Mates, Dates and Pulling Power

by Hopkins, Cathy

  A moment later, Luke came in to join us and Tony went to get him a drink from the counter. Luke sat in the chair next to me and took my hand. I was about to tell him that I hadn’t had a chance to speak to Dad yet, when a familiar car drove past and slowed down for the lights at the pelican crossing. It was a black BMW. Our car. And Dad was in the driving seat. He glanced in the window at Costa and his face lit up when he saw me. He waved, then he saw Luke next to me and his face clouded. He pulled over at the kerb, much to the annoyance of whoever was behind him, and beckoned for me to come out of the café.

  ‘Dad’s out there,’ I said to Luke. ‘Won’t be a moment. Maybe he’ll come and join us.’

  Outside, Dad waved at me to get into the car, so I slid into the passenger seat and gave him a big hug.

  ‘Hi, Dad.’

  ‘I thought I asked you not to see that boy,’ he said.

  ‘It’s OK,’ I said. ‘I know everything.’

  ‘What do you mean, you know everything?’

  ‘Luke’s mum told me the whole story. About Nadia . . .’

  Dad looked like he was going to explode. ‘She what? She had no right doing that. It’s not her business.’

  ‘I saw photos, Dad. In her album. She didn’t know who I was. There was a picture of you and Luke’s dad and Aunt Nadia. Luke asked who the girl in the photo was.’

  Dad took a couple of very deep breaths as though trying to calm himself.

  ‘It wasn’t Mrs De Biasi’s fault it all came out, but it did,’ I blustered. ‘And then I watched Saving Private Ryan and it made me realise that life is too short to have any kind of war, big or little and . . . and then I watched It’s a Wonderful Life and I realised that your friends and family are the most important thing . . .’

  But Dad didn’t seem to be listening. He was staring ahead with a grim look on his face.

  ‘Come and meet Luke again,’ I said. ‘He’s in there with Tony.’

  ‘With Tony?’

  I nodded.

  ‘You tell him to come out at once. I don’t want you mixing with that family.’

  ‘Why not, Dad? You’re being totally unreasonable. What happened was a long time ago. It’s all in the past . . . And it wasn’t Gianni, I mean Mr De Biasi’s fault Nadia died. He almost died himself. You must see that. It might have been you in that car with her and she would have still died. You just feel guilty about it. It’s mad. It was the fault of the drunk driver who drove into them. No one else’s fault.’

  ‘We’ll continue this discussion at home,’ said Dad and he started up the engine. I quickly got out of the car. Dad leaned over and wound down the window. ‘Nesta. Back in the car. Now.’

  ‘No. I’m going back into Costa, then I’m going to the De Biasis’ restaurant and I’m not coming home until you come and talk to Luke’s dad.’

  ‘Nesta, get in the car.’

  I turned my back and walked towards Costa, where I could see Luke and Tony looking out of the window with concern. Behind them, I caught a glimpse of TJ, Izzie and Lucy in the queue at the counter. They must have arrived while I was in the car with Dad. It wasn’t meant to be like that, I thought as I went back in to join them. It was meant to be one of the best moments of Dad’s life. I’d wanted to make him really happy after all he’d been through, but instead I’d never seen him look so mad. Or sad.

  ‘Well that went well,’ I said as I rejoined Tony and Luke.

  ‘You OK?’ asked Luke.

  ‘Yeah, course,’ I said, then sighed. ‘Parents, huh? You try your best to keep them on the right track, but sometimes they won’t listen . . .’ I tried my best to smile and make light of what had just happened, but instead, I burst into tears.

  Big Realisation

  People don’t always want what you want for them.

  Chapter 15

  ‘I’d never dare defy my dad like that,’ said TJ as we made our way down Jackson’s Lane on the way to Biasi’s. ‘He’d throw me out or something.’

  ‘Dad would never do that,’ I said, ‘but he did look upset.’ Privately I was wondering if I had pushed my luck a bit too far. I didn’t know what had come over me as I’m not usually that disobedient, but then Dad and I don’t usually argue.

  ‘I think you should go home,’ said TJ. ‘Give him time to adjust to the idea that the whole story about your aunt is out. It’s a biggie for him. He must have felt he let everyone down at the time and now you know about it. He probably wants to be the hero in your eyes. You need to tell him he still is and that everyone makes mistakes and has regrets.’

