by Susan Lewis
‘It wasn’t him, it was her,’ Tierney cut in defensively.
Tom regarded her with interest.
Lainey said, ‘Actually, I find that easy to believe, and so would you if you’d seen the way the girl has carried on since we’ve been here.’
‘Yeah, so don’t start blaming Max, the way you always do,’ Tierney warned her father. ‘He’s been really brilliant lately, hasn’t he, Mum?’
Lainey blinked. ‘Well, yes, if you can call not seeing much of him brilliant. And now we’re on the subject, perhaps you can tell us where the heck he is.’
Tierney rapidly scooped up a pile of plates and carried them inside. ‘You’ll have to ask him,’ she tossed over her shoulder, ‘he never tells me anything.’
Lainey looked at Tom. ‘Did you see him before you left to come here?’
Tom shook his head, and checked his mobile as it rang. ‘I’d better take this,’ he said, his eyes coming to hers.
‘Is it Kirsten?’ she asked.
He nodded, and as he answered the call his tone was so tender that Lainey couldn’t help the flare of jealousy that caught her. ‘Yes, I can talk,’ he said, reaching for Lainey’s hand as though sensing what she was feeling. ‘Mm, pretty hot.’ As he listened he was gazing absently at the view, seeming to see Kirsten’s world rather than the one he was in. Eventually, he said, ‘We can do it whichever way you prefer . . . OK, you think about it. I’ll be back at the weekend . . . Yes, Lainey’s fine about meeting you. Of course Julia too. Is she still at Rosa’s? I see, well, you don’t have to commit to anything now. We’ll speak again later.’
After he’d rung off he sat quietly for a moment, clearly immersed in thought as he toyed with his phone.
‘Are you thinking we should go home before the weekend?’ Lainey asked.
He shook his head. ‘No. She has the nurse there. She’s going to let us know when she feels up to meeting you.’
‘Will we go to her home?’
Tom glanced at Tierney as she came back on to the terrace. ‘That would probably be the best,’ he replied.
‘So what’s Julia like?’ Tierney asked. ‘Do you have any photos?’
Tom was eyeing her carefully. ‘I don’t, but I guess I should have,’ he told her.
Though Tierney was doing her best to hide it, Lainey knew she was jealous.
‘Is she pretty?’ Tierney wanted to know.
He cocked an eyebrow. ‘I think she is, yes, but I’m not getting into who’s the prettiest, you or her. All I’m going to say is you’re very different, and I hope very much that you’re going to get along.’
Tierney wasn’t looking thrilled. ‘So is she like, into the same kind of stuff as me?’
Seeming to find that amusing, Tom said, ‘As I’ve no idea what you’re into, my darling, I can’t even begin to answer that.’
‘I mean, like the same sort of music, and fashion, and stuff.’
‘Tell you what,’ he said, bracing himself as Zav came bounding across the lawn towards him, ‘why don’t we let her answer for herself,’ and catching Zav over his shoulder he wrestled him to the ground.
‘I thought you were coming down to the pool,’ Zav complained. ‘We’ve got the boat all blown up ready. It’s hilaire trying to get into it.’ His eyes sparked with mischief as he looked up at Lainey. ‘I reckon we should get Mum to try.’
‘What’s so funny about watching me make a fool of myself?’ Lainey protested. ‘Get Dad to do it.’
‘That would be even funnier,’ Tierney decided. ‘Come on, let’s do it.’
‘Hang on, hang on,’ Tom protested, as they tried to drag him off. ‘I’m still waiting to find out if we’re going to see your great-grandparents today.’
‘If you go,’ Tierney said, tossing back her hair, ‘I want to come too so I can tell that evil old bag, Melvina, exactly what I think of her.’
‘She probably won’t understand you,’ Lainey replied.
‘And besides, you’re not coming,’ Tom informed her.
‘You are so dictatorial,’ Tierney protested. ‘What if Mum wants me to come?’
‘I don’t,’ Lainey assured her.
‘So who’s going to stay and look after us?’ Zav wanted to know.
‘Tierney’s sixteen now,’ Tom reminded him. ‘She can be in charge.’
‘No way!’ he cried. ‘I’m not being bossed around by her.’
