by Jenni Keer
Scanning down the comments, her stomach crumpled as she realised how her LookingForSomethingaBitDifferent hashtag underneath Ella’s photograph had been deliberately and unkindly leapt upon by cruel-minded people – with several nasty comments implying as long as she functioned like a woman, they didn’t care what she looked like.
The repercussions were immense.
‘DELETE IT,’ Theo shouted, and she hit Delete Tweet, quickly logging into the company’s other platforms to do the same. ‘If it wasn’t sale day and we weren’t so busy, I’m not sure you’d even have a job. You can do your work and hers today, while I think about the consequences of your thoughtlessness.’ He stormed out of the room and an uncomfortable silence followed.
‘Oops a daisy. Tweet in haste, repent at leisure,’ said Johnny. Then taking in her distraught face, he added, ‘He’ll calm down. Theo is not a man to do angry and unreasonable for long. It will all die down over the weekend.’ He put a comforting hand on her shoulder and then bowled out the room to begin The Yard auction.
After a frantic morning, Theo walked into the back office, glared at Maisie, and slumped into his chair.
‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered.
‘You have no idea what you’ve done,’ he muttered. ‘That poor girl has spent her life feeling unwanted and awkward. Every day she is convinced people are looking at her face and laughing on the inside – from wandering around the supermarket, to being in the office with her work colleagues. Even leaving the house takes enormous courage. Do you know how often she sat in front of her mother’s dressing table mirror as a child and worked her way through a packet of wet wipes trying to remove the mark? You’ve undone years of confidence-building in an instant.’
The look on Theo’s face crushed her on the inside.
‘You are absolutely right. I should have checked.’
‘Too damn right. What were you thinking, Maisie? You’re not an unkind girl – I only have to watch you with Arthur to see that. All I can think is your unhealthy obsession with social media outweighed any scrap of common sense or consideration for the feelings of others.’
‘It wasn’t like that.’ Although her voice was level and controlled, her eyes betrayed her. A swelling of tears finally spilled over her bottom lids and trickled down her expressionless face. ‘You’re assuming I shared her picture conscious of her birthmark. The truth is I hardly think of it. She’s such a beautiful girl and it’s a part of her, like having red hair, or particularly long legs. I took a charming photograph of a pretty girl holding a lamp and posted it. I should have asked her permission – absolutely my mistake and I can’t apologise enough. I know that’s the first rule of sharing on social media. My only excuse is I was so busy I didn’t stop to think. I need to make my apologies to her and explain. You can sit there and tell me how angry you are all you like, but that’s the truth.’
Theo shook his head slowly from side to side and rubbed the back of his neck. Unusually, he did not meet her eyes when she was talking. He can’t even bring himself to look at me, she realised.
After Gareth told her about Wickerman’s embarrassing publicity campaign, she’d always triple-checked anything she’d posted or written, fully aware the saying ‘there’s no such thing as bad publicity’ didn’t take into consideration the feelings of those innocents caught up in the mess. When you knew real people had been adversely affected, the increased exposure offered no consolation.
Perhaps the success of Arthur’s video Tweets had given her an arrogant air. At Wickerman’s she was part of a team. Gareth monitored them all and reined them in if they overstepped the mark. She’d been foolish to think she was ready to head up a marketing department, even a department of one.
‘I understand if you wish me to resign,’ she said.
‘I was hasty this morning and irrationally angry.’ Theo started to sort the piles of papers and pulled the waste-paper basket out from under the desk. It was much tidier and you could even see areas of the scuffed mahogany top. ‘Your job isn’t on the line but your friendship with Ella most certainly is.’
Chapter 47
‘I can’t believe you’ve actually pulled this off,’ whispered Zoe, as she stepped through Maisie’s front door, giving her baby sister a crushing hug. Those bicep curls were paying off. ‘I know the menu will be fabulous because I helped you choose it, but let’s hope the guests don’t let us down.’
