Lunch with Lily [Closed - Lily Middleton]

[bewitchinghaze]

 To say she'd been surprised when an invitation to lunch with Lily Middleton had shown up in her mailbox would be... an understatement. Val didn't get invited out by prestigious members of the community. She got invited to their homes to spruce up their flowers, or to plot out their gardens, but never to their country clubs for lunch.

She had no idea what this could be about and was anxious beyond belief to talk to the woman but you did not turn down Lily Middleton. Not unless you were on your death bed and even then, it would be rude not to at least invite her to say goodbye. So that afternoon, she sent a reply that she would meet her there, scoured her closet for something nice to wear, and called a cab to bring her into town.

By the time she arrived, her stomach was roiling. Everyone here was rich and she was so very not. But a quick word to the host, letting her know whose guest she was, and she was shown to a small table on the veranda. Gulping down a few deep breaths, she took her seat and waited for the Middleton matriarch to arrive.

Comments

[grantmiddleton]

This isn't news at all to Lily and she sips her wine with just a slightly raised eyebrow. "And? My son is biased, I admit, he made friends with the Thorntons and fell into the silly rivalry as a teen, believed the warnings people gave him. James was never too bad. He believed what his father said, what other people of influence said. Grant was the same. But once he got away, Grant changed. Times changed. I have dealt with bigotry all my life and I tried to shelter my son from it. But Grant lived it as well. He saw more of it outside of Siren Cove than he cares to let on. Moving back here and joining their department though...it's riddled with anti-witch mentality, as you know. Suddenly surrounded by the same mentality he was as a teen, that's never good for keeping those thoughts in the past. I'm not making excuses for him. What I am saying is that he has different views now and he's finally starting to open his eyes to the magically inclined. You may not see it, but I do. He's growing up. And he needs to learn. And I think he'll listen. To you."

"Besides, if that was a deal breaker, he wouldn't even speak to you." She adds the final remark with a bit of a laugh. Because Grant Middleton knows how to give someone the silent treatment.

[bewitchinghaze]

Val blushes, pushing her pasta around the plate with her fork. "...You really think he likes me?" she finally asks, glancing up as she bites her lip nervously. The fact that Grant's mother thinks he would listen to her about witches... well. That means a lot to her.

[grantmiddleton]

"I've seen how he looks at you and how he pesters you. I've seen how mad he gets when you ignore him. I think he likes you, but he's too much of an idiot to even admit that to himself."

[bewitchinghaze]

"Heh... I figured he was just an attention hog," Val admits with a chuckle. "And I guess... I mean. I guess I like him too?"

[grantmiddleton]

"He's very needy, but you bug him especially." She levels a look at Val. "You only guess?"

[bewitchinghaze]

Her blush deepens and she finds it hard to make eye contact, something very odd, for her. "It's weird to admit it to his mother, okay? Especially since I haven't even admitted it to myself. Yes, I like him."

[grantmiddleton]

"Good," she smiles. "Then I have to warn you about the auction. I'm putting Grant up for bidding."

[bewitchinghaze]

Val pulls a face. Why would she get her to admit all that and then tell her she's putting him up for auction. It's not like Val could afford him. "I'm... I'm not sure what you want me to do with that information," she admits. "I'm not exactly well off, and there will be plenty of people bidding on him, I'm sure. And it isn't like I have a claim on him or anything..."

[grantmiddleton]

"You're both too damn stubborn for your own good," she tsks. Lily grabs her purse from the other chair and pulls an envelope out, sliding it across the table. "It's for a good cause."

[bewitchinghaze]

Picking up the envelope, she peeks inside and gasps. "I can't- You- I can't accept this! You can't give me this!" Val stammers, baffled.

[grantmiddleton]

"It's for your sister's museum, dear. It's going to be donated either way, might as well get a bonus from it."

[bewitchinghaze]

"Mmmm... Thank you. I wish I was better with words but thank you. On my behalf, and on Riley's. This will mean so much to her," she says, her gratefulness plain in her voice.

[grantmiddleton]

"You're welcome. Just don't be so hardheaded next time, hm?" The waiter comes by, taking Lily's credit card. "There won't always be a charity event I can use to my advantage."

[bewitchinghaze]

"No guarantees, but I'll try," Val laughs, tucking the envelope away in her purse. "And thank you for lunch, as well. It was delicious."

[grantmiddleton]

"Anytime. Now I need to go make sure said son didn't blow up my house while I was gone. He's such a baby sometimes." She chuckles and takes her card back from the waiter, tucking it into her purse.

[bewitchinghaze]

Val grins, shaking her head and getting to her feet. "It was nice to meet you properly and to get to talk to you, Mrs. Middleton. I look forward to seeing you at the auction."

[grantmiddleton]

"The pleasure was all mine," she says with a smile, reaching out to shake Val's hand. A few members of the staff come over, one taking Lily's arm to walk her out to her car. She gives Val a final wave before she's off.