‘Actually,’ Lainey said, ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea just to drop in on Aldo before we leave at the weekend. I should give him some time to consider whether or not he wants to meet me, and if he does, I can’t just rush off again. It wouldn’t seem right.’ She was looking at Tom.
‘It has to be your decision,’ he told her, ‘but I agree, I think you should allow more than a few days to do it. We can always come back at a later date, when we can spend more time getting to know him.’
‘If he’s still alive,’ Tierney piped up. ‘And if it’s what he wants.’
Lainey’s reply was drowned by the sound of a horn blasting through the peaceful afternoon. ‘That can only be Max,’ she commented drily.
‘Yay!’ Zav cheered, and leaping up he tore across the lawn to meet his brother.
‘That’s what I love about Zav,’ Tom commented, ‘he’s just like Peter, always pleased to see everyone. I reckon he’d even be the same with burglars.’
Lainey smiled. ‘Aren’t you pleased to see Max?’ she asked Tierney, noticing how edgy she suddenly seemed.
Tierney shrugged. ‘Course. Did I say I wasn’t?’
Lainey’s eyes moved to Tom.
‘There’s no point looking at me,’ he told her, ‘I gave up trying to understand my children a long time ago.’
‘What about Julia?’ Tierney challenged. ‘Do you understand her?’
‘Probably not,’ he conceded, ‘but she’s definitely not as complicated as you.’
At that, Tierney’s eyes widened. ‘Was that a compliment or an insult?’ she asked her mother.
Laughing, Lainey said, ‘I’ll let you decide,’ and getting to her feet she was on her way to welcome Christie when she caught sight of Max’s swollen right eye. ‘Wow,’ she murmured as he sailed past her into the kitchen, with Zav throwing punches behind him.
‘What happened to you?’ Tom demanded.
‘You should see the other guy,’ Max retorted, tugging open the fridge.
Lainey and Tom looked at each other.
‘Excuse me,’ Tierney mumbled, pushing Max back inside as he made to come out again.
‘Hi, I hope it’s OK for me to be here,’ Christie said, her wide blue eyes seeming uncertain as she let everyone know she was there.
‘Yes, yes, of course,’ Lainey assured her, remembering her manners. ‘Come and sit down. How was the journey? Would you like a drink?’
‘I’m on it,’ Max called out, and sliding past Tierney he carried two beers to the table and handed one to Christie as he began downing the other.
Lainey was still intrigued by the bruise around his eye.
‘An explanation,’ Tom prompted.
‘Max!’ Tierney shouted.
Max shrugged helplessly. ‘Be right back,’ he told his father.
Tom turned to Christie.
‘Apparently someone tried to mug him while he was in London and he fought back,’ she told them.
Not at all sure she believed that, Lainey said, ‘Did he go to the police?’
‘I don’t think so. I didn’t ask.’
Lainey looked at Tom. ‘Tierney’s involved in this somewhere,’ she informed him.
His eyebrows rose. ‘Really?’ he responded, though his tone was far more relaxed than she might have expected. ‘We seem to have another visitor,’ he announced.
Lainey looked round, and her heart sank to see Skye coming across the lawn in a tight bikini top and low-slung shorts. ‘At last,’ she said, ‘we’ve been wondering where you were.’
‘I texted Tierney,’ Skye replied, her flinty eyes fixed on Christie
.
Trying to ignore the tension, Lainey went on, ‘We’ve decided to fly home at the weekend, so we should call your parents to let them know.’
‘Hello Skye,’ Tom said cheerily.
Her eyes darted briefly to his.
‘I’m Christie,’ Christie said, holding out a hand to shake.
‘Yeah, right.’ Skye ignored the hand. ‘Don’t bother calling my parents,’ she told Lainey, ‘I won’t be going back with you. Zoe’s family have invited me to stay with them, so I’m only here to pick up my stuff.’
Trying not to be irritated by the curtness, Lainey said, ‘I’ll have to clear it with your parents first, so if you could let me have their number . . .’
Skye was still glaring at Christie, her weight shifted on to one leg, a hand on her hip, while Christie looked back in bemusement.
Certain Skye was about to cause a scene, Lainey tried to think what to do and almost jumped when Tom reached for her hand.
