Happy Families

by Janey Fraser

  Pamela gave him a reproving look. ‘It doesn’t help to shout, darling. However, Mel, I do think your father has a point. If you want a room, I am sure that there are one or two upstairs.’

  Her sister-in-law had to be taking the mickey! Still, it was almost worth it to see Dr Know’s face. ‘It is important, I believe,’ he announced, brushing back that awful oily straggle of hair across the bald patch, ‘for adolescents to express their sexuality. But, in my opinion, it should be done in a controlled environment.’

  What on earth did Mum see in him? Was she that desperate or was love really so blind, even at that age? Luckily, her own two chose that moment to create a diversion.

  ‘DAISY’S KICKING ME UNDER THE TABLE,’ yelled Jack.

  ‘NO I’M NOT!’ spluttered Daisy indignantly. ‘It’s Jason trying to touch Mel’s legs.’

  Could it get any worse? ‘So you see,’ said Pamela, leaning towards her now, beaming as though none of this was happening. ‘They cured me at the centre without any drugs.’ She grasped Bobbie’s hand. ‘We wrote our life stories instead. So therapeutic! You ought to try it.’

  She snorted. ‘I would if I had the time but some of us have to work.’

  Rob shot her a don’t-be-rude-to-my-sister look.

  ‘Any more chicken, anyone?’ she asked defiantly, deliberately changing the subject.

  There was a polite chorus of ‘Not for me’ and ‘Absolutely delicious’ even though several plates still bore uneaten charred chunks.

  Uh oh. There was Pongo again. Jack? Daisy? Definitely one of the two. Their esteemed guest had smelt it too, judging from the disgusted look on his face as he staggered to his feet, almost taking the tablecloth with him. Dr Know might not approve of parents drinking but he’d sunk most of that bottle single-handed. ‘Actually, if everyone has finished, we have an announcement to make, don’t we, Phyllis?’

  Bobbie’s heart turned cold as Dr Know pulled out a sheet of notes from his breast pocket, along with a mustard spotted handkerchief. ‘I thought we’d decided to wait, Herbert,’ whispered her mother urgently.

  Oh God. Don’t let this be what she thought it was … ‘Your mother, Bobbie, has done me the honour of agreeing to be my wife!’ He gave a little bow in her direction before glancing back at his notes. ‘I hope you will be happy for us. Given our age, we intend to tie the knot sooner rather than later. It will be a low-key ceremony, although of course that might be difficult, given my profile.’ He blew his nose loudly.

  No. Please no, prayed Bobbie. Please don’t let this awful little man become her step-father! She could just see it now. Years and years of family gatherings extending before them with Dr Know telling them exactly how they should and shouldn’t be bringing up their children.

  ‘Congratulations!’ said Rob heavily.

  Andy shot her a sympathetic look.

  ‘Wonderful,’ beamed Pamela. ‘Isn’t it, Mummy? Fancy having a celebrity in the family!’

  ‘I could have got married again, if I’d wanted,’ chirped Camilla. ‘Did I tell you about the time I received two proposals in one evening at the Conservative Club ball?’

  Bobbie tried to say something but failed.

  ‘We must celebrate!’ said Rob lamely. ‘Open a bottle of something special! Do you want to get the champers glasses, Bobbie? I’ll sort out the drink.’

  Yes! At least she’d be able to get out of the room and compose herself. Maybe have a good cry in the loo. It wasn’t just that it was weird to think of Mum marrying again, it was the man himself. What could you do when your parent married someone you couldn’t stand? Absolutely nothing.

  ‘Bobbie!’

  Mum was close behind. ‘I wanted to tell you before everyone else,’ she said quietly, shutting the dining-room door behind them. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’

  YES! YES I DO, Bobbie wanted to yell. Can’t you see he’s a vain, arrogant control freak? ‘The only thing that matters is that you know, in your heart, you are doing the right thing,’ she managed to say.

  ‘I am.’ Her mother gave a little nod. ‘I’m sure I am. I’ve been awfully lonely on my own, you know, and, well, single men don’t come along all that often. It’s a big step for him too, getting married after all these years as a bachelor.’

  A bachelor? ‘But I thought he was a widower with grown-up children!’

  Her mother looked round furtively. ‘Actually, that’s what his promotion people have told him to say. It wouldn’t look good if he didn’t have children; he could be accused of not practising what he preaches.’

