‘There’s no woman.’
‘That sounds quite final. Even if you’ve run out of single ladies in the village, what about all those bridesmaids?’
‘I’m done with all that. I’m ready for more than the odd night with someone I hardly know.’ He drained the last of his wine. ‘The problem is, the “single lady” I want to commit to has decided I’ve got a terrible reputation. So.’ He stood up, stretching until his fingers brushed the ceiling beam. ‘I’m a woman-free zone, until I can prove her wrong.’
‘Wow.’ I sat back. While I’d missed these conversations with my brother – there wasn’t another person on the planet I could talk to like him – hearing about his drastic change of heart was almost as unsettling as my surprise landlord. ‘All I can say is I hope it works. That is, if I like her, and she’s right for you. Ooh – is it someone I know?’
‘Nope. I’m not having you turn this into a mission to fix Isaac. This is grown-up stuff, not anything for you to start poking your meddling fingers into.’
My initial annoyance at Isaac suggesting he was the grown-up, with me being the immature twin, quickly evaporated as I watched him clear the glasses and had to admit that it was true.
‘I’ve got to be at the Barn at eight in the morning,’ he said, once satisfied everything was tidied away. ‘I’ll show you around and then I’m heading to bed.’
The brief tour of my new home included Isaac pointing out the door to Elliot’s en-suite bedroom on the ground floor, plus his and Arthur’s bedrooms and the main bathroom on the first floor, but before then I had the pleasure of stepping inside the living room.
‘Is this what living with boys is going to be like?’ I asked, screwing my nose up at the leather gaming chairs, giant screen and spider-webs of wiring. There was a stack of weights in one corner, and what Isaac casually informed me was a ‘multi-games table’, near to a whiteboard displaying several charts underneath the title ‘Chimney Cup 2022’. Isaac proudly showed me the mini fridge full of neon-coloured drinks and snack bags of ultra-processed meat.
‘Where am I supposed to sit?’ I asked, with a laugh tinged with apprehension. ‘Am I allowed in here or is it men only?’
He pointed to a beanbag covered in dog hairs, squashed behind the door. ‘We brought that in for you.’
‘How very thoughtful.’
Isaac glanced at the chipped woodwork, beige walls and threadbare carpet as if taking it all in for the first time. ‘I’ll show you your room. You can do what you like up there. Add some fairy lights and cushions.’
My bedroom turned out to be the one with the tiny attic window. Beneath the sloping ceiling was a bed, a wardrobe with drawers and a wonky side table. Once we’d added my bags, that left just about enough space for us to both stand on the green rug taking up the rest of the floor. To my relief, the bed was made up with a clean-looking duvet and pillows. There was also a pretty pink jug containing a sprig of wild flowers on the table.
‘Mum?’ I asked, nodding at the jug.
‘I cleaned it first!’
‘Thank you.’ I nudged him with my hip. ‘And thanks for letting me stay here, with a twin discount.’
Twin discount? How would that work if I was paying Elliot, rather than Isaac? Ugh. Something to worry about later, like when I actually had some money to pay someone. Isaac gave my hair a ruffle and left me to a night haunted by memories.
4
I’d planned to spend Saturday morning hiding in the attic, but my mother had different ideas, messaging me at ten on the dot to say that she was at the front door. I shrugged into a pair of grey joggers and soft blue hoodie, stuck my hair in a bun and braced myself.
‘Jessie!’ She beamed, once she’d squeezed every last air molecule out of my lungs. ‘You’re here!’
‘Yep.’ I stepped back to let her in.
‘You look really well.’
‘Isaac said the same thing. What were you expecting?’
‘Well, it is a big blow. Losing your job, home and boyfriend in one go.’
I paused to look at her.
‘I know! You haven’tlosthim. But you must miss him not being here.’
If I looked well, Mum was radiant. Her light-brown hair swung just above her shoulders, and she wore patterned dungarees and a chunky cardigan that would make some forty-somethings appear ridiculous, but on her youthful frame looked fun and funky. I suspected the glow on her cheeks was due to having both her babies living within the village boundary, enabling her to bombard me with compliments in person instead of down a phone line.
When she suggested we went out for brunch I leaped at the chance. Not so much because it would save me the cost of a meal – I did have a full cupboard for now – but it meant avoiding bumping into Elliot. We walked down the lane and along Main Street to the little row of shops, entering a small café that hadn’t been here ten years ago.
‘I’m so pleased you’re staying with Isaac,’ Mum said, while we waited for our eggs benedict and a giant pot of tea.
