He appreciated where she was coming from. Despite their complicated relationship, Aunt Julia had always been protective of her sister. And thanks to their well-publicised exploits, it was easy to see why she blamed the band, or more to the point, Lenny, for Nate’s mum’s spiralling problems. But in truth, his mother had been on a slippery slope well before Argon Fire came along. Up until then, she’d just been better at hiding it.
“It’s not like I knew they were going to be involved,” Nate said. “I’m as shocked as you. I’m guessing it’s Bruce’s idea of a joke, although not a very funny one, I’ll give you that.”
“Bruce? Where does he fit in with all of this?”
“It’s complicated.”
Julia got up from her seat, poured herself another drink, then retook her position on the sofa. “Try me.”
Nate sat forward, ready to start at the beginning. “Brenda recognised me.”
“Really? She didn’t say anything to me.”
“Nor me at first. In fact, she kept quiet until Flick decided, once and for all, to sell up. That’s when Brenda asked for my help.”
Julia’s eyes narrowed. “When you say help? What do you mean?”
“That’s the thing, she didn’t talk about anything specific. And she certainly didn’t ask for money. She just wanted Flick to have a proper choice with regards to the chateau, I suppose, and asked if there was anything I could do.”
“What? That’s it.”
Nate shifted in his seat. “Not exactly.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, if I refused to help her, she’d reveal my whereabouts to anyone and everyone who’d listen once she got back to the UK.”
“No!” His aunt put a hand up to her mouth but Nate knew she was only feigning shock, that her action had more to do with hiding the beginnings of a smile.
“It’s not something I’d make up.”
“So, she’s blackmailing you?”
As her eyes widened, he sensed her smile getting bigger. At least someone found his predicament funny.
“Looks like it.”
“Well, well, well,” his aunt said, finally letting her hand drop. “Doesn’t it show how images can be deceiving. I mean, the woman looks so normal, nothing like your typical extortionist.”
Nate raised his glass, finishing off the last of his drink.
“Then again, who does?” Julia continued. “They don’t exactly wear a uniform, do they?” She thought for a moment. “I suppose you have to admire the woman.”
Nate scoffed, unable to quite believe what he was hearing. “Says who?”
“And we shouldn’t really be surprised,” his aunt carried on. “Mothers do fight hard when it comes to their children.”
“Not all mothers,” Nate said.
Julia stopped dead and suddenly serious again, she looked him directly in the eye. “Yes, Nate. All of them. Even yours.”
He let out a short sharp laugh. “You almost sound like you mean that.”
She frowned, clearly failing to appreciate his attitude. “Your mum and I might not have seen eye to eye on a lot of things, young man, but I don’t doubt for one minute the love she had for you.” She sighed, as if reflecting on her long-lost relationship with her sister. “She just had so many issues. Issues that affected everyone, not just her.”
Nate shook his head. As far as he was concerned, his mother didn’t deserve such sympathy.
“Leaving you was probably the hardest decision she ever had to make. It was her way of setting you free from all the drama she caused.”