  How awful! ‘But, Mum, aren’t you upset that he’s lying?’

  Her mother made an uncomfortable face. ‘I don’t really like it.’ She gave Bobbie a hug. ‘But when you get to my age, you learn to make compromises.’

  Everyone else seemed quite excited by the news, especially after a few glasses. ‘How do you feel about having a step-grandad on the telly then?’ grinned Mel’s boyfriend, revealing a row of bad teeth (drugs or an aversion to the dentist?). ‘Reckon he can get us some tickets for one of his chat shows? I could do something on DNA if he wants.’

  Bobbie could feel her thumping headache getting increasingly worse. ‘Why don’t you take the kids out for a walk?’ suggested Rob in a low, understanding voice. ‘I’ll clear up this end.’

  ‘Won’t it look rude?’ she muttered back.

  ‘Not if we say they need to let off steam.’

  They certainly needed to do that! Both Jack and Daisy were jumping off and on the sofa next to their grandmother, who was sitting awkwardly with her new fiancé’s arm around her while he was spouting off about the latest link between hyperactivity and summer babies.

  ‘You could take Mel and Weasel Face with you,’ added Rob. ‘They’ll probably be grateful for the chance to have a fag.’

  He was right! The children did need to rush off judging by the way they were heading for the playground; Jack couldn’t wait to get to the skate park. Mel and her boyfriend were lagging along behind her and Nattie was still texting while floating along. The park itself was absolutely teaming with couples and families and dogs.

  ‘Bobbie!’ It was Matthew, along with Lottie on a scooter. ‘Good to see you.’

  ‘We’ve just been to see Mummy!’ sang out Lottie. ‘I made her a special card which Daddy wrapped in a plastic cover so it wouldn’t get wet on her grave.’

  Weren’t kids amazing? Bobbie wanted to give them both a hug. Every day must be difficult for these two but Mother’s Day was surely particularly poignant. Still, maybe things might change now Sarah was on the scene. ‘Someone seems a lot better now,’ she said lightly. ‘Daisy and Jack are over there if you want to join them!’

  ‘Stay in sight!’ called out Matthew as Lottie shot off. Then he fell into step beside her. ‘I’m so glad we saw you. I’ve been wanting to ask your advice about something.’ He looked awkward. ‘Well, about someone actually.’

  So she’d been right! It was very soon but when her friend decided on something or someone, she could be very determined. ‘How well do you know Sarah?’ he began.

  Bobbie hadn’t expected this! ‘I don’t understand.’

  Matthew was shifting now from one foot to the other. ‘It’s just that she doesn’t always tell the truth. Have you noticed that? Usually it’s small things like cutting labels out of clothes and then pretending that she made whatever it is herself. But she’s started to say rather unkind things about people I thought she cared for.’

  Bobbie felt a nasty chill passing through her. ‘Like who?’

  ‘Well, like Vanessa. Sarah told me the other day that she was lucky social services hadn’t taken her granddaughter into care. Apparently, she didn’t have formal permission to look after her.’

  What? Bobbie stared at him. ‘I told her that in confidence!’

  Matthew gave a worried shrug. ‘She also told me about you and Rob’s secretary and the phone call.’

  She did?

  ‘And she said she warned you
against it.’

  ‘But it was her idea!’ None of this was making sense. Not unless Sarah wasn’t the friend she’d thought she was.

  ‘I think,’ said Bobbie slowly, scanning the skate park to check Jack was still in one piece, ‘I need to make a phone call.’

  There once was a mum who swore –

  It made your ears feel quite sore!

  Her kids couldn’t cope,

  Washed her mouth out with soap

  And now she don’t curse any more.

  Chapter 45

  VANESSA

  HARRY! EVER SINCE Brigid had uttered his name, it had rung round and round in her head. Maybe it had never really left it. Perhaps you never forgot the first person you had truly loved, even if they had lied and cheated on you.

  ‘I’m going to write to him,’ Brigid told her nervously. ‘That’s better than a phone call. It will give him time to think about whether he wants to see me.’

  Vanessa wanted to wrap her arms around her daughter like an invisible shield. Warn her. Protect her. If only if she could take the pain instead! Harry would only hurt Brigid; she knew that. Just as he had hurt her.

  ‘He owns this big company,’ added Brigid. ‘Something to do with finance in London. I don’t want him to think I’m after his money.’

