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.
“Sorry,” he said. “I couldn’t resist.”
Vee looked at me, confused. “If he’s not your boyfriend, then what is he?”
I stared out into the garden again. Still on the phone, Fin paced up and down. I smiled as I watched him. Taking a deep breath, I sighed. As much as I wanted Fin to stay I knew that wasn’t an option. “A Christmas holiday romance,” I said.
“Well whatever’s going on between you, one thing’s for sure. I wouldn’t have come in here shouting my mouth off the way I had if I’d realised who he is,” Vee replied.
“You save your rudeness for us mere mortals, do you?”
Mitch chuckled from over in the kitchen.
Vee frowned. “You know what I mean.”
I smirked as I recalled her strop. “So, if you had been aware, you wouldn’t have accused him of being the reason I haven’t gone on holiday?”
Vee squirmed. “Please don’t.”
“Or cut him dead when he tried to explain what a staycation is?”
“I mean it, Holly. I feel embarrassed enough. For you as much as for myself. The man must think we’re all mad.”
I scoffed. “And he’d be blooming right,” I replied. “We are all mad.”
“I can vouch for that,” Mitch said.
“So where did you meet him?” Vee asked. “It’s not like you ever go anywhere except work and the local pub.”
I picked up my coffee and took a drink. “He just turned up on my doorstep one morning wanting a bed for the night,” I replied, matter of fact.
Vee looked at me suspiciously. “You are joking, right?”
“Nope. I haven’t been able to get rid of the man since.”
“And now for the real story?” my sister said, refusing to believe a word of it.
I put my cup back down with a smile. “Honestly, it’s true. Although he is a relative of Annie’s husband. Fin was meant to be staying at Annie’s but when Emma landed back home having left her boyfriend, I was asked to put him up instead.”
“Emma left Josh?” Vee looked at me confused.
“Yes, but that was days ago, they’re back together now. Except there’s still no spare bed available for Fin, as both Emma and Josh are now staying at Annie’s on account of Emma being pregnant.” That sounded confusing even to me.
“Emma’s pregnant?” Vee’s eyes widened.
“She certainly is.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t know any of this.” Vee turned to her husband, her shock continuing. “Did you know?” My sister clearly took after our Mum when it came to keeping up with everyone’s lives.
“We have had more important things to think about,” he replied, indicating his wife’s belly.
I fell serious, acknowledging that they had indeed. I recalled her fear that Mum would do anything to get a Christmas baby. “About what you said? Regarding Mum…”
Vee’s shoulders slumped. “To be honest, Holly, I don’t know where my head’s been at lately. I just overreacted over her calling the baby JC.”
Jesus Christ. I still couldn’t get over that.
“I haven’t a clue what’s wrong with me. I seem to be losing the plot a lot lately.”
“It’s her hormones,” Mitch said. “But will she listen.”
Vee looked his way, her expression stern.
“I’m just saying,” her husband replied. “It’s nothing to worry about, it’s all part of the pregnancy journey.”
Vee shook her head. “If I’ve told him to shut up about what’s going on in my body once, I’ve told him a hundred times.” She took a deep breath, appearing to try and calm herself. “Anyway,” Vee said. “I believe the good news is that you’re coming to Mum and Dad’s on Christmas Day. And I believe Fin will also be in attendance.”