The Truth About You

by Susan Lewis

  With any luck he’d try to find a job so he could work off his debt in instalments. At least that way he’d be demonstrating a sense of responsibility that had so far escaped everyone’s notice.

  It was there though, Lainey was in no doubt of it, it was just a question of getting him to assert it, and the only way she could see of doing that was to start trusting him.

  Good luck with that.

  Hearing a car draw up outside she felt herself starting to smile. Though she knew some women might think it strange, or at least unusual, to experience heart flips as a husband of sixteen years arrived home, for Lainey it was gloriously normal. She adored the exhilaration of seeing Tom for the first time in almost a week; on occasions it almost felt as though she was falling in love with him all over again. And why wouldn’t she when he was the most attractive man she’d ever met, albeit in a slightly quirky way, and life was never dull with him. Over time they’d become slightly less vigorous in their fervour, a little more tender in their togetherness, but their closeness had only deepened. He always said he needed her to keep him grounded, which might well be true, given how long he spent in his fictional world. And she needed him simply because she loved him so much. Though they rarely fought, when they did the rest of the family fled, since being in the same room wasn’t safe when both had a tendency to throw whatever came to hand first. However, if Tom’s latest book was singing along merrily almost nothing could rattle him, and when he was in a good mood it seemed everyone else was too – though Lainey knew from long experience that the creative flow could change from one day to the next, so it was best never to take anything for granted.

  It was like living with a faulty time bomb, she would often tell him, meaning she never had any idea when he might erupt and when he did how great the explosion might be.

  ‘And living with you, my darling,’ he would counter, ‘is like living with the tide – one minute I’m swept up in all the reasons why you’re so vital to everything, and the next I feel as though I’m drowning in you.’

  Though she understood what he meant, such words always stung her a little, since she knew she was guilty of being somewhat too needy at times.

  Watching him now, as he got out of his car, laughing as he swung a joyous Zav up in his arms, she felt so much pride and love tangling with the other emotions in her heart that she barely noticed the other car pulling up behind his. Immediately Zav raced off to greet his uncle Grant, Tom’s younger brother, and Cara, Grant’s new wife. She’d had no idea they were coming tonight, but that was what it was like in their house, people were always turning up unexpectedly, which was why she generally cooked for more than the immediate family at mealtimes.

  Tom was on his way into the kitchen now, and watching him she could feel their chemistry flickering into life. As he reached her and slipped his free hand into her hair, his smoky grey eyes told her more profoundly than words how glad he was to be home. She cherished those looks almost as closely as she cherished the lovemaking that would later follow, though tonight she felt he seemed slightly distracted.

  Before she could ask, Grant and Cara came piling in the door behind him.

  ‘I found them on my tail as I turned into the village,’ he explained, picking up his mail as Cara swept Lainey into a bruising embrace.

  ‘I swear you’re looking too gorgeous,’ Cara declared, her sunny blue eyes and cherry-red lips making her, in Lainey’s opinion, the true beauty in the room. ‘I hope you don’t mind us turning up on you like this. I know you’re entertaining tomorrow night, so I promise we’ll be out of your hair long before anyone arrives. It was just that we couldn’t be down this way and not drop in.’

  ‘I’d have felt very offended if you hadn’t,’ Lainey informed her, meaning it. She was extremely fond of Grant and Cara, who’d recently married in the local church, after which a lavish reception had taken place here at the house. ‘You can join the party if you like,’ she went on, going to hug Grant. ‘It’ll be easy enough to set two more places.’

  ‘Oh, we’d love to,’ Cara assured her, ‘but my gran’s expecting us and we can’t let her down.’

  ‘What have you got cooking?’ Grant wanted to know. ‘Smells bloody delicious, whatever it is.’

  ‘It’s my favourite,’ Zav piped up, his cheeky young face smeared with dirt and his mop of inky hair tumbling every which way. He was such a cocktail of Tom and Lainey that it was impossible to say where one of them began and the other ended. He was certainly more like his father in his insatiable passion for rugby, cricket and football, and had just been practising the latter solo in their paddock, waiting for Tom to come home. ‘It’s called cheesy burger bake,’ he informed his aunt and uncle. ‘Mum won’t let us have it very often, because she says it’s not healthy enough, but Dad really likes it too, don’t you Dad, so we’re allowed to have it tonight and I helped to make it.’

