By the end of the meal, Foreman was feeling invisible. He couldn't decide if he was relieved or annoyed. While Kate's talk about the renovations, even if she had gone on, hadn't bothered him because he understood the urge to let everyone know exactly how much work had gone into the dinner and the setting, Geoffrey's stories were more insufferable. If Geoffrey had been an investment banker, Foreman would have at least had something in common with him to discuss; even estate law would interest him, for his parents' benefit. But a divorce attorney only had one thing on his mind: exactly how, when, and why relationships crashed on the rocks, and how lucrative it was when they did. During his first visit to meet Amber's parents, Foreman didn't want to be thinking about whether they'd end up at each other's throats five years down the road. They both had immensely stressful jobs, they had different ideas about having a family, he was technically her boss...according to Geoffrey, those were all signs of imminent relationship collapse.
Fortunately, Geoffrey didn't seem to need any encouragement from Foreman to keep up his stories. Chris asked a question or two, mostly about Madeleine's school and the neighbourhood where they lived, and whether Leila was thinking of going back to work, which segued into talk about relatives Foreman hadn't met and people he didn't know. When Kate suggested--obliquely--that they move out of the dining room so that she could clear, Foreman was nearly the first one on his feet. "Can I help?" he offered, picking up his empty plate.
"No, no, you and Amber go enjoy yourselves." Kate took the plate out of his hands and started stacking it with Leila's and Madeleine's. "You haven't even had a chance to settle in yet. I know you'll want to see the room."
As much as his better instincts pushed Foreman to clear the table and at least make a stab at offering to do the dishes (a chore he'd never have escaped at home, guest or not), the thought of putting a few solid walls between them and the family was far more appealing. He turned to Amber and tried to smile. "Want to give me the tour?" he asked, remembering too late that it was practically what he'd said the first time he'd seen her apartment, and carried her through it naked before depositing her on her bed and joining her there. His face heated, but the memory made his smile much more genuine than he'd thought he could manage after that dinner.
no subject
Fortunately, Geoffrey didn't seem to need any encouragement from Foreman to keep up his stories. Chris asked a question or two, mostly about Madeleine's school and the neighbourhood where they lived, and whether Leila was thinking of going back to work, which segued into talk about relatives Foreman hadn't met and people he didn't know. When Kate suggested--obliquely--that they move out of the dining room so that she could clear, Foreman was nearly the first one on his feet. "Can I help?" he offered, picking up his empty plate.
"No, no, you and Amber go enjoy yourselves." Kate took the plate out of his hands and started stacking it with Leila's and Madeleine's. "You haven't even had a chance to settle in yet. I know you'll want to see the room."
As much as his better instincts pushed Foreman to clear the table and at least make a stab at offering to do the dishes (a chore he'd never have escaped at home, guest or not), the thought of putting a few solid walls between them and the family was far more appealing. He turned to Amber and tried to smile. "Want to give me the tour?" he asked, remembering too late that it was practically what he'd said the first time he'd seen her apartment, and carried her through it naked before depositing her on her bed and joining her there. His face heated, but the memory made his smile much more genuine than he'd thought he could manage after that dinner.