‘Zav,’ he said, pulling Lainey to her feet, ‘run in and get Max, will you? Then meet us down at the pool. Mum and I are going to try out the boat.’
Startled, Lainey allowed herself to be led away. ‘Don’t you want to get to the bottom of what’s going on?’ she whispered.
‘Not really,’ he replied. ‘They’re all grown-ups, or they like to think they are, so why don’t we let them sort it out for themselves?’
In Tierney’s room Max was saying, ‘What the fuck did you want me to do, let the douche bag get away with screwing my sister?’
Tierney’s eyes were bright with horror. ‘Of course not, but the fact that Nadia was there . . . Oh my God . . . What am I going to do if she tells Dad?’
‘She’s not going to tell Dad, moron. She won’t want him to know any more than you do.’
This was true. She had to remember that. ‘But what if he tells someone?’
‘If he does, we just deny it, but no way is he going to do that. He doesn’t even have the photos any more, so he can’t prove it.’
Tierney’s cheeks paled. ‘Tell me you didn’t look at them, please say you didn’t.’
‘I didn’t. Nadia took care of it, and she texted after to say they were all deleted.’
‘Oh my God, she must hate me now.’
Max shrugged. ‘I doubt it, but who knows. Anyway, a thanks would have been nice, but . . .’
‘Thank you, thank you,’ she cried, throwing her arms around him. ‘You’re the best brother in the world, and I’m sorry you got a black eye. Did he do that?’
‘Yeah, but I can promise you he’s looking a lot worse. Hey Zav, what’s up, little man?’
‘Dad said I had to come and get you,’ Zav told him.
Max was about to respond when Skye shoved Zav out of the way to get into the room. ‘Hey, don’t take your shit out on him,’ he growled.
‘You are such a fucking loser,’ Skye hissed at him. ‘You all are,’ she added, glaring at Tierney. ‘No way am I staying around here while you’ve got that slapper out there . . .’
‘She’s not a slapper,’ Max informed her, ‘and no one’s forcing you to stay. If you need a ride to the station I’ll be happy to help out.’
‘Max!’ Tierney cried, as Skye turned white. ‘That was just mean. Why did you have to say that?’
He seemed confused. ‘I thought I was being friendly,’ he replied. ‘I mean, how else is she going to get there?’
‘Just go,’ Tierney told him.
‘And I’ve informed your girlfriend that you’ve been screwing me all this time,’ Skye snarled after him, ‘so happy holiday, you fucking bell end.’
‘Cool,’ Max muttered as he swaggered out of the room.
‘Don’t,’ Skye snapped, as Tierney tried to comfort her. ‘Just leave me alone, OK?’
‘But you’re really upset, and . . .’
‘I said, leave me alone. You’ve got everything you want now, your brother’s sorted out the psycho, your dad’s back with your mum, you’ve even got a new best friend out there on the terrace, plus a sister waiting in the wings, so what do you need me for? I’m just in the way . . .’
‘That’s not true.’
‘Yes it is, so do me a favour and get out of my face.’
Not knowing what else to do, Tierney stood watching Skye as she began stuffing her clothes and make-up into her bags. ‘I don’t want to fall out with you,’ she said lamely. ‘Can’t we just . . .’
‘No! We can’t do anything. You’re just an immature, snivelling, spoiled little brat. I don’t know why I ever bothered with you. I suppose I felt sorry for you. Actually, I still do, because your family is seriously fucked up and so are you.’
Ashen-faced, Tierney retorted, ‘It’s your family that has the problem, not mine, and for your information, if Christie asks me if it’s true about you and Max I’m going to tell her it was all in your head,’ and still feeling terrible for Skye she stalked out of the room.
Down at the pool Lainey was sprawled out on a lounger, aching with laughter at Tom’s attempts to get into the boat. He’d made it now, just, but was lying on his front, not daring to turn over in case he ended up with another dunking.
‘Come on, Dad, you can do it,’ Zav cried, jumping up and down at the shallow end.
‘Just go really slow,’ Alfie advised, pushing a ball under the water and letting it shoot up in a fountain.
‘No, I’m nice and comfy like this,’ Tom assured them, clinging to the sides with one leg still in the pool.
Lainey practically howled she laughed so hard.