  ‘I did, sort of. I told him that the only person responsible for Nadia’s death was the drunk driver. But he wasn’t listening. What do you think I should do, Lucy?’

  ‘God, I don’t know. Go home and give him a hug. I feel really sorry for him.’

  I felt such a failure. Giving Dad a big hug is exactly what I’d meant to do. Part of my fantasy of organising the great reunion. Hah. So much for my mediator, peacemaking, healing-the-past skills. Me and my big mouth. Nothing ever comes out right.

  Luke and Tony had walked ahead of the rest of us. They seemed to get on really well and I couldn’t help but think that Dad and Luke’s dad must have looked just like them when they were younger. I was really chuffed that Tony had decided to come with me and support me. He didn’t always take my side, but I think he wanted to get this sorted. Or it may be because he thinks that, if Dad doesn’t come round, then he’ll never let him drive. On the other hand, it may be because Lucy is coming with us and it’s a chance for him to hang out with her a bit more. At that moment, he turned and caught Lucy’s eye and they smiled at each other. Yeah, he’s definitely come along because of Lucy.

  As we walked on, I considered my options. Should I go home and give Dad a hug and say I was sorry? Should I let the reunion with Mr De Biaisi go and not push him? Then I remembered the Frank Capra film last night. The whole story seemed to be saying that things happen for a reason. We meet the people that we meet in life for a purpose. Of all the families, in all of London, I meet the De Biasis. It had to be fate. I decided to ask the destiny expert.

  ‘What do you think I should do, Iz?’

  ‘Hmmmm,’ said Izzie. ‘I think you should . . . I dunno, er . . . be prepared to be flexible. Prepared to bend. Yeah, that’s it. I read in one of my books that you have to be like a branch on a tree. You know, it bends in the wind. Whereas stuff that doesn’t bend or resists, gets broken.’

  ‘Right,’ I said, feeling none the wiser. Sometimes I don’t quite get Izzie’s advice. ‘Yeah. OK. I’ll be a branch on a tree. You got any last bits of wisdom to pass on, TJ?’

  ‘Don’t ask me,’ she said. ‘You have to decide.’

  ‘Well I’m going to Biasi’s,’ I said, ‘and I’m going to stick to my guns and not budge until Dad comes to talk to them.’

  ‘Then I hope you like pasta,’ said Lucy.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because you might be there for a very long time.’

  Ten minutes later, we all trooped into Biasi’s. It was still early and there weren’t any customers for lunch yet, so Luke took advantage of the quiet time to do introductions, then fill his mum and dad in on the latest. Seeing their reaction, my reunion fantasy faded even more. They were horrified.

  ‘Oh no. Oh Nesta, I’m so sorry,’ said Mrs De Biasi. ‘I remember how stubborn your dad could be. When he’d made his mind up about something, there was no shifting him.’

  Tony laughed. ‘One of the many traits he’s passed down to his daughter. They’re both as stubborn as mules, so this stand-off will be interesting. See who backs down first.’

  ‘Well, it won’t be me,’ I said.

  ‘No please, Nesta, go home,’ said Mrs De Biasi. ‘We don’t want to come between you and your family. It’s the last thing we want.’

  ‘I can’t. Not now.’

  Mr De Biasi came over and stood in front of me. ‘Nesta, go home,’ he urged. ‘Your father blames me for enough as it is.
I don’t need this on top. It will only stir everything up again. If he doesn’t want to see us, then we must respect that.’

  Lucy put her hand on my arm. ‘He’s right,’ she said. ‘This might hinder rather than help. Remember what Mum said about not pushing people before they were ready.’

  Tony nodded. ‘Yeah. Best leave it, sis. It’s Dad’s call, not yours.’

  I was just starting to think that maybe they were right when I saw our car draw up outside the restaurant. Dad was driving and Mum was in the passenger seat. ‘Ohmigod! They’re here,’ I gasped.

  I saw Dad glance in at the window, then quickly look away. It must have been quite a shock for him seeing all of us staring back out at him.

  ‘Come away from the door,’ said Mrs De Biasi bustling everyone to sit at a table. ‘Don’t stare at him.’

  Two minutes later, the door opened and Mum came in.

  I quickly introduced her to Luke’s mum and dad and she was very sweet to them, although she gave me a ‘Just wait till I get you home, madam’ look. ‘I’m so sorry about all this family stuff,’ she said to the De Biasis, ‘You seem to have got caught up in the middle.’

