Page 82 of The In-Laws
‘Yeah, we’d rather poke our eyeballs out with a rusty spoon than work with boring books all day,’ Joni added, with a pointed look at her grandmother.
Theo snorted, laughing. ‘I’m out too.’
‘Me three,’ Toby shouted.
Nancy raised an eyebrow at her eldest son. ‘It seems that Lucy is the natural and only successor from the next generation.’
Amanda noticed Melanie’s face darken. She was clearly unhappy with this conversation around succession. She didn’t blame her: Melanie was the star of the agency so she should inherit the top position, but she wasn’t a blood relative, and that would always keep her on the outside. Nancy controlled them all with her iron fist.
‘Lucy, you can be whatever you want to be,’ Jamie told his daughter.
‘I want to be an agent like Granny.’ Lucy snuggled into Nancy’s side. Nancy kissed her granddaughter’s head.
Wow! Amanda had never seen Nancy show so much affection. Lucy really was the chosen one. Poor Katie: not only was she banished, she also had to deal with Lucy adoring Nancy – and wanting to be her when she grew up. It struck Amanda that Nancy probably enjoyed her relationship with Lucy all the more because it undermined Katie. She had a cruel edge to her.
‘What about being a hairdresser, like your mum?’ Amanda wanted to remind Lucy of her mother at home, alone.
‘I want to work with books,’ Lucy said.
‘I’d like to be a hairdresser, like Katie. She makes people look and feel great,’ Joni piped up.
‘I wish she was here. She’s so much fun,’ Janis said.
‘Me too,’ Toby said. ‘Mummy is the best. I miss her.’
‘We all miss her,’ Melanie said.
Amanda enjoyed watching the irritation on Nancy’s face.
‘Granny,’ Lucy stared up at her grandmother, ‘can Mum come to the next lunch? She’s lonely at home.’
‘Your mother was very rude to me.’
‘I know, but she said sorry, and when you do something wrong and say you’re sorry and you mean it, the person should forgive you.’
Go, Lucy!
Nancy wavered. ‘I’ll consider it. Now, let’s have dessert. Amanda, please clear the plates.’
As Amanda did her servant turn around the table, she smiled to herself. Maybe Ross should get Lucy to ask his mother for a raise. The little girl clearly had magic powers of persuasion that no one else in the family possessed.
Later, after Amanda had cleared the last of the dessert bowls and everyone was about to head off, Nancy clapped her hands loudly. They all turned. What now? Amanda wondered.
Nancy announced that she wanted a family photo.
‘Lovely idea. I’ll take it,’ Frank said, reaching into his pocket for his phone.
‘Absolutely not,’ Nancy said. ‘I want a family photo. Three generations of our family together, and you need to be in it, Frank.’ Pointing at Melanie and Amanda she said, ‘You two can take the photos.’
Melanie looked at Amanda, her face flushed. As she turned to fish her phone from her handbag, Melanie whispered, ‘The poisonous bitch.’ Amanda could only nod in heartfelt agreement.
29. Katie
The coffee-shop door burst open and Katie dashed in. She plonked herself down opposite Melanie and ordered an extra-large cappuccino. ‘Sorry! My last client’s husband died recently and she was crying in the salon. I couldn’t leave her.’
‘Oh, no. What age was he?’
‘Ninety-five.’
