This London Love (29 page)

“You’re here!” Vicky walked around the table and hugged Kate first, before turning her attention to Jess and Lucy.

“We thought we better come.” Kate brandished the present bag under her nose. “Happy 38th, older sister supreme!”

“Thanks.” Vicky plucked the Champagne from the bag, then stashed it away in a cupboard. “That’s not being touched — I’ll save it for a special occasion.” She took the bag Lucy was holding up and repeated the trick. “I’ve got Prosecco for tonight,” Vicky confided.

“Mum here yet?” Kate asked.

Vicky nodded. “In the lounge with the boys and the other guests. And Lawrence, of course.” She whispered the last bit.

“And did you play nicely?” Kate braced for the worst.

“Like a model child in a model playground,” Vicky said. “No hitting, punching or kicking.”

Kate gave her a hug. “Proud of you, sis.”

“Early days, mind,” Vicky added with a grin.

Jess opened the fridge and prised a bottle of Prosecco from the door. “Shall we get this party started, then? Got some glasses?”

Vicky rounded the table and set up four plastic flutes on the counter-top. “Saves on washing up,” she said.

***

Half an hour later and the party was beginning to rev up, the living room stacked with starched men and bronzed women, an overspill in the hallway and kitchen. On the stereo, 70s and 80s party classics were caressing the room, Billy Joel following Kylie, Kool And The Gang cheek-to-cheek with Rick Astley.

In the kitchen, the buffet on the dining table was already half-eaten, which Kate’s mum was inordinately pleased about.

“Sometimes, you put all this food out and nobody eats it. Criminal. So it’s good to see it not going to waste,” she’d told Kate ten minutes previous. Kate hoped she got as much pleasure from such small things when she got older — satisfaction had oozed out of her mum.

Kate checked her watch — nearly nine, so Meg should be here soon. She was looking forward to showing her off to friends and family as her girlfriend. Olivia had been released from hospital the previous day and seemed to be coping fine at home. Kate had told Meg she didn’t need to come tonight if she wanted to stay with her mum, but Olivia had insisted.

“Fantastic spread, isn’t it?”

A voice disturbed her thoughts as Kate’s hand hovered over the home-made sausage rolls, which were delicious. She turned her head to see Lawrence smiling at her.

“Yeah, great, isn’t it?” Kate’s mind flashed an image of Lawrence lounging in her mum’s bed, smoking a post-coital cigarette after she’d gatecrashed their slice of afternoon delight. Kate shook her head briskly, trying to dislodge the scene. Luckily, it worked.

Lawrence had a white paper plate in his left hand, already adorned with quiche, nachos, cheese and dips. “We ate before we left, but I just can’t resist — I love a party buffet.” He smiled broadly as he popped a cocktail sausage into his mouth. “Your young lady not here yet?”

Kate moved out of his way so he could get to the salmon. “Any minute now.”

“Looking forward to meeting her.”

Kate nodded and walked out into the hallway. She wasn’t sure why, but that last comment grated. He wasn’t her dad, so what did it matter to him about meeting Meg? Right at this moment, she had sympathy with how Vicky had been feeling. Lawrence wasn’t their dad and could never replace him, but clearly he considered himself a fixture in their lives now.

Kate was still bristling when the doorbell chimed. She immediately went to open it and there stood Meg, looking tantalisingly gorgeous, giving Kate an instant smile.

“Hello beautiful,” Kate said, welcoming her in.

“Back at ya,” Meg replied, taking Kate into her arms and giving her a squeeze. Then she pulled back and planted her lips onto Kate’s.

The usual Meg effect rippled through Kate’s body, and she relaxed into it. When she opened her eyes, Meg’s reed-green gaze was staring right into hers.

“Your eyes look greener today.”

Meg smiled. “They do that — change colour.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you a woman of mystery.”

“I do my best,” Meg said, kissing Kate on the cheek. When she pulled back, Meg held up a carrier bag that clinked when it moved. “I brought supplies — where shall I put them?”

