?” Belinda said.

“Either is fine,” Preacher said.

“So, we were just talking about Addie and how upset she was that she and Preacher weren’t seeing each other anymore,” Belinda said to Clark.

“She is pretty upset,” Clark said. “She didn’t cry that much when she told us that dirty dink Harrison had cheated on her.”

“She showed us the tattoo you did for her,” Belinda said. “It’s so pretty. Why, I’m thinking I might book an appointment with you to get a tattoo. Maybe a heart with mine and Clark’s initials inside of it.”

“Uh, sure, call the shop and we’ll book you in,” Preacher said.

“I just might do that,” Belinda said before squeezing Clark’s hand. “How’s that cookie?”

“It’s delicious,” Preacher said.

“Addison is an amazing baker and cook, just like her mother,” Clark said. “A man never goes hungry when they’re around. Isn’t that right, honey?

“Yes,” Belinda said. “She’s a fantastic cook. Much better than me.” She hesitated before smiling at Preacher. “I realize this isn’t any of our business, but would you consider giving her another chance?”

Preacher choked on his bite of cookie. Belinda stood and pounded him on the back as Clark poured a glass of water and handed it to him. He coughed and coughed some more