How the hell had he ended up in this mess? He had only ever wanted a nice life, a few quid in the bank, a wife, two kids and some drinks on a Saturday night. But somehow, he’d ended up with four kids, two families, no money and stress everywhere he looked.
Jaden let out a roar. Nick picked him up and held him against his chest. He walked up and down the bedroom singing quietly. It was the same song he’d sung to all of his kids to calm them down – Frank Sinatra’s ‘Fly Me To The Moon’. It had even worked on Bobby.
Jaden stopped crying and soon fell into a deep sleep on Nick’s shoulder. Looking down at his baby son’s peaceful little face, Nick promised him he’d be a better dad. He wouldn’t mess this up. He’d help Jenny more with Jaden so she wasn’t so overwhelmed. He had to make this relationship work. He wanted to – he needed to.
5
Jess looked at Chloë’s many photos of her trip to Australia.
‘And there’s me with a koala, and there’s me surfing, and look at how cute that guy is! And here’s me drinking a mocktail …’
The holiday looked amazing. White sandy beaches, posh hotels, and Chloë had got loads of new clothes as well. Jess felt a pang of jealousy. She’d spent her summer helping to move all of their belongings into her granddad’s house, then helping in the café. She’d had just one week of sports camp because her mum and dad had no money for more than that.
Being poor sucked. Her dad said he was sorry but that he had two families to support now and they all had to ‘make sacrifices’. But why did they? Why did he have to leave? They used to be happy. Jess remembered their holiday in France. She was only about five, but her parents had been laughing together and going down slides in the water park. They had been a family, a real family.
Bobby said he couldn’t remember anything but Mum and Dad shouting at each other and Dad never being around. Luke just said Dad was ‘a selfish prick’ and didn’t want to discuss it further. Jess wished she had a sister she could talk to.
Her dad had messed up and it was Jenny who had got the best of the whole rotten deal. She had Jess’s dad and they lived together in their own place and now they had a new baby. It felt like they’d lost everything and Jenny had won. She had taken Dad away from them, with her short skirts and her red lipstick and her fake laugh. She’d tried to be all friendly with Jess when they’d first met her two years ago, after Dad had left them to move in with her. Luke had ignored her and Bobby had kicked her, so Jess knew she was just trying to go for the easiest kid. She’d been polite for Dad’s sake, but she could see through Jenny.
The weird thing was, Jenny was only seven years older than Luke and she was twenty years younger than Dad. It was creepy. At first Dad was all bouncy and happy around Jenny. He called her ‘babe’, held her hand and rubbed her leg. It made Jess want to puke. Jenny kept saying, ‘Your dad’s so amazing. He’s so good to me.’
Jess had wanted to shout, ‘Well, he isn’t good to our mum, you horrible cow,’ but she didn’t.
But then Jenny had got pregnant and stopped wearing short skirts and lipstick of any colour. She was grumpy and didn’t laugh any more, not even fake laughs. She snapped at Dad and he stopped rubbing her legs.
The baby was really ugly. It was mean to say babies were ugly because it wasn’t their fault that they didn’t have any hair and dribbled all the time, but Jess couldn’t help it because Jaden really was ugly. Jenny dressed him up in dorky outfits, with ripped jeans and leather jackets, and he just looked even worse.
Jess was glad she had only seen Jenny and Jaden twice since he was born. She much preferred seeing Dad on her own. The last time she’d seen Jenny, she was on her own. Luke said he had to work and Bobby had a meltdown so Mum had given in and let him stay home. Jess ended up going alone: she didn’t want to let Dad down.
When she got to the apartment, Jenny was trying to breastfeed. It was disgusting – she just pulled her boob out right in front of Jess and tried to stick her nipple into the baby’s mouth. Jess didn’t know where to look. It was mortifying.
When she’d told Chloë about it later, Chloë had almost vomited in shock and disgust.
Jenny kept trying to get Jaden to suck but he wouldn’t, and they both started crying. Jess’s dad had ended up grabbing the baby and stuffing a bottle into his mouth. Jaden had stopped crying but Jenny had cried louder. She kept saying, ‘But Gisele, the supermodel, says mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months.’