‘You’re the last to arrive. Even Ben made it before you, although he’s a bit quiet,’ said Maisie. ‘Mind you, he’s exhausted. He only landed this morning.’
‘Conversation was never his forte. That man is a perennial teenager.’
Maisie had temporarily shelved her catastrophe at work to focus on the meal but her heart wasn’t in it. Ironic that she’d been careless in her job because she was focusing on the meal, and now the meal was happening, all she could think about was her job. She cared about her work colleagues more than she’d realised and their inevitable and justifiable disappointment was painful. Even Arthur had mumbled something about how upsetting the whole affair was. Despite leaving numerous voicemail messages for Ella, she’d heard nothing back.
As they joined the rest of the Meadows family, Maisie’s eyes swept the living room and she allowed herself a moment of hope to combat her current self-loathing. Her mum was squashed up on the sofa next to her dad and they looked for all the world like newly-weds. Lisa had claimed the large armchair that faced the TV, her legs elegantly crossed, and was blowing on her freshly painted fingernails. The nail-varnish pot was balanced precariously on the wide arm of the chair, sending a ripple of anxiety through Maisie should it topple over and spill onto the carpet, but she bit back any negative comment, not wanting to spoil this much-longed-for day.
Ben was sitting on the floor, earbuds in as he listened to something on his iPhone. Perhaps only there in body and not spirit, but it was a major coup to have him there at all.
She would make this work – she had to.
Lisa had helped move the sofa earlier and there was just enough room for six around her dining table, providing no one wanted to rest their elbows on the edge, so after mumbled hellos, they all squeezed into their allocated chairs.
The first course of watercress soup was largely a silent affair but Maisie noticed people were starting to open up by the time she served the artichoke, aubergine and lamb moussaka. The wine helped, enabling people to relax and drop their guard. Her parents insisted on sitting together, and judging by the tiny squeaks and giggles from her mother, there was more going on under the table than there was above it. Friendly chatter began to fill the room.
‘When do you return to work, love?’ David said to his eldest daughter. ‘You must have used up your annual holiday.’
‘Soon – they’ve been lost without me,’ and her eyes flicked to Maisie’s, a signal to keep up the charade that all was well. Lisa turned to her brother. ‘How’s the band doing, Ben? Gone platinum with the album yet?’
It was unusual for Lisa not to take an opportunity to talk about herself, and more unusual for her to show an interest in others, but then Lisa had been on the wine before any of the family members had even arrived. Still, it made her more sociable and gave Maisie small hope that the meal wouldn’t end in tears.
‘S’all right,’ he mumbled. He wasn’t going to get away with that response. Everyone else around the table was making an effort.
‘Will you return to the UK after the Helsinki house-sitting job?’ Maisie pushed.
‘Maybe. The lads are fed up of living on a tour bus. The lead guitarist is expecting a baby in February. Not sure how that’ll affect things.’ There was a pause. ‘The food is good, Maisie. You always were an excellent cook.’ High praise indeed, from the man who by his own admission lived off tinned beans and Mars bars. ‘And how’s the move been, Zoe? Slotted back in okay?’
Zoe smiled at her big brother. They’d always clashed over his total inactivity and her pursuit of exercise.
�
��Thanks for asking. I love the new physiotherapy practice I’m at – great bunch of people. I miss my Australian colleagues but it was the right decision. Dreams don’t always match up to the reality. I’m happy to be back and can’t say I didn’t try.’
‘What a lovely bunch of kids,’ her dad said, surveying the faces around the table. ‘I may not have got everything right in my life, but I’m proud of each and every one of you.’
Their mother reached her hand across to his and gave it a squeeze.
‘We need to be thankful we have family,’ their mother agreed. ‘So many of the old dears at work have no one, especially those who were never blessed with children. Thanks to your friend Theo, we now have two other residents adopted.’
‘Naked Man?’ Maisie asked, hopefully.
‘Actually no but his attachment to Irene is quite endearing. They almost don’t need anyone else. She asked me to get hold of some Carry On DVDs and the pair of them chuckle away together – happy as Larry. He’s usually starkers but she doesn’t bat an eye. What with that and their shared love of card games, they keep each other occupied.’