“In the kitchen.” Kate flicked her head over her right shoulder and took Meg’s hand in hers. “Follow me.”

As Kate entered the kitchen, Lawrence was just exiting, his plate half-full. “You still in here?” Kate’s voice was light-hearted, trying to cover her earlier irritation.

But Lawrence simply looked over Kate’s shoulder and said nothing. And when he dropped his plate of food, there wasn’t a great clatter, with most of the contents and the plate itself being shatter-proof.

Meg dropped Kate’s hand and stopped walking.

The hairs on Kate’s arms stood to attention, but she had no idea why.

“Meg?” Lawrence’s voice was barely audible. “What are you doing here?”

Kate turned, to find Meg’s mouth hanging open, her eyes hardening.

One of Jack’s friends brushed past Lawrence and Meg in the kitchen doorway with something approaching irritation, but neither Meg or Lawrence registered it.

Kate couldn’t quite connect the dots. “You two know each other?”

Lawrence was still staring, as was Meg.

“We did once.” And with that, Meg turned, bag of drinks in hand and coat still on. She walked towards the door.

Kate narrowed her eyes at Lawrence accusingly, then set off after Meg, who was just opening the front door to leave.

“Hey.” Kate grabbed Meg’s arm, but she shook her off. “What’s wrong, what’s going on?”

“I’m leaving.” Meg shot Kate an apologetic look. “Sorry — I can’t stay with him here.” She yanked the door fully open just as Jess appeared in the hallway.

“You’re here — finally! Super-fashionably late too.” But Jess stopped talking as she approached and saw the worry etched on Kate’s face. “Everything okay?”

“He’s a fucker, that’s what’s going on,” Meg told Kate, before stepping out into the October evening.

Kate held up her hand to Jess. “Give us a minute.” She followed Meg out the front door and up the garden path.

Meg was already striding down the road.

“Meg! Stop!” Kate broke into a sprint to catch her up. The night air was cold on her skin and she shivered.

Meg was paying no attention to Kate’s needs.

“What’s he doing here? In the kitchen at your sister’s party?” Meg was still walking at some pace.

Kate ran in front of her and stopped.

Meg tried to dodge round her, but Kate grabbed her arms.

“Tell me what’s going on — why did you freak on when you saw Lawrence?”

“How do you know him?” Meg’s eyes were wild and watery.

“He’s my mum’s boyfriend.”

Meg let out a snort and bent over, putting down the carrier bag of beer, then her palms on her thighs. “Your mum’s boyfriend. Wow. Life is certainly playing tricks on us right now.” She stayed down for a few more seconds before standing up. Then she shook her head. “Go back — everyone will be wondering where you are.”

Kate shook her head. “Let them wonder — I’m more concerned how you are. Will you tell me what’s going on.”

Meg laughed a hollow laugh. “Lawrence is my long-lost-fucking-father, that’s what’s going on.”

The sky’s blackness seemed to fall on them in that moment.

Now it was Kate’s turn to be stunned. “Lawrence is your
dad
?” Even Kate couldn’t quite believe it.

“Yes — and apparently he’s shagging your mum. So we could become sisters. Perfect, wouldn’t you say?” Meg put her fingers to her forehead and trailed them across its width, her eyes closed. When she opened them, she shook her head again.

“I can’t do this — not tonight. I need to think. I don’t want… Him in my life. Not now. Not with Mum so sick. It’s too…” She sighed. “You take the booze back in, I’m gonna go home.”

Kate put her hand to her mouth. “No — I’ll come with you. I don’t care about the party.”

“You should,” Meg said. “It’s your sister’s birthday.”

“But she’s not the one I’m in love with.” Kate fixed Meg with a steely stare. Then she tried to soften it to reflect the feeling behind her words. It’d just slipped out. This wasn’t the romantic moment she’d been imagining.

Meg put her hand to Kate’s face and trailed her fingers down one side. She went to say something, pain written across her expression, then shook her head again.

“I can’t do this.” Meg’s voice was metallic.