  ‘No!’ Cara cried, impressed. ‘Is there no end to your talents?’

  ‘It’s this big,’ Zav ran on, stretching his arms as wide as they’d go, ‘and we’ve got peach-flavoured ice cream for afters. Dad?’

  ‘Zav?’ Tom responded, abandoning his mail to twist the top off a bottle of wine.

  ‘Are you definitely coming to my match tomorrow?’

  ‘Absolutely,’ Tom confirmed. ‘I expect Uncle Grant would like to join us, if he doesn’t have to rush off before lunch.’

  ‘Count me in,’ Grant replied, taking glasses out of a cabinet and passing them to Cara.

  ‘Where’s Tierney?’ Tom asked Lainey as she emptied a bag of pistachio nuts into a bowl.

  ‘Gone for a walk with Dad and Sherman,’ she replied. ‘They should be back any minute. Bliss,’ she smiled, as he passed her a glass of wine. She wanted to ask him more about his week, whether things had improved by the time he’d left the set today – presumably not, given how pensive he seemed – however, as usual, their more personal conversations would have to wait until they were alone.

  As they raised their glasses to friends and family the hall door opened and Max ambled in, looking, Lainey noticed with some surprise, as though he’d just washed his hair and very possibly taken a shower. What a turn-up!

  Tom was eyeing his elder son with some interest. ‘Everything OK?’ he asked carefully.

  ‘Yeah, cool,’ Max responded, not quite meeting his father’s gaze. ‘Hey Grant, Cara. Are you here for the weekend?’

  ‘No, just tonight,’ Cara told him. ‘How’s life with you?’

  He shrugged. ‘Kind of, you know.’

  Tom’s eyebrows arched.

  ‘Actually, I’m on my way out,’ Max informed them. ‘Just thought I’d come and say hi before I go.’

  ‘Where are you off to?’ Lainey asked chattily as she started slicing a cucumber. ‘Somewhere nice?’

  ‘Bet he’s got a hot date, good-looking guy like him,’ Grant piped up.

  ‘He’s always got lots of dates,’ Zav informed them. ‘Are you seeing Christie tonight? I reckon she’s really ream.’

  Max looked amused by his half-brother’s use of the slang term. ‘And I don’t suppose that would have anything to do with her cousin being signed up by West Brom?’ he teased.

  Zav laughed delightedly. ‘We might get some free tickets if you go on seeing her, though it would be better if he was signed to Liverpool, wouldn’t it Dad? Just imagine, we could go to all the games, and we might even be allowed into the dressing rooms, because we know someone.’

  ‘I should think Daddy could get you in anyway,’ Cara suggested.

  ‘He can, and he did,’ Zav assured her. ‘We went last season, didn’t we, Dad? It was really cool. Max came too, didn’t you, Max?’

  ‘I did,’ Max confirmed. ‘Dad, is it OK to take the estate tonight? Crowded House are playing at Berkeley and we’ll be able to get more of us in than if I take my Fiesta.’

  Tom glanced at Lainey. ‘I don’t see any problem with that,’ he responded, checking with her.

  Shrugging, sh
e said, ‘Fine by me. Do you want some drinks to take with you? I expect I can find some food to pack up for a picnic as well.’

  Max looked amazed. ‘That would be totally awesome, if you can spare it.’

  With a wry smile she went through to the utility room to fish out a cool bag, while Tom and Grant wandered outside with their drinks and Zav helped Cara to lay the table.

  ‘Have you told him yet?’ Max said quietly to Lainey.

  Realising he was referring to his shoplifting charge, Lainey said, ‘No, not yet, but I think I’ll have to, because if it gets in the local paper and he finds out that way, there’ll be all hell to pay.’

  ‘There’ll be that anyway,’ he muttered.

  Suspecting he was right, Lainey loaded him up with bottles and various snacks, before handing over the keys to the old estate that had been a part of the family since Tierney was born. As Max left through the back door Tom called out that he wanted to see him in his study between three and four the following day for a general catch-up.

