“Wakey, wakey, sleepy head.” Harry gently shook my shoulder.
“I’m awake.” I sat up straight and tried to talk without too much awe in my voice.
“This is huge.”
“Welcome home.” He smiled. “So you ready, Marilyn?”
“Yes, Mr. President.” I grinned back at him. “I ezz ready and so is Jiminy.” I spoke in my favorite French accent.
“Uhm who?” Harry frowned.”
“You know, let you conscience be your guide.” I started singing.
“Sarah, this is not…” Harry broke off as an older couple walked out of the house and started towards the car. “Here come the ‘rents.”
I peered out of the car curiously, my heart beating fast. I was scared that they were going to either hate me on sight or just not believe me. I was surprised at their appearance. I had been expecting to see some sort of glamour couple but they looked normal. In fact, they looked more down-to-earth than my own parents. I would never have guessed they were rich.
“Harry.” Mrs. Green ran up to him and hugged him as we got out of the car. I stood there awkwardly watching him hug his mom and then his dad. They both peered at me curiously with slight smiles on their faces. “And who is this?”
“Mom, Dad, meet Sarah.” He paused. “My girlfriend.”
I swallowed hard. I was already confused. I had expected him to call me his fiancée but then I remembered that he wasn’t going to propose until later on, at his cousin’s wedding and that was when we were going to break up.
“Sarah, it’s so nice to meet you.” His mother beamed at me and shook my hand warmly. “I’m Daisy.”
“Hi Daisy.” I smiled shyly.
“Give me a hug, young lady.” His dad drew me close to him and hugged me. “I’m glad to finally meet one of Harry’s girlfriends. I’m Donald.”
“Nice to meet you, Donald.” I smiled, immediately liking this white haired man. He looked like an older version of Harry and his blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
“I hope the drive was comfortable?” Daisy smiled at me and linked arms with me as we walked to the house.
“Oh yes, it was fantastic. Thanks.” I paused. “This is a really nice area, I’ve never seen such big houses before in my life.”
“I thought you were sleeping?” Harry looked at me with a frown.
“I was…kinda,” I responded and Daisy laughed.
“She just needed a break from you, Harry.”
“I doubt it, Sarah can talk up a storm.”
“Hey, no fair.” I poked Harry in the stomach. “I think you’ve kept me up most nights trying to talk, while I just wanted to sleep.”
“You wanted to sleep for other reasons, my dear.” Harry kissed me and swatted my ass and I blushed.
“Oh dear, don’t embarrass the girl.” Daisy laughed and I saw her exchange a smile with Donald.
“Sarah doesn’t embarrass easily, trust me.” He grinned.
“So how goes the company, son?” Donald changed the subject and Daisy groaned.
“Not now, Donald. They just got here.”
Donald laughed and winked at me. “I’m sorry, Sarah.”
“No worries.” I laughed and stared at her surroundings in awe. “Wow, this is beautiful.” I was surprised to see hardwood on the floor, I would have thought they would have sprung for marble flooring for their grand entry. I had expected an informal looking museum type of house but this place was homey and welcoming. I walked over to the wall and studied some of the paintings. “Wow, these are really cool. Who painted them?”
“Harry did, my dear.” Daisy beamed at me and patted Harry’s arm.
“No way.” I turned around with wide arms. “You’re joking, right?”
“No, she’s not.” Harry looked at me with a smile and I walked over to him and poked him in the stomach again.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were an artist. These are great. Consider me impressed.” I beamed at him, happy to be seeing into this other side of him.
“They aren’t that great.” He laughed.
“They’re wonderful.” I spoke earnestly. “Really wonderful.” I lifted my hand up to his face and brought it down for a kiss. I stilled for a moment when I realized what I had done. Harry’s eyes had looked into mine in surprise and confusion, but I didn’t have time to explain anything to him because Daisy and Donald were standing there staring at them. I resolved to myself that I would tell him later that the kiss had been part of my act, even though I knew that wasn’t true. All of a sudden, I wished that I hadn’t taken this job. I was starting to develop real feelings for Harry and the lines between real and fake were starting to blur.
“Do you want to take Sarah up to your room, Harry?” Daisy smiled at me. “We’re not terribly old-fashioned and so we don’t mind if you stay in the same room.”
“Oh.” I felt her face grow red. “Thanks.”
“Well won’t you look at that, the girl’s blushing.” Donald laughed and smiled at her sweetly. “No need to be embarrassed girl. We know our Harry.”
“Dad!” Harry’s voice was sharp and bemused. “Come on Sarah, let me show you my childhood bedroom.”
“Donald.” Daisy chided her husband as Sarah and Harry walked away. “You mustn’t say such things.”
“Well, it’s not like he’s ever brought another girl home before. She’ll be the only one he’s knocked boots in there with.”
“Donald.”
“Come on Daisy, you should be happy, this might mean we’ll be getting grandkids soon.”
Harry smiled at me as we walked up the stairs. “Now didn’t I tell you my parents are crazy?”
“They’re not crazy.” I laughed at him. I was surprised at them though. From what Harry had told me, I had thought his mom was going to be really cold and distant; pining away for John the butler. But his mom really did seem to love his dad and she hadn’t seen the butler anywhere. Maybe his mom was an even better actress than she was. Or maybe Donald had found out about the affair and banished John from the house. Now that would be crazy.
“What are you thinking about?” Harry asked me as we got to the top of the stairs and I just stood there.
“Oh nothing. Sorry.” There was no way I wanted to bring up his mom’s affair with the butler, not now that he seemed to be in such a good mood.