‘If it’s strip poker, he’ll be at a massive disadvantage,’ piped up Ben, who had actually removed his earbuds and was continuing to make an effort.
‘I’ve worked it all out and when I’m in a care home, you can take it in turns to come and visit each weekend. That’s only once a month and twelve times a year,’ their mum said.
‘I’ll visit you loads, Mum,’ Lisa said. ‘I’ve realised care homes aren’t the scary, dull places I thought they were. I’ll miss Willow Tree House when I go back to York – particularly Irene. I fully intend to be as outrageous as her when I get that old.’
‘You can always pop in when you’re down in Suffolk,’ their mum replied. ‘Which will hopefully be more frequently?’
‘That would be good,’ said Lisa, which was so much better than her usual outright refusal to commit.
Maisie’s thoughts returned to Arthur. He’d had no children to visit him for the past twenty years. How his life would have been different if his little Primrose had survived. If there had been a daughter on the scene. Look at the sad state he’d got himself into – so lonely he’d carried on as though nothing had changed and so few people suspected it had. Family was a blessing, she reassured herself, even if you had to work at it.
‘I’d like to host Christmas Day this year,’ Maisie ventured. ‘I know Ben won’t be around but you’re all invited. We could try to re-create those fun Christmases from years ago. There were good times before … you know?’
‘Hrmph,’ mumbled Ben, taking a hasty swig from his glass. ‘Not quite how I remember them.’
‘Oh, come on,’ she persevered. ‘The mountains of food, the Christmassy smells and cheesy music, playing games and, even though most of us were too young to drink, the flowing wine and late-night brandies?’
Eyes met furtively across the table.
‘I suppose Dad was a pretty funky dancer,’ Ben said.
‘And Mum – I mean Father Christmas – was always spot on with our presents,’ Lisa admitted, helping herself to yet another brim-high glass of Burgundy.
‘I miss the sprout cricket we played in the back garden Christmas morning,’ said Zoe. ‘Launching Brussels at each other, whacking them with the wrapping paper tubes and running to the water butt and back.’
‘I wondered why I always seemed low on sprouts.’ Their mum laughed. The wine continued to flow and the room was filled with happy chatter and tasty aromas as Maisie silently toasted Verity – whoever she was – and her simply marvellous, if slightly unnerving, tea set.
This Christmas, even if Ben couldn’t make it back, was going to be the best ever.
‘Right, guys,’ Maisie announced, ‘I know you should finish a meal off with coffee but I’m desperate to try out Verity’s tea set. It’s over a hundred years old and I want to christen it today, surrounded by my family. I didn’t think I’d get you all here but somehow everything has fallen into place. Let’s raise a glass to Meredith, because finding her teapot was the catalyst for this meal.’
‘Great speech, sis,’ said Lisa, swinging her wine glass up in the air, some of it sloshing over the edge. ‘To family.’
The assembled guests raised whatever they could find and joined in, their mother bursting into tears as soon as everyone’s glass was in the air.
‘Now, now, sweetheart,’ her dad said, throwing an arm around his ex-wife and gently dabbing at her tears with his napkin. ‘We’ve talked about reining in those reckless emotions. Enjoy these moments and don’t overanalyse everything.’
Zoe set out the cups and saucers whilst Maisie went into the kitchen for the miniature double chocolate muffins she’d baked for the occasion. They were presented on the cake stand, all very Great British Bake Off, and a selection of after-dinner mints were arranged on the large cake plate.
After allowing the tea sufficient time to brew, Maisie filled everyone’s cup and passed the milk and sugar around in Joanie’s jug and bowl.
‘It doesn’t look a hundred years old,’ mumbled Ben. ‘But then, what do I know about teacups?’
‘I agree but I can assure you it is,’ said Maisie. ‘And I think it’s particularly apt that we use it today as it’s been reunited after fifty years and we’ve been reunited as a family for the first time in nearly twenty.’