  So Harry had come up in the world. It didn’t surprise her. He’d always been bright. It was just that the booze had got in the way. Not to mention his morals. But so far there had been no contact, at least as far as she knew. Put it out of your head, Vanessa told herself. It was Mother’s Day after all. Brian had come round for lunch and they were eating it on her little table in the garden. Incredible how warm it was again!

  Sunshine, unusually, was playing up. Still, maybe it was to be expected, given all the changes that were going on. ‘I want to see Daisy!’ she whined, pushing away her bean burger that Vanessa had become rather skilled at making. ‘I want to give her the card that I drew speshully and the present.’

  ‘It’s not Easter yet. There’s plenty of time,’ said Vanessa quickly.

  ‘No.’ Sunshine banged her little fist on the plate. ‘I want to do it NOW. I haven’t seen Daisy for ages. And anyway, I bought it out of my money. Didn’t I?’

  Indeed she had. Sunshine was a generous little thing. She’d been saving up her pocket money for ages. Not just for Easter eggs (‘Yours is the biggest, Van Van’) but also for a lovely little wooden heart that she’d given Brigid for Mothering Sunday.

  ‘Is this your friend whose mum used to help in the shop?’ enquired Brigid.

  Sunshine nodded. ‘She doesn’t do it any more cos Van Van had a row with her.’

  ‘I’m wondering if she’s the one who rang social services,’ burst out Vanessa.

  ‘Are you sure?’ Brigid’s face tightened. ‘Only you wouldn’t want to make a mistake over something like that.’

  Was she? Maybe not. Vanessa was in such a muddle that she couldn’t think. Perhaps she was just being paranoid, suspecting everyone around her. But when it came to your children – or rather grandchildren – you couldn’t afford to trust anyone

  ‘We could go for a walk this afternoon,’ suggested Malik, who really was a good-looking man with that lovely smooth coffee skin. She liked the way his eyes constantly followed her daughter, not lasciviously, but in a loving, caring way. He seemed good with Sunshine too, though his English could be unreliable. ‘Then maybe we could drop the egg into your playmate.’

  ‘YES! YES!’ Sunshine leaped up and down. ‘Let’s go now. Please, Mummy. Please, Van Van. PLEASE!’

  So somehow she had found herself agreeing even though her heart thumped as they went up Bobbie’s path. The last person Vanessa wanted to see was the so-called friend who had betrayed her. ‘We’ll just leave the egg on the doorstep,’ she said firmly to Sunshine.

  ‘That’s not fair, is it, Mummy?’ She made a pleading face at Brigid. What a little monkey! Vanessa had noticed that Sunshine was beginning to play one off against the other.

  But then the door opened. It was Bobbie’s husband, looking rather friendlier than when she’d seen him in Devon. ‘They’re in the park,’ he said warmly. ‘Why don’t you go and join them? Daisy’s been talking about you, Sunshine. I know she’d love to see you.’

  There was no getting out of it now! ‘I’d like to meet Bobbie, Mum,’ said Brigid grimly, linking her arm through hers. ‘Tell her exactly what I think.’

  Exactly. ‘There she is!’ Vanessa pointed to a pretty fresh-faced woman with light brown hair by the swings. ‘With her niece.’ Then she stopped. What on earth was Mel doing holding hands with Weasel Face?

  ‘Jason?’ whispered Brigid, turning pale. ‘I don’t believe it.’

  Nor could she!

  ‘Hi, Vanessa!’ Bobbie stood up to greet them. Her pregnancy was definitely showing now. ‘What a nice surprise. You know Mel, don’t you?’ Her tone altered slightly. ‘This is Jason.’

  ‘We’ve met,’ said Vanessa grimly. Grabbing Bobbie, she steered her away. ‘We need to talk.’

  ‘I know.’ Bobbie’s eyes were bright. ‘I’ve just been chatting to Matthew. And I think I know who’s been trying to cause trouble. I’m going to ring her now. For you and for me.’

  BOBBIE

  ‘I’ve just spoken to Sarah on the phone,’ said Bobbie sadly as they walked past the skateboard park. ‘She insisted she bought the wretched jacket from a London market. However, she did admit that she rang social services after the school fête. It was almost as though she was proud of it. Came out with all this stuff about being a “responsible citizen”. Frankly, I think she’s one of those people who just like to cause trouble because they’re not happy themselves.’

  She looked downcast. ‘Looking back, I can see the signs.’

