Without turning her head Molly replied, ‘I’d rather be going to France to see Gran and Granddad, thanks, and seriously, as if I’d chance being seen in the saddest pub in the village with my stepdad on a Saturday night. Talk about social suicide. I’ll do as mother ship bids instead and crack on with my revision like a good girl.’
At that, Julia tutted, pressed the button in the door and lowered the window right down, not caring if it fucked up her blow-dry and pissed Dee off.
After sucking in warm, April air and car fumes she summoned the strength needed to appease her eldest. ‘Molly, you know I’m right about the revision and it’s not like this trip is going to be fun. I’ll be visiting Granddad in the hospital every day and trying to keep Gran calm, and once I know he’s okay, I’ll be home. I do have a company to run so try to remember I’ll be juggling a lot of balls from my laptop. So please, don’t make this more difficult than it already is.’
‘Oh, soyoucan work butIcouldn’t possibly revise from my laptop? And it’s so unfair, Mum, because I want to see Aunty Nancy. It’s been ages and I miss her.’ If Molly had made this argument once she’d made it a thousand times but it still fell on deaf ears.
‘You’ve got revision classes at school that are far more important than seeing Nancy, and that’s that.’ At the mention of her sister’s name, Julia glanced nervously at the rear-view mirror where Shane’s eyes stared straight into hers, fixing her in place for a second before she looked away.
Dee piped up next. ‘Don’t worry, Molls, I’ll FaceTime you every day if you want and get Aunty Nancy to say hi, and I’ll bring you a pressie from duty free.’
Julia’s heart melted at Dee’s words and she stared at the back of Molly’s head, willing her to say something nice otherwise she might just snap and give her a slap. Molly was really acting up and it was seriously stressing her out, more so because she was usually so easy-going and understanding. Then again, since the day she turned sixteen there’d been a shift in their relationship. They’d gone from being best friends to ‘mother and teenage daughter who thinks she’s all grown up.’
Julia had accepted that, because what was it they said? Something about not being best friends with your kids, that they needed a parent to guide them, not a buddy.
Dee, however, was a complicated mash-up of the two. A serious child, tricky at times, emotional and often fragile so needed gentle handling. Which was why it was better to take her on the trip rather than leave her at home, overthinking how poorly her granddad was and imagining all sorts of doom-ridden scenarios. Dee was obsessed with Dr Google and over the years had self-diagnosed all sorts of grim illnesses so Julia knew it was best for her to see her granddad with her own eyes. He’d had a mild heart attack, not triple bypass surgery.
Molly, also aware of her sister’s foibles, thankfully responded kindly. ‘That’s so sweet, Dee, but I’m fine. Treat yourself to something nice instead and just ask Nancy to FaceTime, I’d like that.’
Again, the mention of her sister’s name caused a spike of tension and Julia’s eyes automatically sought Shane’s. The steel-eyed glare she received in the mirror spoke volumes.
Nancy couldn’t abide Shane and the feeling was mutual. The day she found out Julia was seeing him, a man ten years her junior, their once unbreakable sister-bond had splintered. Then Julia married him, despite Nancy’s warnings and twelfth-hour pleading, and their relationship would never be the same again. They maintained polite contact for the sake of their parents and particularly Molly and Dee who adored their aunt and – for this Julia was thankful – they believed that Nancy’s busy life and career in Canada was the reason she didn’t visit anymore.
In truth, the past seven years had been torture for Julia who missed her twin like a limb and that fact, on top of everything else, made her regret her stupid choices and despise everything about Shane. Hating him had become a 24/7 full-time occupation. He was a bone-idle cheat who had been holding her to ransom for the past three years and she wasn’t going to spend the rest of her life fearing him.
Finally, seeing a gap in the line of vehicles at the drop-off point, respite was in her grasp so not wanting to waste a second, Julia grabbed her handbag and gave Dee a nudge. ‘Come on, we have to be quick so put your phone in your rucksack, chop-chop.’
