“Yes,” I replied, keeping my voice light. “Just thinking.”
He leaned down, kissed the top of my head and without saying another word sat down to eat too. He seemed preoccupied in his own thoughts again and I felt dread. He probably knew that I’d let my mind run away with me and couldn’t bring himself to tell me I was being daft; we had no future.
I picked my fork up and distracted myself by pushing my food around my plate. As wonderful as the meal looked, I was no longer in the mood for it. I snuck a peek at Fin, who sat observing me in return. He reached out, took my hand and gave it a squeeze. An action that felt more final than reassuring.
The front door sounded and as we both looked towards the hallway, Fin didn’t release his hold.
“It’s only us,” Vee called out. “Are you both decent?”
Fin stifled a laugh while I sat there, mortified. “It’s not funny,” I said, at the same time relieved the disquiet between us had been broken. I imagined Mum racing home after her visit, desperate to get straight on the phone to Vee, to share not just Fin’s identity, but also the fact that she and Dad had caught us half naked. “I should have known my parents wouldn’t be able keep things to themselves,” I said.
My sister popped her head around the door. “Can we come in?” she asked, as if unsure as to whether she’d be welcome or not.
“Of course you can,” I replied. I picked up mine and Fin’s breakfast plates and carried them over to the kitchen, while Vee stepped into the room, with my brother-in-law right behind. She appeared sheepish, although I supposed she should, considering her behaviour during her last visit.
Mitch nudged her, gesturing for her to keep moving.
“All right, all right,” Vee said, keeping her voice low, clearly in the hope that me and Fin wouldn’t hear. As she did as she was told, she took a deep breath, as if preparing to speak. “I came to apologise,” she said. Unable to make eye contact with either Fin or me, she looked up at the ceiling. “For the way I spoke to you the other day.” She looked to her husband as if asking if he was happy with that, but his expression suggested she hadn’t quite finished. Vee rolled her eyes like a resentful teenager, before turning to her audience once more. “I had no right to behave the way I did.”
“No, you didn’t,” I replied, trying not to laugh at her performance. “But seeing as you’re pregnant, I’ll let you off.” I turned my attention to Fin. “What about you, Fin? Does my sister have your forgiveness?”
He pretended to think for a moment. “I’d say so,” he replied.
I could see he was trying not to laugh too.
“Thank goodness that’s over with,” Vee said, taking a seat at the table.
Mitch rolled his eyes and shook his head as if resigning himself to the fact that as far as an apology from his wife went, that was the best we were going to get. “Mind if I make a coffee?” he asked, heading for the machine. “Anyone else want one?”
“We’re fine thanks,” I replied, indicating mine and Fin’s cups. “But help yourself.”
Vee reached into her bag and I cringed as she pulled out Fin’s cookbook. “You wouldn’t mind, would you?” she asked, also producing a pen.
I glared at her, wondering how she could be so shameless. “Subtle, Vee. Subtle.”
“What?” she said, pushing the book towards Fin.
Fin smiled, while I wanted to die. “It’s okay. I don’t mind,” he said.
I scowled at Vee, while Fin opened the cover and signed his name.
“Thank you,” my sister said. She giggled as she took the book back, before opening it up to look at his signature and hugging it to her chest.
Fin’s phone began to ring. “Sorry,” he said, clearly embarrassed by the interruption. Pulling his mobile out of his pocket he checked the number. “You don’t mind if I get this, do you?” He nodded to the garden where he could take the call in private.
“Not at all,” I replied. “You go ahead.”
He smiled as he headed out, but as I watched him make his exit, as soon as he started speaking his expression changed and he came over all serious. As he paced up and down, Fin caught me looking at him and immediately turned his back on me.
28
“Well you kept quiet,” Vee said, bringing my attention back into the room. “Why didn’t you tell me your new boyfriend’s bloody famous?”
I tilted my head as I looked at her. “Firstly, how could you just embarrass me like that? And secondly, he’s not my boyfriend.”
“That’s not what we heard,” Mitch said, chuckling.
It was one thing my brother-in-law knowing about my sex life, but way too yucky for him to discuss it. I flashed him a look, warning him not to go there.