‘For Christ’s sake, will you stop banging on about Gisele? The baby needs food. Look, he’s happy now,’ Dad had snapped.
Jess made an excuse to leave the room then and hung about in the small hallway, watching the clock and trying not to listen to the argument Jenny and her dad were having. After twenty-two minutes her dad had come out and asked if maybe she wouldn’t mind if he dropped her home early. Jess was never so happy to leave somewhere in her life.
‘OMG,’ said Chloë, pointing at the next picture. ‘Here’s me learning to surf. Check out my pink wetsuit. Dad bought it for me.’ She swiped her phone screen to show Jess more photos.
‘It must have been an amazing holiday,’ Jess said wistfully.
Chloë wrinkled her nose. ‘You know, it was in one way but, honestly, being an only child sucks. I have to do everything with my parents and they focus all of their attention on me. I know I’m spoilt, but sometimes I wish I was like your family.’
Poor and broken up? Was Chloë mad?
Chloë put up her hands. ‘I don’t mean that you haven’t had a terrible time with your parents separating and your dad running off with that, like, OMG, total ho. I just mean that at least you have fun with Luke and Bobby.’
‘But I don’t really. Since we’ve had to sell the house and Jaden was born, Luke is all moody. All he does is train and spend time with Piper. And Jaden being born has pushed Bobby over the edge. He was bad anyway, but he definitely has anger-management issues now.’
‘Poor Bobby. He was the baby of the family and now he isn’t.’
‘I know but he needs to stop freaking out all the time. It’s a total pain.’
‘Have you seen the ho lately?’
Jess shook her head. ‘No, and I haven’t seen Dad much either. He’s busy with work and the baby.’
Chloë applied lip-gloss to her already over-glossed lips and offered some to Jess. ‘Well, my mum said she saw Jenny in House of Fraser and she looked terrible, like totally wrecked. Mum said she had big bags under her eyes and she was wheeling the buggy around looking miserable. Serves her right.’
Jess knew this was supposed to cheer her up, and she certainly didn’t care if Jenny was miserable, but then again, if everyone was miserable, the whole nightmare would have been for nothing.
If Dad and Jenny broke up, there would be two broken families and four kids sharing a bit of a dad. In the beginning Jess had prayed that her dad would change his mind and come home to them. But after nearly three years apart, she didn’t want him to do that. She knew Mum and Dad could never live together again. All they did was argue, so there was no point in dreaming about becoming a perfect family again: they never would be.
But if Jenny and Dad were happy, then Dad might be a better dad again. He might have more time for them if Jenny was able to look after the baby without crying or phoning him all the time. Maybe if they were happy, Dad would make more of an effort with Luke and Bobby and not seem so awkward around them, like he did now.
‘Sooooo what will we do? Do you want to play tennis?’
Chloë had a tennis court and a swimming pool at her house. Her father was a builder, and Jess’s mum said, ‘He prints money.’ They were the richest people in the school. When Chloë had joined two years ago, everyone had tried to be her friend because they all wanted to hang out at her house. Jess’s dad had just said he was leaving them to live with Jenny, so Jess couldn’t have cared less about Chloë’s swimming pool.
Jess often thought it was because she hadn’t tried to be Chloë’s friend
that Chloë had sought her out. They’d clicked pretty much instantly. Chloë was fun and funny, and she never worried about anything. Jess spent her life worrying about everything. Chloë said she had to stop or she’d end up with really bad lines on her forehead, but Chloë’s mum, Hazel, said she didn’t have to worry about that because Botox would sort it out.
‘Shouldn’t we do our homework first, though?’ Jess asked.
‘Seriously, Jess, live a little. It’s only week three back at school, we can do it later or I’ll forge a note from Mum. I can do one for you too, if you like. I’ve got really good at copying handwriting.’
Jess grinned. ‘No, thanks.’
‘I knew you’d say no. I bet you end up being, like, a doctor or a scientist and finding cures to all the awful diseases of the world.’
Jess laughed. ‘Are you still planning to be a professional tennis player?’