  ‘No, please, we were so happy to hear that Matteo is well,’ said Mr De Biasi, ‘and to meet Nesta . . .’

  ‘She’s so like her father,’ said Mrs De Biasi, glancing out of the window with a wistful look.

  ‘Well, I’ve come to take her home,’ said Mum. ‘It’s lunch-time and Matt wants to spend some time with her and Tony before he has to go back off to Bristol.’

  I wasn’t fooled. ‘So why did Dad come here with you? You could have come on your own.’

  Mum sighed. ‘Don’t be difficult, Nesta. He offered to give me a lift.’

  ‘I think he wants to see the De Biasis more than he’s letting on,’ I said. ‘He needn’t have driven you to come and get me. He doesn’t usually. It’s the unconscious mind thingee, oh you explain Izzie, you know, where your subconscious makes you do what your conscious mind won’t let you.’

  Suddenly Mr De Biasi got up. ‘Enough,’ he said and he walked out and got straight into the car with Dad.

  ‘Ohmigod, ohmigod,’ I said and dashed to the window to try and see what was going on. I could see that they were in the car and were talking, Mr De Biasi gesticulating and Dad staring ahead. Everything that Jo had told us about body language on the acting class was so evident. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but it was clear that Dad was closed off and Mr De Biasi was trying to reach him.

  It was Mum who called me away. ‘Let them have their privacy,’ she said.

  ‘But Mum, this is the big moment . . .’ I started.

  ‘Your mother’s right,’ said Mrs De Biasi. ‘Let them be.’

  It was agony having to tear myself away from the window. If I’d had my way, I’d have gone and sat in the back seat and stuck my head in between them, so that I could have heard exactly what was being said and witnessed every facial expression and every shift of body language. But no, Mum made me sit with my back to the window and sip Diet Coke. My mum and Luke’s made an effort to get on despite the strange circumstances and everyone else was chatting and laughing and having a good time, but for me the next fifteen minutes seemed to go on forever. It seemed like the dads had been out there for hours.

  After what seemed like an eternity, I got up.

  ‘Nesta,’ warned Mum. ‘Leave them.’

  ‘Yeah. Will,’ I said. ‘Just going to the ladies.’

  As I got up to go to the cloakrooms, I turned and had a quick peak out of the window. They were getting out of the car. Ohmigod, I thought, I hope it’s OK and they’re not going to fight or anything embarrassing like that. But no, Dad seemed to be dabbing his eyes and . . . yes . . . now he was smiling.

  ‘Nesta,’ said Mum, ‘I said to leave them.’

  ‘But . . . but they’ve got out of the car,’ I said. ‘Something’s happening.’

  Now even Mum couldn’t resist looking. She stood up and peeked out, then everyone else did as well. Mr De Biasi was saying something to Dad and Dad creased up laughing. Then the two of them started walking towards the restaurant. For a brief second, I saw the boys that they were, Luke and Tony grown older. The moment after that was hysterical, as everyone dived for their places and tried to look nonchalant, like they hadn’t really been gawping outside watching the dads’ every move.

  The door opened and they came in. Dad was still laughing as he turned to look at me. ‘Gianni has just been telling me that you thought Luke was my long lost son . . .’

  ‘Der . . . um, wah . . .’ I started, then turned to Mr De Biasi. ‘But how did you know?’

  Mr De Biasi glanced at Luke, who looked sheepish for a moment. ‘Well, I had to check out that it wasn’t true, so I asked Mum,’ he said, ‘and she told Dad.’

  Mrs De Biasi had been standing there silently beaming and suddenly she couldn’t contain herself any more. ‘Ciao, Matteo,’ she said, rushing forward with open arms.

  Dad turned to her and beamed back. ‘Catarina,’ he said, then he was enveloped in a huge hug.

  Then Mr De Biasi couldn’t hold back either and he and Dad looked at each other and gave each other a huge bear hug.

  At last, it was the Kodak moment, but of course no one had a camera. Mum’s eyes had misted over. Mrs and Mr De Biasi both had their arms around Dad. Tony, Luke, Lucy, Izzie and TJ were grinning like idiots. It was fab.