  ‘That might be a good opportunity for you to tell him yourself what happened?’ Lainey suggested.

  ‘Yeah, right,’ Max retorted, and giving his father a surly salute he went off to the car.

  ‘So how’s Stacy getting on with the new bloke?’ Cara wanted to know as Lainey returned to the kitchen. ‘Have you met him yet?’

  ‘No, I haven’t. We invited them tomorrow night, but she’s turned us down. She thinks our set, as she likes to call it, will be a bit much for Martin to handle before he gets to know us.’

  Cara pulled a face. ‘I guess I can see her point. What does he do, again?’

  ‘He has a nursery – as in plants, not kids – just outside Stroud. I’m sure I’ve bought stuff there in the past, if it’s the place I’m thinking of. Anyway, now Tom’s back we’ll probably meet up at a pub, just the four of us, one night next week. Apparently he’s an avid fan of Tom’s, so I don’t think there’s much danger of them not getting along.’ As she finished speaking she was peering curiously through the window to where Tom and Grant seemed to be having some sort of disagreement over by the arbour. ‘What do you think that’s all about?’ she asked as Cara came to join her.

  ‘No idea, but they don’t look happy, do they?’

  ‘Shall I go and find out?’ Zav offered, leaping up from the computer.

  ‘No you don’t,’ Lainey retorted, grabbing him back. ‘But you can whizz off and wash your mucky little face before we sit down to eat.’

  ‘Oh Mum.’

  ‘Oh Zav. Off you go.’

  After he’d gone Cara said, ‘Grant’s looking really upset now. Actually, so’s Tom. What on earth’s happening out there?’

  Both concerned and curious, Lainey said, ‘Did Grant mention anything, before you came, about needing to discuss something with Tom?’

  ‘Not a word. As far as I knew he was really looking forward to seeing him.’

  Lainey watched as Grant put a hand on Tom’s shoulder, while Tom regarded him in what looked to be a very steely silence. Tom turned away and Grant stood watching him, seeming helpless or maybe frustrated. It was difficult to tell from where they were.

  Then suddenly everything changed as Tierney came streaking across the lawn, all long legs and flyaway hair, to throw herself into her father’s, then her uncle’s arms, while Peter, looking just as thrilled, followed in her wake with a limping Sherman.

  ‘Oh no,’ Lainey groaned, ‘poor Sherman, his arthritis is obviously playing him up again,’ and making a mental note to fit in a visit to the vet on Monday, probably after her father’s appointment with the psychiatrist, she went to answer the phone.

  Minutes later Tom was bringing a troubled-looking Peter in through the door.

  ‘I didn’t mean to do it,’ Peter was saying. ‘It was just there and I couldn’t stop it.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Tom soothed, ‘we’ll get it sorted.’

  Guessing what was wrong, Lainey went to take over, but Tom said, ‘It’s OK. I’ll do it.’

  ‘Lainey, it was there and then gone,’ Peter told her.

  Gazing into her father’s bemused blue eyes, Lainey cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. ‘You’ll be fine,’ she assured him. ‘Tom’s going to get you all cleaned up, then we’ll sit down for a lovely dinner.’

  Peter nodded, and patted the hand Tom had laid on his arm. As they went out through the hall, the loyal Sherman padding on behind, Lainey turned to Grant, who’d followed them into the kitchen.

  ‘Would you mind carrying the dog up the stairs?’ she asked. ‘He’s obviously in a bit of pain, but he hates being apart from Dad.’

  ‘Leave it to me,’ Grant responded, and going after Tom and Peter he closed the hall door behind him.

  ‘This must be so hard for you,’ Cara sympathised, as Lainey drew in a shaky breath.

  Lainey couldn’t deny it.

  ‘Does it happen often?’

  ‘His incontinence? More and more these days,’ she replied, glancing up as Tierney come in. ‘It might be easier on him if he didn’t realise it was happening; as it is, he feels so ashamed that he ends up getting into a terrible muddle. As if he’s not in a big enough one already. Tierney, can you go and find out what’s happened to Zav? I sent him to wash his face ten minutes ago and he hasn’t come back yet.’