‘No. That got canned this summer. I went to see this top coach in Australia and he said I’m just not good enough. I knew I wasn’t anyway. When I didn’t even get picked for the club’s first team, I told Mum that the dream was over. Besides, I’m sick of playing two hours every day after school. It’s a pain and it’s boring. I’m so over competitive tennis. Dad was a bit grumpy, though, seeing as he’d built the tennis court because Mum told him she thought I’d end up playing in Wimbledon.’
‘Did he go mad?’
Chloë tied the laces on her sparkling white runners. ‘He huffed and puffed a bit, but then I told him he was the best dad ever for building me a tennis court and I was sorry I wasn’t good enough – I laid that on very thick and even squeezed out a tear – and then he was all, “Don’t worry. You’re a star in my eyes … blah blah blah.”’
Jess shook her head. ‘Your poor dad. You’re unbelievable.’
Chloë giggled. ‘I know! Mum said I should be an actress. But I’ve actually decided to invent a pill where you can eat anything you want – jars of Starbursts, big boxes of chocolates – and never get fat. I’ll be a zillionaire, like my dad.’
They ran downstairs and went into the vast kitchen, which was bigger than the entire Village Café.
‘Hey, Jess.’ Chloë’s mum looked up from her magazine.
‘Hi, Hazel.’
‘My God, you’ve grown! You look lovely. How was your summer?’
‘Oh, Mum!’ Chloë broke in. ‘Don’t start asking her loads of questions – we’re going to play tennis.’
Hazel arched an eyebrow. ‘Really? I thought tennis was “so over”.’
‘Competitions and training are. We’re playing for fun.’
‘Did Chloë tell you my dream of watching her win Wimbledon is over?’
Jess nodded.
‘She’s so selfish. I even had my outfit planned, right down to the fabulous hat.’ Hazel grinned.
‘The scary thing is, she’s not joking.’
‘Well, I do have a lovely cream Roland Mouret dress that would have been perfect. Oh, well, never mind. How’s your mum?’
‘Good, thanks,’ Jess said.
‘Have you all settled in at your granddad’s now?’
‘We’ve been there nearly four months, so it feels like home.’
‘Good. I’m glad to hear it. You know you’re always welcome to stay here if you want a change of scenery, and if your mum needs anything, she isn’t to hesitate to ask. I mean that now. I said it to her myself, but if you feel she needs help, please tell me.’
Jess smiled. Underneath her make-up, overly coiffed hair and OTT clothes, Hazel had a huge heart. ‘Thanks.’
Chloë tugged at her sleeve. ‘Come on, let’s play.’
They knocked up a bit, then decided to play one set before doing their homework.
It was when she ran for a drop shot that Jess’s nose began to bleed.
6
Piper’s father, Seamus, glared at her. ‘Where have you been?’
‘Luke’s.’
‘Who’s Luke?’
‘My boyfriend.’
Seamus’s eyebrows flew up. ‘What in the name of God? Boyfriend? You’re only twelve.’
Piper grinned. ‘I’m eighteen.’
‘When did that happen?’
‘Over the past six years.’
‘What age is Luke?’
‘Forty-three.’
‘WHAT?’
Piper laughed. ‘I’m kidding. He’s just turned eighteen.’
‘Is he a nice lad?’
‘Very.’
‘How long have you been together?’
‘Five months.’
‘Does he know how lucky he is to be going out with the only sensible daughter I have?’
‘I think so.’
‘Good. Well, thank God you’re home.’
‘What’s up?’
‘Your sister has locked herself in the bathroom.’
‘Which one?’
‘How the hell should I know? Poppy or Penny.’
‘Why did she lock herself in?’
‘Because the other twin wore her top and then she pulled it off her in front of someone and she was “mortified” so she took scissors to the top and cut the sleeve off and now the other one has threatened to kill her.’
‘I bet it was Penny. Poppy probably borrowed her new Superdry top.’
‘Now that you mention it, there was screaming about Superdry.’
‘Where’s Mum?’ Piper asked.
Her dad frowned. ‘Olivia is at one of her lectures. I’m all for your mother having her own life, but she’s never home.’
