Happy Families

by Janey Fraser

  ‘Favourite subject?’ She felt a sudden longing and sense of regret. ‘Art! But at my school, that wasn’t considered academic enough. So I wasn’t allowed to go on with it in the sixth form.’

  ‘Shame,’ muttered Bohemian Mum, twisting her tie-dyed neckscarf.

  ‘Do you miss it?’ asked Rob curiously. Bobbie suddenly realised she’d never told him that.

  ‘Yes.’ Then she glanced at Vanessa. ‘But some of you know that I help out at the second-hand designer clothes shop in town. I love the colours there and the designs.’

  ‘Clearly,’ sniffed Vanessa.

  What on earth had she done to upset her?

  ‘Excellent. Now can you pick someone?’

  There was only one way to find out.

  ‘I’d like to choose Vanessa, please.’

  The older woman reluctantly got to her feet.

  ‘Who was your best friend when you were six?’ called out one of Too Many Kids.

  ‘Why, Angela! Angela Miller!’ Vanessa’s face broke out into a wreath of smiles. ‘I’d forgotten all about her. We used to go everywhere together. We’d play shops too. Even in those days, I liked the idea of being behind a till.’ Then she looked stony again. ‘Next question?’

  Everyone was looking now. It was obvious that Vanessa was furious about something.

  ‘Where did you go on holiday as a child?’

  ‘The back yard.’ Vanessa’s voice was laden with sarcasm. ‘We couldn’t afford anything else.’

  ‘Last question now, I think,’ chirped Miss Davies. ‘Then we’ll have a break.’

  ‘What did you want to do when you were grown up?’

  ‘That’s easy.’ Vanessa was looking at Sunshine, curled up next to Bingo, thumb in mouth, and then at Brian. It was clear he was nuts about her. ‘Have a family. When I eventually gave birth to my daughter, Brigid, I thought – still do – that she was the most wonderful thing in the world, apart from my granddaughter of course.’

  She had tears in her eyes: tears she was impatiently wiping away. Brian was blowing his nose. Was he hurt at not being mentioned?

  ‘Finished now?’ glared Vanessa.

  ‘Please,’ whispered Bobbie urgently as they sat down, ‘tell me what’s wrong.’

  The older woman gave her a chilling glance. ‘I trusted you. And you betrayed me.’

  ‘I don’t understand!’

  But Vanessa was getting up and flouncing out of the room. Everyone else was beginning to dribble out too, with cries of ‘Time for bed’ from the yawning adults and ‘Not yet!’ from the teens. There was a general sense of excitement; several families were putting down duvets on the floor. It looked as though you had to sleep wherever you could find a space. That rain outside was really crashing down now and, according to Matthew’s iPad, the main roads back to London were closed owing to flooding.

  ‘Shall we go to bed?’ Bobbie felt exhausted. Maybe she shouldn’t have walked quite so far along the beach. ‘Andy put us in the guest room,’ she added.

  Rob gave her a strange look. ‘Was that before or after you were seen kissing my brother-in-law? Don’t deny it. Pamela knows too. The girls told her.’

  Oh God. So he’d heard. ‘It wasn’t like that!’

  ‘Wasn’t it?’

  ‘No.’ Bobbie pulled him into the downstairs loo (the nearest place to get away from prying eyes) and bolted the door behind them. ‘I’m fed up with being blamed for everything. Andy has been a good friend. No more. I swear it.’

  ‘On our children’s lives?’

  What an awful thing to say! ‘If you insist. I’ll be honest: for a time, his attention – and yes, he did show me a bit of that – was flattering. But it’s you I love, Rob. You’re the father of my children. And even if you weren’t, it would still be you.’

  Something flickered in his eyes. ‘Really?’

  She paused. ‘Actually, no. The person I really love is the old you. The Rob who had time for me. And for the kids. So let’s move.’ As she said it, Bobbie realised this was what she had been wanting all along. ‘Change jobs. Buy a house in a cheaper area, where neither of us have to work so hard to pay the mortgage. I’m exhausted too, you know. That marketing job was awful. Working from home is very stressful – you can’t shut the door on the job, like you can in the office.’

  Rob nodded. ‘That’s what my mother said.’

