Taylor's POV
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Honeysuckle. That's the first scent that I smell when I enter. It's lovely, homely yet expensive.
I can't recall ever smelling it before and it strikes me just how did I recognise it without knowing what it was.
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Mirroring the driveway there are curved staircases, everything is light and neutral in colour. A circular table is positioned in the centre of the great hall, white marble. Holding a vase with white roses. It's chic and wonderful. Whoever designed this building loved curves and lines that are smooth. Windows provide opportunities for light to come in and highlight the marble floors
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"Jay" I hear a voice call and I know it's his mum, such affection and love in her voice. Any other women and I would be instantly jealous. He looks over at me taking me in and I give him a smile. Maeve has busied herself with cooking and I miss her already. It seems like Jay had strong female role models around him during his childhood, Maeve clearly cares for him like a grandmother.
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Jays mum appears, in gym leggings and a long baggy sweater. Both of which cost more than my entire wardrobe. She has not been working out, not a hair is out of place, of course she is as perfect as her home. Her blonde hair pulled up into a tight bun and wearing branded sliders.
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"So lovely to see both of you. Now..." she says on a mission instantly.
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"Let's get you both a drink and head out onto the terrace" she smiles and Maeve appears returning a warm smile and giving us two glasses of champagne. The wealthy drink it like its water.
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I'm happy to see that Maeve joins us outside and that she enjoys a glass of champagne with us. Being guided through the hall of the house was an eye opener, just how much money do these people have ? I'm starting to take in just what social circle I've fallen into and I'm wondering how I'm going to readjust myself to have a place here.
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The terrace looks over a double length pool which in the sunshine is glimmering. Reflecting light and casting it around the gardens. There are steps down to the pool and the deck chairs and sun beds. Small statues and huge plant pots line the sides.
We are seated in the top terrace around a large dining set with a parasol. It overlooks the pool and the gardens ahead. In the very far distance, if you squint you can see water and briefly I wonder if it is the lake where our home is.
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I pull my sunglasses on and swish my hair over to one shoulder. Jay glances at me and my bare shoulders.
"Okay" he whispers reassuringly.
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"You will catch it if you don't put on sun block" he smiles and I laugh looking at my already deep tan. We sip our champagne and Maeve places a few
serving trays of olives and various nibbles on the tables. I thank her and she smiles.
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"Jay, my son" a voice booms. A voice with a rich timbre and a sense of confidence and self assurance to it. Jay does not turn around he glances at me and smiles, a small smile. This is Jay's dad, the man that made a lot of these things happen. I take a moment before I glance at him, something whispers to me in my head that he is a powerful person and that my reaction to him must be just right.
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I reach for Jay's hand and pull us both up from seating. He holds onto me and for the first time I feel his insecurity and his vulnerability. A man in front of his father becomes his son, and all of the expectations of fulfilling that role are evident in Jays expression. I hold his hand tight.
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"A pleasure to meet you, Taylor" I introduce myself first. It's breaks the air and I'm happy with myself for doing it.
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Claire, Jays mum smiles and places her hand on the small of my back. A gesture of love towards a daughter in law which catches me off guard. I smile at her as she is watching Jays dad with an expression mixed with love, devotion and happiness. This is her world, her husband and her son. I want to be here, a part of that mix. That gathering of family. It's the first time I've felt the absence of a father figure, of a conventional family setup.
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"Wonderful to meet you Taylor" he replies and a smile full of inquisitiveness spreads over his face.
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"This is my father, Andrew" Jay says, without any indication of emotion. Nothing negative nor positive. Not like when he introduced his mother and his eyes shone and he smiled.
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"Jay. My son" Andrew says and pulls Jay into him ignoring all of the tension and seizing the moment.
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"Now please let me see this ring." Andrew says glancing down at me.
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Andrew has light fair hair, skin that has been kept well and an overall clean appearance. Meticulous even. He doesn't work with his hands, he is dressed up in a business suit. Jay has acquired so many looks from his father, his steel eyes are but one striking similarity. The blonde hair and also the confidence and self assured air that they both give off. Jay however has an edginess that his father lacks. A streak of rebelliousness.
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"It's quite breathtaking" Claire comments.
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"Wonderful" Andrew comments briefly eyeing up the ring.
"But of far more importance is Taylor, do you like it ?" He asks seating himself at the head of the table, where else?
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"I love it. It's the most exquisite piece of jewellery I've ever seen" I say sincerely.
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Andrew smiles at both myself and Jay.
"The lake house, is adequate?" He asks Jay.
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Adequate is not a word that I would ever put in the same sentence as 'lake house' but here we are.
Jay scoffs and sighs but his dad cuts in before he answers.
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"While we're at it we'll get rid of that damn apartment, sell and upsize" Andrew says business head on.
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"The apartment is unnecessary I don't use it anymore" Jay says no infliction in his tone.
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Andrew brushes over Jays comment, he storms ahead discussing options. Talking with himself more than anybody else. Maeve serves our steaks and I thank her and so does Jay. He rolls his eyes again at his father and Claire smiles at us enjoying seeing our reactions to one another. She is watching Jay closely and it strikes me that she has not seen him before this way with other girls.
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He strokes my shoulders, and checks that I’m not getting cold. I reassure him and he tucks into his steak.
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“There’s a property near the lake house, I’ve been eyeing it up. All of the luxury of the lake house but larger. It even has studio space” Andrew comments.
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Jay eyes me and then looks over at him.
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“The lake house is home” Jay says. Claire shoots Andrew a warning glare whilst sipping her drink.
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“Taylor, I hear you are working for a dance company” Andrew goes on blindly ignoring those around him. He takes a measured look at me and I smile confidently back at him.
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“Yes I will be. I auditioned for a part and got a little bit more than I bargained for” I smile and sip some champagne. I am acting, I can be ‘rich boys girlfriend’.
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“Yes I hear principal is a big deal in a dance company” Andrew says.
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“Hopefully I can live up to it” I say.
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“Of course you can” Jay says and Andrew sighs.
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“That’s what I’m saying, studio space. It’s integral. Lake house doesn’t have studio space” Andrew says flippantly.
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“Dad” Jay begins shortly, pensive expression on his face.
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“We appreciate you thinking of us” I interject softly.
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“We do love the lake house” I say smiling at Jay and then Andrew in turn.
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Claire smiles fondly at me. I know she usually has to be the mediator.
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“The lake house was intended for Jay. And I hope you are both happy there. I just wish to help in whatever way I can” Andrew says directly.
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“Dad” Jay says and I can see him counting in his head again.
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“I just, you know Jay” Andrew steams on oblivious
“We had this discussion when you were younger, this is the one.” He says eyeing me.
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I blanch but conceal it. I am not a this. I have a name.
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“I want to help, you need to have all that you require” he informs us.
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“Dad, Taylor is the one” Jay says firmly.
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“We have all we need don’t worry” I say softly.
“I know that you like to make things secure and to make sure of things, but we have that under control” I say. What the hell am I doing? This is a man with multiple business’s and apartments and properties globally, he doesn’t need me placating him.
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“Taylor” he says after a long pause. A long pause where I am now counting in my head. He smiles warmly. This is it, make or break. Acceptance or a rift in the family.
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“I am so happy he found you. Somebody who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, yet does it gracefully and with class. Remarkable” he smiles as if he’s known me for some time. Jay brushes my leg under the table and I take in the acceptance like it’s showering over me.
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“Taylor Gilbert Scott, has quite a ring to it actually” Andrew chortles and I smile at him.
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Taylor Gilbert Scott indeed.