  ‘Some people do indeed like to cause trouble,’ said Vanessa quietly. ‘Like your niece’s boyfriend, Jason. He’s the boy who claimed Sunshine was his child. The one who insisted on a DNA test.’

  Bobbie looked shocked. ‘You’re joking?’

  ‘Afraid not. You’d better tell your sister-in-law.’

  ‘In the mood that she’s in, she might think it’s “liberating for the soul”.’ Then Bobbie made a sympathetic face. ‘How are you? It’s quite soon, isn’t it?’

  No need to say the word ‘operation’. There were some things that friends didn’t have to say, thought Vanessa gratefully. For that’s what Bobbie was again. A friend.

  ‘I’m sorry I didn’t believe you before.’

  She shrugged. ‘It’s OK.’

  ‘No. It isn’t. I’ve got it all wrong, haven’t I?’ To her distress, Vanessa felt her eyes welling up. ‘First Brigid’ – she gestured towards her daughter who was having a furious argument with Weasel Face – ‘and then you.’

  ‘Looks like your daughter is giving Mel’s boyfriend a going-over.’

  Vanessa snorted. ‘She’s not short at coming forward when she wants to be. Like her father. You look a bit peaky, love, if you don’t mind me saying. Are you getting enough rest?’

  ‘It’s not that,’ said Bobbie, looking down at her bump. ‘I’m upset because Mum’s just got engaged.’ She made a face. ‘To Dr Know.’

  Vanessa did a double-take. ‘You’re kidding.’

  ‘Wish I was.’ Bobbie ran her hands through her hair. Did she know it had bits of chicken in it? ‘He’s at home right now, telling my husband where we’ve gone wrong for the past eight years. And you know what? Don’t tell anyone, but he doesn’t even have kids himself! The worst thing is that he’s really controlling, but she doesn’t seem to realise it.’

  That didn’t sound great. ‘By the way,’ said Vanessa, nudging her in the ribs chummily. ‘Did you hear about that mother in Andy’s class? The one who looked rather bohemian? Turns out she’s been supplying some of the school mums with cannabis. Got six months, she did. It was in the local paper.’

  ‘No!’

  ‘Honest! What’s more …’

  ‘Nessie!’<
br />
  She spun round, her breath catching in her throat. It was Brian. And Bingo! Out for a walk, along with the rest of Corrywood. ‘Guess what, love! Upper Cut has just won the 1.10!’ He lifted her up and span her in the air and he actually had tears in his eyes when he set her down. Dear man.

  ‘That’s wonderful!’ Vanessa couldn’t help it: she reached up on tiptoes to give Brian a kiss, feeling slightly embarrassed about doing so next to her daughter.

  ‘Wow! I wonder if that’s the one my mother-in-law was backing.’ Bobbie rolled her eyes. ‘She makes out it’s a bit of fun but Rob and I reckon she’s a closet gambler.’

  ‘It can get that way,’ said Brian cheerfully. ‘Any road, reckon I can afford to buy ice creams all round. How about it?’ He glanced at Jason, who was walking off now towards the other side of the park. ‘By the way, looks like the police aren’t going to take that young man’s accusations any further.’

  ‘That’s wonderful!’ She felt a huge wave of relief.

  ‘Is it?’ Brian shook his head. ‘I shouldn’t have pushed him. Still, we all do stuff we’re not proud of. Don’t we?’

  ANDY

  They weren’t going to do anything about it! Andy stared at the letter disbelievingly. Following enquiries, it appears there is no case to be answered. What did that mean?

  ‘Don’t ask,’ warned his lawyer. ‘You’ve done your bit. Appeased your conscience. Now leave it at that.’

  But he hadn’t been able to. He’d gone down to the police station again and told the young girl once more that he had contributed to someone’s death. ‘It might be twenty-five years ago but aren’t you going to do anything about it?’

  Then she’d given him a strange look, the type that one might give someone who wasn’t quite right in the head, and repeated the jargon in the letter. There was nothing else for it. He had to follow Plan B. It was the only way he was ever going to get any peace of mind.

  ‘If you think I’m coming with you, mate, you’ve got a second think coming,’ scoffed Kieran when he rang.

  Incredibly, however, Pamela thought he was doing the right thing. ‘I want to see this place for myself,’ she said unexpectedly. ‘After all, it’s part of your life.’ She tucked her arm in his. ‘I always felt there was more to you than met the eye.’