Last year, the day Posy had gone into senior school, their mother had decided to do something for herself. She’d signed up for a course in equality and human rights.
They could hear screaming from upstairs. ‘Come out of there or I’ll kick this door down,’ Penny shrieked.
‘Help! She’s a lunatic! Help!’ Poppy shouted.
‘Hello! Can someone please tell them to shut up? I’m trying to study here,’ Pauline roared. ‘Someone in this house actually cares about more than stupid clothes.’
‘Shut up, Pauline. You’re a bore who’s going to die alone because all you do is study,’ Penny yelled.
‘At least I’m not one half of ridiculous twins who can barely spell and will end up stacking shelves in Tesco because no one else will hire them.’
‘Oh, yeah? Well, I’d rather work in Tesco than be a nerdy, weirdo scientist freak,’ Penny retorted.
‘I’m studying medicine, not science, you moron.’
‘Same difference. You’ll end up with big glasses and a white coat, living on your own with cats.’
Seamus sighed. ‘I can’t handle them. They’re like wild animals. I’ve an article to write. I’m off to the shed.’
Of course you are, Piper thought. It’s your hideout. She wished she had a shed. There was nowhere to get any peace in this house.
As her dad scurried off to the shed to compose his piece for the newspaper, Piper went to see if there was anything for dinner. She opened the fridge. Empty. Damn. There was a note, though, sitting on the empty middle shelf – It starts when you sink into his arms and ends with your arms in his sink!
Piper sighed. She missed her mother, the one who used to be waiting for them when they got home from school, with scones in the oven and hot chocolate on the hob. Now it was all about lectures and essays, study groups and equality. Piper was fine about equality. Yes, men and women were equal and should be treated that way. But her dad had always treated her mother as an equal. He discussed everything with her, shared everything he had with her and always told her she was great. Besides, her mother had chosen to give up her job in the bank to have five kids, so why was she behaving now as if her husband had chained her to the kitchen sink?
Maybe he had taken Mum’s cooking for granted and the fact that she ran the house and did most of the childcare, but he was working to support them. Wasn’t that the deal? Her friend Vanessa’s mum was a lawyer and Vanessa’s dad stayed at home and di
d the cooking and childminding. Maybe it was best if you both worked. Maybe then everyone was happy. But Frannie’s parents both worked and they always seemed to be in a bad mood. Piper didn’t know what the answer was, but she wished her mum would stop writing silly notes and start cooking again.
Crash … bang …
Piper closed the fridge and ran upstairs. It sounded as if Penny had kicked in the bathroom door.
‘Aaaaargh!’ Penny screamed.
‘What the hell?’ Piper found Penny with her foot stuck in the door. ‘Are you insane?’ she shouted at her sister. ‘You’ve made a hole in the door. Dad’s going to go mad.’
‘I don’t care. I want to kill her.’
Piper pulled her sister’s foot out. She had a cut down one side, which was bleeding slightly.
‘You see what you’ve done, you stupid cow? You’ve scarred me for life,’ Penny shouted through the hole at her twin.
‘Is it bad?’ Poppy asked, peeping out from the other side of the hole.
‘Look.’ Penny showed her. ‘Actual blood.’
‘Does she need stitches?’ Poppy seemed worried.
Piper wiped the blood away with a tissue. ‘No. It’s just a small cut.’
‘Small but deep. I’ll have a scar for life,’ Penny wailed.
‘Scars can be cool,’ Poppy said.
‘No, they can not.’ Piper was annoyed. The twins were maddening.
‘Let’s Google maddest scars ever,’ Poppy suggested.
‘Cool.’ Penny struggled to her feet. ‘I need help walking.’
‘Hang on.’ Poppy unlocked the bathroom door and went to help her twin hop back to their bedroom.
Behind them lay the top with no sleeves and splinters of wood from the bathroom door.
‘I’ll just clean up, then, shall I?’ Piper snapped.
The twins turned. ‘Well, I’m injured,’ Penny said.
‘And I’m nursing her,’ Poppy added.
The Good Mother Page 4