‘Cheeerrsss,’ Lisa slurred, raising the dainty cup in the air.
And then there was silence as everyone took a sip and stared at each other across the table, not knowing quite what to say.
It was a moment of calm before the almighty thunderclap announced the mother of all storms.
Chapter 48
‘I paint,’ announced Maisie, shocked by her own admission, as the hot tea slid down her throat and all her worries about her family’s reactions to her secret hobby no longer seemed important.
‘Sorry?’ Zoe queried. ‘Paint what?’ Maisie’s comment was a complete random tangent to the conversation.
‘Huge abstract canvases, smaller random dribbles and a few smears and smudges that I lose myself in. Not proper painting, just … stuff.’
‘Don’t be silly. All art is valid,’ Zoe said. ‘Is this connected to the still-life classes you started recently?’
‘Sort of. I want to hone my talent – or lack thereof.’
‘Yeah – I’ve seen them – they’re awful,’ said Lisa, chuckling to herself. ‘A blind chimpanzee could do a better job.’ She caught Maisie’s face and coughed. ‘But I guess it’s a kind of therapy.’
‘You’ve shown them to Lisa and not to me?’ Zoe voice was quiet and steady but the hurt was apparent. ‘Oh my God – she’s nudged her way between us, hasn’t she? Staying here and pretending to be all vulnerable. You said I was your closet sibling …’
‘You’ve been playing favourites?’ Lisa squeaked. ‘Charming. And there was me thinking we’d made progress in our sisterly bond. Have you two have been laughing behind my back and—’
‘Children. And Bev …’ Their father cleared his throat and a puzzled look flashed across his handsome face as he intercepted the escalating hysteria of his daughters.
‘I wasn’t going to do this today, in fact I wasn’t going to say anything at all, but as we are acknowledging the importance of family …’ he swallowed ‘… not quite all my family is around this table because you have a half-brother.’ He beamed his hundred-kilowatt smile, Maisie half-expecting a dazzling chink of light to bounce off his perfect teeth.
‘Pardon?’ their mother said, her own smile sliding down her face and into her lap. ‘Are you saying you have another child, David?’
David was less sure of himself in that moment. What had seemed a good idea, was possibly a massive miscalculation. He gazed at the five stunned faces semi-circling him.
‘I erm, well, it’s not like it’s a recent thing, Bev. It was a long time ago,’ he blustered. He started to back-pedal so fast his legs were a blur. ‘We’v
e talked about the affairs. You said you understood. That’s all behind us now, love.’
He reached out for her hand but she pulled away and stood up, throwing her napkin to the table and stepping back from her husband – unable to control the erratic swingometer of her emotions.
‘You have another child I know nothing about? And to think I let you back in my M&S high legs,’ she screamed.
‘TMI!’ said Ben, shaking his head and glaring hard at his tablemat. ‘You always did overshare in front of your kids.’
‘Well, these knickers are securely padlocked from now on. You won’t be getting your wandering fingers anywhere near them again in this lifetime …’
‘MUM!’ all four children shouted in unison.
‘And telling me it happened years ago doesn’t make it better. That makes it WORSE. Before or after we were married?’ she demanded.
David once again circled the bemused faces of his family and swallowed slowly. ‘During,’ he finally admitted.
‘Oh. My. God. When?’ Tears billowed at the edge of her lower eyelid as she took a step away from the table, and her deceitful husband and four grown-up children could only watch as their mother had her heart broken a second time.
Even if their dad was too stupid to see it, every single sibling knew there would be no going back this time. There simply wasn’t a wallpaper in existence thick enough to paper over these yawning cracks. Tears fell from their mother’s dumbfounded eyes in rivers. She clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking and the children sipped nervously at their tea, waiting for the tale of their dad’s misdemeanour to unfold – a tale that could never have a happy ending.
‘Someone from work not long after Ben was born. I have a son a year younger. He’s recently come back into my life and I thought … I thought …’ He trailed off.