‘Whoa, Dad, need some help there?’ Max offered, appearing with Christie.
‘Not from you, thanks,’ Tom muttered.
Passing Lainey her phone, Max said, ‘It kept ringing.’
Taking it, she said to Christie, ‘Why don’t you get changed into a swimsuit?’
‘We’re about to go and move her stuff into the apartment,’ Max replied, ‘so you won’t be seeing us for a while.’
‘Too much information,’ Tom grunted.
Max regarded him thoughtfully, until noticing the boat was drifting close to the edge of the pool, he went to give it a hefty shove back to the middle.
‘You’ll pay for that!’ Tom warned.
Max grinned, and tossing Alfie’s ball back to him he slipped an arm round Christie to walk her up to the car.
‘Adriana’s inviting us for a barbecue tonight,’ Lainey told Tom as she read her texts.
‘Sounds great,’ he replied, his voice skimming along the bottom of the boat.
‘Apparently Marco’s wife is going to be there.’
‘Dad, do you want your phone? It’s been ringing,’ Tierney said, coming to sit on the edge of the pool.
Tom almost reached out a hand. ‘Oh no, I’m not falling for that,’ he told her.
‘Honest,’ she laughed. ‘You’ve got three missed calls.’
Before he could answer Skye screamed from the top of the steps, ‘You’re all a bunch of fucking losers. I can’t wait to get out of here.’
Lainey sat up; Tom lifted his head and the next instant he was under the boat.
As everyone exploded into laughter Lainey realised Skye would think they were laughing at her, but by the time she had rushed to the top of the steps Skye was already getting into a car at the gates.
‘I feel really bad for her,’ Tierney said, coming to stand with her mother.
‘So do I,’ Lainey sighed, giving her a hug. ‘I’ll go and check on her later to make sure she’s told at least one of her parents where she is.’
‘She hardly ever sees her dad, so she won’t have told him.’
Understanding this was almost certainly at the root of Skye’s constant need for male attention, Lainey tightened her hold on Tierney.
‘She was really close to him once,’ Tierney said. ‘Like I’ve always been with Dad.’
‘And nothing will ever change that,’ Lainey assured her.
Tierney didn’t answer.
Turning to her, Lainey put her hands on her shoulders. ‘You’re thinking about Julia, aren’t you?’ she said.
Tierney nodded. ‘Aren’t you worried about it too?’ she asked.
Lainey held her close as she tried to find the right words. ‘I’m not saying it won’t take some getting used to,’ she said, ‘but we’ll have to keep remembering how difficult things are for her, with her mother being ill.’
Tierney nodded glumly. ‘I know, and I feel sorry for her about that, honestly, but what if she turns out to be a bitch?’
‘I’m sure she won’t. Dad says she’s very sweet . . .’
‘He would, wouldn’t he?’
Keeping an arm round her shoulders as they started back to the pool, Lainey suggested, ‘Why don’t we make a pact, you and me, that no matter what, we’ll always be there for each other.’
Instantly accepting this, Tierney said, ‘I’ll definitely be there for you, Mum, and if there’s ever anything you want to talk about you know you can always come to me.’
‘Thank you,’ Lainey replied with a smile. ‘Same goes for you.’ She waited, but since nothing was forthcoming she said, ‘I’m not going to insist on knowing what’s been going on lately, but if you do ever feel the need to discuss . . .’
‘Don’t worry, I won’t. I mean, nothing’s been going on, and anyway, everything’s all right now, because Dad’s here. What I’m saying is . . .’
‘It’s OK,’ Lainey interrupted, ‘I was your age once, so I understand there are always going to be things you really don’t want your mother to know . . .’
‘Just like Granny didn’t want you to know things about her.’
‘Precisely, and we can’t blame Granny for wanting to keep her secrets to herself, can we?’
‘Definitely not. So do you think it might have made a difference when you were growing up if she’d told you the truth?’
Since this was a question Lainey had asked herself several times these last few days, she was able to say, ‘I’d certainly have understood things better, and I probably wouldn’t have gone through such intense periods of self-doubt, or of resenting her the way I sometimes did. Now, back to you: just promise me you’re not in debt, or involved in drugs, or pregnant.’
‘I swear I’m none of those things,’ Tierney responded with feeling.