Seconds later they were out of the car. Shane had gallantly removed their cases from the boot and was hugging Dee goodbye, giving her fatherly advice about looking after her mum and being a good girl. Julia focused her attention on Molly who had remained in her seat but at least managed a smile and a few less petulant words.
‘I’m sorry for being a grump, Mum. Give my love to the crinkly Gs and tell them I’ll see them as soon as my exams are done, and… take care, okay. I’ll be fine with Super stepdad Shane.’ Molly did jazz hands and rolled her eyes, both managing a chuckle at Shane’s expense.
‘It’s okay, love, and I get it, I really do but I want you to ace your exams then the world’s your oyster, and you can spend as much time as you want in Antibes with Gran and Granddad, I promise. If there’s anything you need just ask Magda or ring me. I’m only a call away, just remember that.’ Knowing that their housekeeper and one of Julia’s oldest friends would be around to keep an eye on Molly and, unfortunately, her serial philandering husband, made it a lot easier to say goodbye.
Which was why, after leaning in and pecking Molly on the cheek and avoiding Shane altogether, she grabbed the handle of her wheelie case, summoned Dee, then turned and marched straight into the terminal.
With each step she took, her body relaxed and her breathing and heart rate began to return to normal. And while she asked God to forgive her, she also thanked him for her dad’s ‘mild episode’ that she’d pitched to Shane as a full-blown heart attack.
Without looking back when she heard the angry roar of an engine as it sped away from the terminal, Julia headed straightfor check-in and the first-class lounge, a very large G&T, and a few days of freedom.
Chapter Two
Relaxed and comfortable in the executive lounge, one G&T in, Julia texted her mum who was more nervous about others flying than she was herself. Julia was convinced Dee had inherited her gran’s worry gene and extra-sensitive side and was used to dealing with them both.
Hi, Mum. Just waiting in the lounge before boarding. Will message you again once we’re in our seats. It’s a lovely day here so the flight should be a dream. XXX
Clearly waiting by the phone, Julia’s mother replied immediately.
Yes I checked your weather this morning. I’m at the hospital. Dad’s looking forward to seeing you. Nancy is collecting you from the airport. Isn’t that nice. I’ve given her your details and she will wait in the pickup zone. You can have a lovely chat on the way over here. Don’t drink too much alcohol on the flight, your ankles will swell up. Text me before take-off please. Love you. Mum x
The news that Nancy would be picking them up sent Julia into a tailspin. She ignored her mum’s advice and ordered a top-up. While she sipped and Dee played a game on her phone, Julia’s mind raced to her arrival in Nice and the twelve-mile drive to Juan-les-Pins. There was no way she would bring up anything awkward, not in front of Dee but later, once the hospital visit was done there’d be plenty of time and opportunity for a heart-to-heart.
Julia hoped there would, anyway, because she needed to confide in someone and Nancy knew it all, the sordid details of the past that had, as predicted, bitten her on the arse. Julia hated the wedge Shane had driven between her and Nancy and apart from seeing her dad, this trip provided the perfect opportunity to close the gap and heal their relationship. For months, Julia had wanted to text or ring her sister and confide but could never summon the courage. This was why she saw their father’s cardiac episode as a sign.
And although it would mean receiving a ‘told you so’ look and possibly a lecture, she could take it. Julia deserved it but at least once the tongue lashing was over, she had a comeback that might convince Nancy that she wasn’t a complete pushover andhad seen sense, at last. She had to escape Shane, whatever the cost.
The sound of a phone alert snapped Julia from her deep-thought state, and after tapping the screen, she studied the Ring doorbell footage and watched as Shane’s car pulled in front of the house and he and Molly got out.
Pausing her game, Dee leant over and watched the action, smiling as she said, ‘Oh, oh. Looks like someone’s still in a foul mood then. Poor Shane having to put up with Molly. We definitely need to bring him back a pressie.’