  Camilla really had been pressing her case then. Wonders would never cease. ‘So what are we going to do?’ She stared at him. ‘Are you up for it? Because if you’re not, I’m not sure I want to go on.’

  ‘Do you really mean that?’ whispered Rob, shocked.

  ‘Hey! Are you going to be long?’ The door handle was rattling. That clipped accent sounded as though it belonged to Audrey.

  ‘Yes. I do.’

  What had got into her? It was as though another Bobbie was speaking. The one who had to speak the truth instead of papering over any more cracks. But it was true. Enough was enough. Other women, like the redhead, might be prepared to put up with being a Married Single, but not her. Not any more.

  Bobbie unlocked the door and stepped out, closely followed by her husband. ‘Actually, we’ve finished.’

  ‘Finished?’ repeated Rob, with a panicky edge to his voice. ‘Is that it?’

  ‘Well!’ The woman gave his arm a playful flick. ‘It’s not often you catch a married couple having it off in the cloakroom! What’s your secret?’

  REAL QUOTES FROM KIDS

  I love my sister but I wish she wasn’t here sometimes.

  I know Mum loves my brother more cos he goes to bed later.

  I always get told off cos I’m the eldest.

  My sister says I’m adopted.

  Sharing is for saddos. My brother says so.

  Would you all, please, stop treating me like a grown-up?

  Extracted from siblingrivalry.co.uk

  Chapter 41

  VANESSA

  VANESSA WOKE EARLY the next morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. She touched her lump – she always did when she woke in the hope that it might somehow have disappeared – before swinging her legs over the side of the bed and padding to the window in her slippers. Brian’s van was parked in the driveway as clear as day; Bingo was curled up at Sunshine’s feet.

  She hadn’t been able to resist slipping on her jeans and sneaking out into the crisp cool spring dawn air to knock gently on the van door. It was so lovely to nestle into Brian’s arms and feel his warm breath on her. Was this what teenagers felt when they sneaked off to be with their boyfriends? Was this how Brigid had felt? Convinced that she was in love and that no one else, least of all her mother, could understand?

  It was so lovely having Brian here even though they’d agreed to spend some time apart! In a way it scared her. She’d managed alone for so long, before him, that she’d got used to her own company. Rather enjoyed it really. She could go to bed when she liked; eat what she wanted; watch television if she chose to and switch it off without having to consult someone else.

  But then, in the space of a few months, two of the most important people in her life had come along, just like that. And then, in a cruel twist, she’d had to choose between them. It was like a weird fairy tale except that until Brian had turned up last night (wearing the navy blue jumper she’d given him to replace his maroon disaster), she hadn’t thought there’d be a happy ending.

  And now here she was, lying in Brian’s arms in his little white van, which had some strangely feminine touches about it, like that china teapot with the rose pattern. His wife’s perhaps, bless her soul. The strange thing was that she had this weird feeling Mavis might approve.

  ‘I shouldn’t really be here,’ she whispered even though no one could hear them. ‘What if Sunshine wakes up?’

  Brian held her to him, stroking the back of her shoulders in the way that always made her melt. ‘She’s got Bingo and besides, it’s not as though you’ve been here all night.’

  But responsible
grandmothers didn’t play hookey. Not when there was so much at stake.

  ‘I must go now,’ she said reluctantly, disentangling herself from Brian’s warm body. ‘But you will come in for breakfast, won’t you, later on? With the others?’

  Brian ran a hand ruefully round his chin, which already needed shaving. She loved the fact that he was one of those men whose growth started every evening and which, if he didn’t tame it, made him look like Russell Crowe in a day or so. ‘I’d like to, but only if you don’t mind me using your bathroom.’

  But before she could reply, Brian’s mouth came down on hers. Every time he kissed her like this, she felt as though she had never been kissed before. Why had no one told her it could be like this? And how horribly, horribly ironic that she wasn’t allowed to have both him and Sunshine.

  ‘There’s something I need to tell you,’ he said afterwards.

  Her heart fluttered.

  ‘It’s about Andy’s wife. That glamorous blonde. I’ve seen her before. A few times.’

  Vanessa hadn’t been expecting this. ‘Where?’

  ‘At Ascot. Goodwood too. Had quite a reputation, she did.’

  He was avoiding her eyes. ‘What for, Brian?’