  Tierney, who’d been giving Cara a hug, helped herself to a slice of cucumber as she left. ‘Sorry, may I?’ she asked, looking at her phone as she turned back again.

  ‘May you what?’ Lainey asked.

  ‘Have a piece of cucumber?’

  Lainey blinked in astonishment. ‘Well, you’ve already eaten it now, but I hardly think you needed to ask.’

  ‘I just don’t want to seem impolite, or to take anything for granted,’ Tierney explained, looking up from her texts.

  Since she wasn’t quite sure what to say to that, Lainey simply smiled.

  ‘We’re very lucky to have food whenever we want it,’ Tierney reminded her, ‘even if it is just a slice of cucumber. So many people in the world don’t have anything, and I think it’s wrong for people like us simply to stuff our faces and forget all about them.’

  With a quick glance at a bewildered Cara, Lainey said, ‘I don’t think a slice of cucumber can qualify as stuffing your face, but your sentiments are admirable, my darling.’

  Seeming pleased with that, Tierney spun round and went off in search of her brother.

  ‘Don’t ask,’ Lainey muttered, as Cara seemed to flounder for words. ‘Let’s just get the rest of dinner under way and do our best to pretend we’re a normal family.’

  Upstairs in her room, Tierney’s whole attention was fixed on her laptop. He was there, online, taking time out to Instant Message her and ask if she was happy.

  Just wait till she told Skye.

  Her fingers almost shook as she typed in her answer.

  I am now.

  That’s good.

  Are you?

  Of course. I’m in contact with you.

  She desperately wanted to see him, but didn’t have the courage to say so. He’d said the last time, though, that they would definitely get together again.

  He was typing. You understand why I can’t see you this weekend?

  Her insides churned with longing. Yes, but I wish you could.

  I know. I wish I could too. You have become very special to me.

  She felt suddenly breathless, hot, desperate to see him if only on Skype, but there was no time now.

  You’re special to me too, she typed, and felt her insides flutter with the electric frissons of daring.

  It’s not long until your birthday.

  Tomorrow week.

  Will we be able to spend it together?

  I’m working on it. I’ve told them I’m going to be at my friend’s in London. She’s OK with that, she’ll definitely cover for me.

  That’s good. I’ll make sure you have a really special time.

  Thinking of the one kiss
they’d shared she almost sobbed with dread and excitement.

  Did you ask your parents for a Kindle? he wanted to know.

  Yes.

  Good. It’ll give me a real kick to think of us reading the same books at the same time.

  We could do that now.

  Indeed we could, but I’d like to buy the books for you and send them to your reader. They’ll be a gift from me to you.

  Thank you.

  Where are you at the moment?

  In my bedroom. Where are you?

  In a terrible dilemma over you. I can’t stop thinking about you.

  Thrilled and tormented by the words, she knew without any doubt that she was in love.

  It’s the same for me, she told him.

  ‘Sweetheart, are you in there?’ her father called out, knocking on the door.

  Tierney slammed down the lid of her laptop. ‘Coming,’ she called back, her heart practically leaping from her chest. Running to the door she threw it wide and all but bounced into her father’s arms. ‘What are you doing up on our floor?’ she cried, teasingly. ‘You never come up here.’

  ‘I’ve been calling you, but you seem not to have heard,’ he replied as she linked his arm to walk him along the landing to the stairs.

  ‘Sorry, I got carried away with Skye. She’s got all this stuff going on, so I had to talk to her. Do you know where Max is tonight?’

  ‘Gone to some concert, apparently. Why?’

  ‘Just wondered. Or Skye did. She’s pretty hot for him, but don’t tell him I told you. Oh God, I was supposed to find Zav. Has he gone down now?’

  ‘Yes, he has. We’re just waiting for you.’

  Placing her hands on his shoulders as he descended the narrow staircase ahead of her, she said, ‘So how are you? Did you have a good week in London? We missed you, you know. I hope you missed us too.’

  ‘Of course I did,’ he assured her.

  ‘Were you filming, or just casting and things?’