They feel into a sharp silence.

Eventually, Kate spoke in a whisper. “Do what?”

“He can’t be involved — this is too messy.”

“What are you saying?” Kate’s voice was scrabbling to a far higher pitch than she was used to.

Meg let out a yelp of frustration. “I don’t know what I’m saying, but I know it can’t involve him. He walked out on us, deserted us, was never a father to us. And now he’s playing happy families with you, drawing you in?” Meg licked her lips. “I have to go.”

Kate grabbed Meg’s arm as she went to turn.

Meg looked into Kate’s eyes, then looked away.

“I don’t want you to go.” Kate’s voice was low, almost a whisper. Her heart was hammering in her chest — the feeling was familiar where Meg was concerned.

“It’s not up to you though, is it?” Meg kissed Kate’s cheek, then whipped around and walked off into the night.

Kate was left looking at Meg’s retreating figure.

Yep, she definitely hated Lawrence now.

34

Jamie answered the door with a tea towel in his hand. It was a slow Sunday and his sister’s face was bricked with hot emotion.

Jamie paled. “Is Mum okay?” He stopped wiping his hands, leaving them suspended in the air.

Meg shook her head. “She’s fine, she’s fine.” She stepped into the hallway and strode past Jamie with purpose.

“Come in, why don’t you,” he muttered as he shut the front door. He followed Meg into the lounge.

Meg circled the room, bit her finger, then looked up.

“Is Greg here?”

Jamie shook his head. “At the gym.”

Meg sat on the sofa and exhaled.

Jamie sat down opposite her on a green velvet armchair. “What’s wrong? Why do you have a face like thunder? Are you sure Mum’s okay?”

Meg nodded. “Yes, I’m sure — I spoke to her this morning and I’m going round there after this.” Meg sat forward.

“Bit of a detour,” Jamie stated.

Meg looked up. “Yes it is, isn’t it?” Meg took in a lungful of air. “I saw Dad last night.” Meg stared at Jamie.

“Dad?”

Meg nodded.

“Where?”

“At Kate’s sister’s party, would you believe.” Meg shook her head again like
she
still didn’t believe it.

“What?” A frown appeared on Jamie’s face. “What was he doing there?”

“Eating quiche and shagging Kate’s mum.” Meg closed her eyes.

“At the party?”

“He might as well have been.” Meg paused. “The upshot is that our dad is now seeing Kate’s mum, so Kate and I might become step-sisters and I’m just so pissed off. I mean, he fucks up our lives once, now he’s trying to do it again.” Meg stood up and began to pace the room.

Jamie bit his lip. “And what did he say?”

“Say?”

Jamie stroked his chin. “Yeah — did he say anything? Anything about me?”

“Why would he say anything about you?” Meg frowned.

“Because I’ve been kinda seeing him. Over the past few months. I was going to tell you.”

Meg’s eyes widened. “You’ve been kinda seeing him? Seeing him or kinda seeing him?”

Jamie looked down at the carpet. “You know…” he began.

“No, I don’t,” Meg said. “Please fill me in.”

“He… We met by accident in the Bull & Bush a couple of months ago. We had a pint, then we’ve been meeting there every few weeks. Taking things slowly. I didn’t want to tell you because I knew how you’d react.
Like this.
But now he’s seeing your girlfriend’s mum, I mean — that takes it to a whole new level.” Jamie shook his head slowly.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” Meg’s voice was full of nails.

“I was going to, but then what with Mum and Kate and everything — and I didn’t want to put anything else on you. I wasn’t lying — I was just waiting for the right time.” He gave a weak smile.

“I could have saved you the trouble — there’s never going to be a right time with him.
Never, Jamie.
How could you do this to me and Mum? I thought we were a team?”

Jamie stood up and faced Meg. “We are — you know that. But we’re all getting older and I’ve wanted to talk to him for a while now, to get his side of the story. To find out why he just left us. Surely you’ve wanted answers, too?” Jamie spread his palms before Meg.