  ‘Drinking too much.’ He sighed. ‘And for being rather close, shall we say, to men. Different men. Every time.’ He was looking upset now. ‘I didn’t know whether to say anything to you.’

  Vanessa thought quickly. ‘Have you told anyone else?’

  He shook his head.

  She touched his lips with her finger. ‘Let’s keep it that way, shall we?’

  He nodded, understanding immediately. Pamela Gooding had a husband and two daughters. Neither of them would want to be responsible for destroying a family by blowing the whistle. Besides, maybe the woman had put all that behind her. Vanessa could only hope so. Her husband seemed a nice man and the girls, good kids.

  Brian was holding the van door open for her now, giving a little wolf whistle as she made her way across the dewy garden towards the house. The rain had stopped now although the garden was littered with branches as proof of the deluge the night before. Turning round, Vanessa gave Brian a little wave; turning back again, she bumped straight into someone. ‘Gosh! Sorry! I didn’t see you.’

  It was Mr Perfect. ‘Been for an early walk, have you?’ His eyes went from Brian’s van to her and then back to the van again.

  ‘Just a quick one.’ She flushed again, regretting her choice of words. ‘I couldn’t sleep.’

  ‘Really?’ His eyes narrowed, looking her up and down, as if he knew she was naked under her jeans. ‘I always get up at this time. You can get so much done before the children are awake.’

  Like spying on other people, she thought, bidding him goodbye before returning to the house. She’d never really liked that man.

  Oh my God. Mr Perfect! Was he the one who had reported them at the fête? And now he’d seen her leave Brian’s van. How stupid had she been!

  Vanessa slid nervously back into bed next to Sunshine. Bingo raised his head as if to say ‘Back, are you?’ and then snuggled back down on the duvet. Closing her eyes, Vanessa drifted into an uneasy sleep in which Mr Perfect was hammering on her door, demanding to see her.

  Heavens. It really was someone.

  ‘It’s me, Matthew,’ called out a voice. ‘May I ask you something?’

  Was it already eight o’clock? Sunshine, who had usually woken by now, was still fast asleep, flute in one hand and the other wrapped around Bingo who had somehow managed to sneak right up on to the pillow like a human. Opening the door, she found a furrowed-browed Matthew with a rather pale-faced Lottie standing next to him. Matthew always looked worried. It was understandable, given that his wife had died of cancer. Every lump, every twinge could be the sign of something. Or nothing. Vanessa knew that all too well.

  ‘I’m really sorry to bother you but Lottie isn’t well. You’ve got more experience than me; well, than most of us. Do you mind taking a look?’

  Gently, Vanessa got down on her knees so she was the same height as this pretty little girl. ‘What’s wrong, sweetheart?’

  The child made an exaggerated face. ‘I’ve got a tummy ache.’

  Sunshine was beginning to get a few of those. Usually when she didn’t want to do something. Brigid had been the same. Still, you never knew. ‘Whereabouts is the pain?’

  ‘Here.’ Lottie touched the middle.

  ‘Probably not your appendix then,’ said Vanessa reassuringly.

  Lottie twisted her face again. ‘It’s here too.’ She touched the left. ‘And sometimes here.’ She touched the right.

  Was that so? Lottie had a reputation for making up stories. Hadn’t Matthew often said that you could never quite believe what she said? ‘Is she upset about something?’ asked Vanessa quietly, getting up again and feeling her knees creak.

  ‘She doesn’t want to go home.’ Matthew gave her a what-do-I-do? look. ‘She’s really enjoyed being with all the other kids; it’s pretty lonely for her in the holidays, even though we’ve got a lovely neighbour who looks after her.’

  ‘Then she must come over and play with us.’

  ‘That would be lovely. Thanks.’

  But even as she spoke, Vanessa remembered with a jolt that she might not have Sunshine much longer herself. Not if social services got their way.

  ‘Why can’t I wear shorts?’ Sunshine glared at her.

  ‘Because it’s cold.’

  ‘But the sun is shining!’

  She was getting used to these arguments. In a way, they showed that her granddaughter was really getting used to her new life. It was more natural, surely, than her almost-too-polite behaviour when she’d first arrived.