  Chapter 16

  I think friendship is the most important thing in life,’ I said as I smeared aloe vera gel over my chin. It was a couple of weeks after le grando reunioni and Lucy, TJ, Izzie and I were lined up on the bathtub doing our Sunday morning monthly beauty routine. This time, I’d been down to the chemists and bought four gel face packs. Proper ones that didn’t dribble down your neck or have raw egg in them. Au naturel dribbly gloops may be homemade and healthy, but they really aren’t my style.

  ‘So do I,’ said Lucy. ‘We must all make a pact that nothing will ever come between us, like it did for Nesta’s and Luke’s dads. They wasted years.’

  ‘Each of them had their families,’ said TJ, ‘so it wasn’t totally wasted time.’

  ‘Yeah, but there’s that saying, you can’t pick your family, but you can pick your friends,’ said Izzie. ‘Friends are like a chosen family.’

  ‘But whether it’s friends or family, you have to keep talking,’ I said. ‘Say how you feel, even if it’s a bit confrontational.’

  Seems I started a craze with the De Biasi thing. Confrontation. Tony confronted Dad about driving lessons and, although he hasn’t exactly said yes, he didn’t say no either, so there’s hope. Luke confronted his dad about wanting to be an actor and his dad said he’d think about it. Again, it’s a start. And Mum confronted her bosses at work about cutting her hours and they said they’d do what they could to give her more time and reassured her that she had a secure job with them no matter how many younger faces they brought in. And I wasn’t left out of the loop. Dad had a go at me about butting into other people’s business. ‘You don’t always know what’s best for everyone all the time, Nesta,’ he said. ‘Yes, I’m glad to see Gianni again, but I would have preferred to have done it in my own time.’ I did apologise, but privately I think it’s a good job that I pushed him. I know what ‘in his own time’ means from having him as a dad all these years. It’s like when Mum asks him to mend a door or change a light bulb. He says he will, ‘in his own time’, which means never. He probably even means to, but Mum has learned that if she wants something doing, it’s often quicker to do it herself.

  So, all in all, there’s been a lot going on, but I think it’s all been for the best. Our family is certainly talking about stuff more openly than we did before. On top of all the confrontation and communication, the girls and I have decided that we have to have lots of jobs when we grow up, so that all our eggs aren’t in one basket career-wise. Tony said he thought I ought to be a journalist as well as an actress and when I asked him why, he
said because I speak in headlines. Huh! I don’t know what he means.

  Dad never did tell us what he and Mr De Biasi said in the car, but whatever it was, it mended the rift between them and we’ve been invited for Sunday lunch with them. We’re also having a big birthday bash there as a late celebration for Tony’s eighteenth. I get the feeling that the De Biasis are going to be regulars in our lives from now on. Hhhm. Don’t know how I feel about that. My parents being chummy with my boyfriend’s parents. Is it a good idea? Tony’s removed himself from the cosy set-up already. He’s taking Lucy out next weekend, but he’s taking her to some place in Hampstead. ‘Somewhere where no one knows us, so no one will be watching us and seeing what we’re getting up to.’ Hhmm, I thought, sounds like he has something in mind. I’d better warn Lucy, but on second thoughts, she can handle herself these days.

  After we’d rinsed off our face packs, we got down to the serious business of painting our nails. Izzie pulled out a bottle of her favourite colour and a pack of stick-on diamonds.

  ‘Want any of these?’ she asked.

  Looking at them gave me a brilliant idea.

  ‘Yes please,’ I said and took the sheet she was holding out to me.

  I went to the mirror and stuck the diamonds on my brace, then I turned and smiled. ‘Designer braces. What do you think?’

  Izzie and TJ cracked up. ‘Excellent,’ said TJ. ‘A million dollar smile.’

  ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘I decided I can’t go round for the next year hiding behind my hand. I decided I’m going to wear my brace with pride.’

  ‘Does it still hurt having it in?’ asked TJ.

  ‘No. It hasn’t hurt for ages,’ I said. ‘It’s like it’s hardly there now.’

  Lucy came back in with a tray of Cokes, so I smiled for her too. ‘Cool. Mouth jewellery,’ she said as she handed me a Coke. ‘You’ll start a trend.’

  ‘I’ve also been thinking,’ I said. ‘All that stuff about being shallow, well, I’ve decided that it’s not a bad thing and, actually, I like being the way I am. So,’ I raised my Coke, ‘here’s a toast to frivolity.’