No Interruptions

Chapter Twenty Three

***********

I had never been hugged this many times in my life. Somewhere after the second hug Niall and I had been separated, and the two of us were fawned over by what seemed like thirty other people, all cooing over my hair and my clothes and my smile and my height and everything in between. I had lost track of names, just smiling and hugging them back and thanking them and trying to compliment them before I was whisked away to the next person. 

Then there was Niall's mother. I reached the same time Niall did, the two of us slightly ruffled and a giant amused smile plastered to his face that made me giggly, a couple of what I assumed as aunts cooing behind us. I looked forward, into the most familiar blue eyes, and felt my heart rate increase. 

"You must be Charley, I've heard so much of you!" She smiled, and every single knot in my stomach untangled as she took both of my hands in hers. Her smile was warm, her eyes bright where Niall's were cooler, her nose scrunching up the same as his did. Her blonde hair was perfect, her hands warm as Niall's always were, her looks incredibly beautiful. I was taken with how much Niall looked like her. 

Her voice was soft and motherly, but deeper where most women had higher pitches. "Oh, I hope all good things." I replied, and she laughed, the sound disrupting the air like Niall's always did, and I felt my cheeks stretch like they did when Niall smiled. Then I was pulled into her embrace, her arms tight around me, her expensive perfume filling my nose. 

She released me and grabbed Niall, who went forward almost reluctantly, kissing her cheek and greeting her formally. "Mother," he nodded, accepting her kiss on his cheek and then moving away from her as she turned to us. "I've got the tea on, come." She beckoned, and Niall and I followed her, the crowd of Horan's already moved on to the living room. 

It was loud. It was loud and huge and decorated like nothing I'd ever seen before. There were candles everywhere, garland wrapped around the long banister, leading straight up to a second story where a Christmas tree waited, already glinting with white lights and red baubles.

Christmas mats were at every doorway, the smell of cinnamon and apples wafting through the hallways and rooms. Mrs. Horan led the two us through, my eyes flicking around everywhere, wondering if I'd ever remember it all. I didn't even look up when Niall laced his fingers in mine. 

We passed one room where there were at least ten different men all stood around in expensive looking clothes, sipping out of brandy glasses and smoking something. The room was dim, a Christmas tree sitting in the corner of this as well, red drapes pulled over the many windows around. A bookshelf covered one wall, a white couch with festive throw pillows pushed to the other one. 

I looked to the other side to see a dining room, set up for a Christmas dinner, expensive china and silverware on the table and a big, dark mahogany lowboy in the corner. Niall's mother wasn't talking, and I was beginning to wonder just how far away this kitchen was until she pushed open a door, holding it for us as she smiled. 

I almost stopped when I reached the kitchen. It was one of those expensive ones you see in a Home Living magazine, a breakfast bench by a big window on the far wall. It smelled like home, like a Christmas feast. There was a big, granite island in the middle of the giant room, six stools lined up along it. Two ovens were stacked on one another, sleek appliances in every part you could see. I was fighting to keep my jaw up as Niall ushered me to a stool. 

"Do you like tea, dear?" Mrs. Horan asked, and I nodded, mumbling my yes and please. Niall pulled out the seat for me, then leaned forward to whisper in my ear, telling me to take off my coat and scarf. I did as he said, my eyes still roaming the kitchen, barely registering Niall helping pull the heavy thing from my shoulders.