  Even so, they were going to be late for breakfast. Vanessa tried to remember some advice from the group about the I-don’t-want-to-wear-that battle. Give them a choice, Judith Davies had chirped. OK. ‘You can wear shorts and get a chill or wear jeans and not get a chill.’

  Sunshine pouted. ‘You can’t get a cold just from being cold. Daisy says so.’

  Vanessa’s mouth twitched. She’d much rather have a child like this than a boring one. Maybe that had been her problem with Brigid. Instead of admiring her daughter’s ability to speak her mind, she’d seen it as a stumbling block. Well, she wouldn’t make the same mistake this time round. Provided, that was, she was allowed to keep Sunshine.

  Oh God. The thought of life without her granddaughter was unbearable. How she’d like to tell Mr Perfect exactly what she thought of him! If, indeed, it was him. Vanessa looked around for Brian, seeking reassurance. He was sitting at the far end of the huge refectory table, next to Camilla; both were bent over the Racing Post. Briefly he looked up to give her a wink, before returning to the paper. ‘If I were you,’ she heard him saying, ‘I’d go both ways on the 3.40. Upper Cut. A real cert.’

  ‘I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, Mr Hughes,’ Camilla was saying in that clear-clipped authoritative tone of hers. ‘I’m not a serious gambler. Not like my dear late husband. But I do like to have a little flutter now and again.’

  ‘Vanessa!’ A sharp voice cut in. ‘I’ve been meaning to have a proper word with you.’

  It was Audrey, wearing her trademark low-cut top. ‘I’ve been thinking about your Brigid, ever since the school fête, when you brought along that picture of her.’ Audrey’s voice had an edge to it, suggesting she had something else on her agenda. ‘You said she was abroad, I believe?’

  Sunshine looked up from her toast. ‘She’s in a place called Go Er.’

  Why did children always listen when they shouldn’t? And not listen when they should?

  ‘Really?’ The woman drew up a chair. ‘My son – the one who was in her crowd at school – was very sweet on her, you know. In fact, she broke my Mark’s heart.’

  Where was this going? ‘I’m sorry but I can’t be responsible for that.’

  ‘I’m not saying that you can but you might like to mention to
Brigid that we met. Prick her conscience, perhaps.’

  Vanessa glanced nervously down the table, concerned Sunshine was listening, but she was chattering now to the child on her left. ‘I’m afraid we don’t talk much at the moment.’

  Audrey shrugged. ‘My son’s never really got over her, to be honest. Still, it’s part of life, I suppose. Watching your children suffer and knowing you can’t do anything for them.’

  Vanessa’s heart lurched. That was true enough. Those words were pretty heartfelt. Maybe the two of them had more in common than she’d realised.

  ‘Just one more thing.’ Audrey was staring rather fiercely at her now. ‘I did hear through the grapevine that you might not be allowed to keep Sunshine with you any more.’

  What! ‘Keep your voice down,’ Vanessa hissed. Dragging the woman by the hand, she took her into the conservatory. ‘What exactly do you mean?’

  The redhead looked a bit nervous now. ‘It’s nothing really. Just a whisper. Someone said that social workers got involved after Sunshine nearly got run over. There was something too about you having a boyfriend.’

  ‘So it was you! It was you who reported us!’

  ‘Don’t be daft!’ The woman stepped back, readjusting her top. ‘Why don’t you ask Bobbie? She seems to know rather a lot around here, if you ask me.’

  What did she mean by that? Shaking, Vanessa went back to her room to pack. It was enough to stop you trusting anyone. Everyone seemed a suspect now. Friends from class. Bobbie. It almost made her doubt Brian. After all, how well did she really know him?

  It was time to ask some serious questions.

  ‘Do you know where Mummy is?’

  ‘No,’ said Jack, nodding at the same time as though he meant yes. Incredibly, he was sitting still, in one of the many bedrooms upstairs. Even more amazing, he was playing a game with his sister and Sunshine. Something was up. None of them was arguing.

  ‘Are you sure you don’t know?’ asked Vanessa sharply.

  ‘Mummy doesn’t want to be disturbed,’ announced Daisy bossily. ‘She and Daddy are having a rest.’

  Was that so? Vanessa knew she shouldn’t interrupt them. But this couldn’t wait. ‘Bobbie?’ She hammered on a door further down the corridor. ‘Are you there? It’s me, Vanessa.’