Chapter 61

The flight from Athens to London was uneventful, lasting about five hours with a small layover in Barcelona. Charlie and Beth picked them up from Heathrow with warm hugs and big smiles.

Beth took Maggie under her arm, and the two walked behind the men as they went to get their luggage from baggage claim.

“Tell me all about it, sweetheart. Did you love it?”

“Oh, Beth, it was beautiful! The buildings, the people, the hills, the history—it was magnificent! I have never seen such a place!

“Liam showed me all these amazing places and spoiled me rotten! I took over a thousand pictures, I swear! I can’t wait to show them to you!”

“Oh, I can’t wait to see them! I am so happy you enjoyed your trip! And your bump! You look beautiful!”

Maggie blushed at the praise but thanked her mother-in-law. Liam and Charlie found the bags and had the ladies follow them to the car.

Charlie shared a love of expensive cars with his son and put the luggage in the back of a very shiny black Mercedes.

“So, Dad, is everything set for Saturday night?”

“Oh yes, your mother invited half of London. The caterers have been there for days. I think there is enough alcohol in the house to keep the RAF drunk for weeks!”

Liam laughed as Beth smacked her husband’s arm. “You cheeky arse! You helped with all of this, so don’t blame it all on me!”

Maggie giggled as Charlie smirked and patted her knee.

They talked and laughed as Charlie drove them to their home in North London. Charlie pulled down a tree-lined road and then turned onto the grounds of a huge estate.

The house was huge and had everything you might expect from a traditional English home. Maggie’s jaw dropped, and Liam chuckled and squeezed her hand.

“It’s just a house, darling.”

Maggie nodded and gulped, trying to regulate her breathing. She rubbed her belly to calm herself, feeling the baby kick softly as she did. They got out, and the door opened.

A sweet-looking older woman came out and went up to Liam, giving him a tight hug.

“Anne, this is my Maggie. Darling, this is Anne, our housekeeper-slash-nanny growing up, slash-dear-friend.”

“Hello! I can see why Liam snatched you up so fast! You are a beauty!” The five-foot-tall Irish woman said as she hugged Maggie.

“Don’t let the height fool you, Maggie, Anne rules with an iron fist when she needs to! I had more spankings from her hand than I care to remember!” Liam admitted.

Maggie laughed. “I can only imagine!”

Liam had told Maggie about Anne before, saying that she refused to fly and wasn’t going to come to the wedding. Maggie was so glad to finally meet such an important person in Liam’s life.

Beth and Anne brought Maggie into the house, where Anne had tea and little sandwiches ready for them. After eating, Liam took Maggie on a tour of his childhood home.

Maggie loved the rich warm colors and woods. Despite the size, it felt like a cozy home.

Liam showed her the library where Charlie’s office was, Beth’s office, six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a huge living room, dining room, kitchen, and solarium.

The backyard was just like a park with its large trees, flower beds, and paved walkways.

“It’s a beautiful place to grow up! So grand,” Maggie said as she wrapped her arms around him.

“We had a lot of fun, that’s for sure!”

They had a wonderful meal before Maggie fell asleep in Liam’s arms as they sat on the couch in the living room, watching TV. He carried her upstairs, and she slept until morning.

Maggie woke to find Liam watching her with love in his eyes. And after a round of morning sex, they dressed and went down for breakfast.

Liza and Bethany would arrive soon for their shopping day. Liam gave her his British credit card.

“Try to leave some things left in the stores for others, okay?” Liam said, kissing her head.

“No promises, babe! I know what shopping with Liza and Bethany is like!”

Liam rolled his eyes. “The city is doomed!”

Liza came in the front door in a hurry. “Let her go already, Liam! The shops are calling us!”

“Go easy on her!”

Liza rolled her eyes. “Wanker!”

“Language, Liza!” Anne called from the kitchen.

“Sorry, Anne,” Liza replied with a smirk.

“And watch your tone!”

Maggie giggled as Liza shook her head and whispered with love, “The woman is a tyrant!”

Maggie climbed in the back seat of Liza’s SUV, and they sped off into the city.

Bethany and Liza took Maggie to all their favorite stores and spent a great deal of money to accommodate Maggie’s growing belly.

They stopped for a late lunch, and Maggie told them all about Greece.

“Sooo…how much sex did you have in Greece, Mags?” Liza asked in the middle of their meal.

Maggie almost choked. “What?”

Bethany giggled behind her napkin.

“Sorry! I don’t really want to know, but Bethany bet me that I wouldn’t ask! I’m just having a go at you!”

“My heart almost stopped when you asked that!” Maggie said while clutching her heart. But then she grinned and added, “Let’s just say we left quite a bit of DNA all over the country!”

Bethany and Liza stopped and gaped at her as she smirked back at them.

“I promise I will never ask anything about your sex life again if you promise never to tell me about sex with my idiot brother, okay?”

They all agreed, giggled, and finished their lunch.