‘Thankssomuch for your support, Nolo,’ I said sarcastically.
She always had to play the age card – it must be delightful to be the youngest sibling and to have absolutely no familial responsibility.
Mum turned to me, her face a mixture of confusion and determination.
‘Lira, you are so good at managing the studio. How could I ever trust it to somebody else? And I need you more than ever now, becauseourbig announcement is that me and Daddy are going on an extended trip and we’re going to need you to hold the fort here. You will have to run thishouse while we are away, as well as look out for your sisters. We are counting on you.’
My stomach dropped. I took a large sip of water, hoping to suppress the nausea that had begun to flood my body.Extended trip? More responsibility?There was no way I had time for all of that, not now.
‘What trip?’ I asked, my voice husky with emotion.
Mum and Dad looked lovingly at each other – yes, I reckoned they were the only two people still madly in love with each other after thirty-two years of marriage. I’d never even seen them bicker, let alone full-on argue. Whatever it was they connected over, it had been constant and unwavering – Mum fired Dad up and Dad kept Mum grounded. And they both liked to do exactly what they wanted – and who was there to stop them? Not their children, and definitely not me.
‘We’re going on a six-month cruise,’ said Dad, beaming. ‘Remember that’s how your mum and I met?’
‘How could we forget? We’ve heard the story about a hundred and fifty times,’ said Sedi.
‘So, what, it’s like a world cruise?’ asked Nolo.
‘Exactly,’ said Mum excitedly. ‘Although it’s not all pleasure – we’ll be working, too. Your father and I will be executive entertainment directors on a brand-new high-spec cruise ship. The money is excellent, so we thought we could put it into the studio when we get back – maybe give it the revamp we’ve been meaning to for a while?’
‘Great,’ I said, trying to summon up enthusiasm fromsomewhere. While this was wonderful news for them, and coming from a good place on their part, it was, of course, terrible news for me.
‘We are so excited,’ gushed Mum, going all dewy-eyed as she pictured her trip. ‘We get to visit my home in South Africa, plus Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, so many places we have always wanted to see. And it will make things so much nicer for me if I know you’re all safe, and that Lira is looking out for you like she always does. Youcanstill do that for us all, can’t you, Lerato?’
I swallowed hard, feeling as though I might start sobbing on the spot. Really? Me in charge? Again?
‘Lira doesn’t exactly look happy with the idea,’ said Sedi, narrowing her eyes at me.
‘You’re twenty-nine years old. Why exactly do you need taking care of, again?’ I asked, trying desperately to keep my cool, although I could feel my temper begin to flare.
Because here my parents went again, essentially saying that they would be out of contact for six whole months. If there was an emergency, sure, they’d want to know, but otherwise I was on my own as far as they were concerned. I should be used to it by now, and yet I didn’t see why I should have to be. Sedi and Nolo were grown adults.
I surreptitiously pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a hasty message to Jack. This was bad, bad, bad and if I didn’t get out of here immediately, I was going to tell everyone what I really thought of them, and that definitely wouldn’t help my case in the long run. Perhaps they didn’trealize how long they’d been taking me for granted, assuming I’d be here at their beck and call forever, ready to step in whenever they needed me. What aboutmyhopes and dreams? Had a single one of them even thought of that?
Can you fit in a session?
I watched as Jack read the message and began typing immediately.
I’m at home. Come over.
I didn’t need asking twice, and pushed back my chair, leaving my unfinished meal on the plate. I was acutely aware of everyone’s eyes on me as I left the room without a word.
Jack opened the door to his apartment and pulled me inside, pushing me up against the door once he’d closed it.
‘To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?’ he asked, taking my head in his hands and kissing me hard before I could answer.
When we paused to take a breath, I answered him. ‘Awful family dinner. Needed to get out of there.’
He nodded. ‘Fancy a glass of wine? You can tell me all about it.’
I shook my head, taking his hand and leading him towards the bedroom.
‘Talking about it won’t help, but I think I know what will,’ I said, laughing.
I glanced over my shoulder at him, expecting him to join in, but he wasn’t smiling at all. In fact, he looked all serious and a bit pissed off. I hesitated – did he feel like Iwas using him, or something? And in a way I was, if I was honest with myself. But that was how it had always been between us – just sex. No commitment, no drama. Had he expected me to change my mind? Had he changed his? I’d assumed I wasn’t the only PT client he gave extra attention to, but what if I’d got it all wrong?
‘You okay?’ I asked.
