72
Chris
Iget out of the car, my legs trembling. I’m holding a cake that I bought from the local bakery.
“You’re nervous,” Ryan says, falling into step by my side as we reach his parents’ front door.
“No, I’m not,” I lie.
“Yes, you are,” Evan cuts in.
“You shouldn’t be. You’ve already been here, they know you by now. What’s the problem?”
The problem is that we came here together. I got out of his car, he’s walking me up to the door, and my son is with us.
That’s the problem, you idiot.
“No problem.”
I definitely can’t tell him what’s going through my mind.
His mother opens the door, welcoming us with a broad smile.
“It’s so nice to see you again… All three of you,” she says suggestively, and as soon as I step inside, I feel my anxiety building.
I hug her and hand her the cake I bought.
“Oh, you didn’t have to,” she says.
“Mum never goes anywhere without taking something,” Evan replies for me. “Granny would kill her otherwise.”
My son always knows how to make me feel comfortable.
We head into the living room, where everyone’s sitting having a drink. I wave, as Evan hurriedly joins Nick and Ian, who are standing at the fireplace, deep in conversation.
Karen offers me a glass of wine that I accept, trying to mask my relief, and I sit down with Riley and Mr O’Connor. He seems in great form today.
I join in with their conversation until Mr O’Connor turns to me and asks how everything is going with the café.
“I’ve cleared up everything that got destroyed. We’ll be reopening in a few days.”
“So you sorted out the issues with the insurance?” he asks, interested.
“More or less,” I say, sighing.
I actually haven’t sorted out anything yet. I’m still waiting for the money back, and in the meantime I’m up to me eyeballs in debt just so that we can open up again. Hopefully I’ll be able to pay it all back soon, but I don’t want to worry everyone now by admitting all that.
We sit at the table. Evan sits down between Ryan and Mr O’Connor, and I sit opposite, next to Riley.
There’s always such a positive atmosphere in this house, despite all the bickering and silly arguments. It’s something that makes you feel comfortable right away, that makes you feel at peace with the world. It must have been really nice to grow up in a family like this. Not that mine was bad, but the atmosphere at my parents’ house definitely wasn’t relaxing or fun like this one.
“Can you just stop it?” Ryan’s raised voice makes everyone suddenly silent.
“Here we go again…” says Ian, taking a sip of his water.
“I’m not doing anything, Ryan. Just try to relax,” Nick replies.
“Oh God, not again,” Riley says next to me, her hand against her forehead.
