41. Katie
Katie placed the flowers in the centre of the table.
‘It looks so pretty, Mum,’ Lucy told her.
‘Thank you, sweetie, and thanks for all your help setting the table.’
‘I’m so excited to have everyone over for lunch. We haven’t had a big family lunch in ages,’ Lucy said. ‘I was scared that we might never have any more after you and Granny had the big fight.’
Katie stroked her daughter’s cheek. ‘Hey, I never want you to worry. Granny is part of our family and, even though we may disagree on some things, we will always be connected. This is a lunch to celebrate lots of things. Daddy being the new boss at the agency, Melanie opening her new office, Amanda having a new job, Theo getting a place in college in Exeter, you getting another A for an essay, Ross’s new job, Granny being all better now, and –’
‘And me being brilliant!’ Toby wasn’t going to be left out.
Katie and Lucy giggled. ‘Yes, that too.’ Katie kissed his head.
‘And you being the best mum in the world. You’re so lovely, Mum, and kind to everyone and funny.’ Lucy hugged her.
Katie held her daughter tight. ‘I love you so much, Lucy. You’re amazing.’
‘And me!’
‘And you’re utterly wonderful.’ Katie pulled Toby in for a group hug.
Jamie came in. ‘Hang on, no group hugs without Daddy.’ He flung himself into the hug, enveloping them all with his strong arms.
Katie inhaled the apple-scented shampoo of her children’s hair and Jamie’s sexy aftershave and, for the millionth time, reminded herself that one drunken night had almost ruined her beautiful family.
As much as she was finding not drinking difficult, these magical moments got her through, along with therapy, sea swimming, her sisters-in-law and a lot of willpower.
‘That smells good, babe.’
‘Lamb stew, your mum’s favourite.’ She smiled.
‘Look at you, daughter-in-law of the year.’
‘Well, since Melanie walked out and Amanda is now working with “the enemy”, the bar is even lower than usual.’
They cracked up. ‘And you are the wife of the new CEO of the Fitzroy Agency.’
‘Should I bow?’
Jamie grinned. ‘No. I prefer you on your back.’ He kissed her neck.
‘Stop it, they’ll be here in a minute.’
The doorbell rang and Toby raced to open it. Ross, Amanda and Theo came in.
Toby pulled Theo into the playroom to show him his new remote-control car.
Jamie and Ross shook hands and had an awkward half-hug.
‘How’s it going in London? How are things at Byron and Parsons?’ Jamie asked his brother. ‘I saw they did a huge deal with Universal for the new George Tanker book.’
‘Yeah, I had a small part to play in that, which was exciting. It’s going well. In fact, I might have someone who’s interested in the TV rights for Urick’s book.’
‘That would be brilliant.’
‘I’ll let you know next week. I’m pushing hard.’
‘Thanks, Ross.’
‘How’s the agency?’
‘Great. The agent Melanie found for us, Diana, is working out well. She’s like a mini Melanie.’
‘And Mum?’
Jamie grinned. ‘Mum is Mum. Taking a step back, but not. It’s an adjustment for both of us. But we’ll get there.’
The kitchen door opened and Melanie, the twins and Frank came in, followed by Nancy.
Everyone hugged and kissed.
‘Hello, Nancy, I’ve got your favourite here.’
Nancy peered into the casserole dish. ‘You need to add more stock.’
‘Okay.’ Katie smiled, teeth gritted.
‘Breathe,’ Melanie whispered.
‘In for four and out for four.’ Amanda giggled.
‘There aren’t enough breaths in the world.’
‘At least you’re talking to each other and she’s here,’ Melanie noted.
‘True.’ Katie poured more stock into the stew while Jamie got everyone to sit down.
Nancy leant over Frank and addressed Melanie. ‘Well, how is the new agency?’
‘Good, thanks.’
‘She’s doing really well. Did you know she signed Xina?’ Joni asked her granny.
‘Yes, I did, and I hear your mother is negotiating very lucrative deals for her. It’s the talk of the town,’ Nancy said. Turning to Amanda, she asked, ‘And how are you finding working with Melanie?’
‘I love it.’ Amanda beamed at her mother-in-law.
‘Interesting. Well, Diana has just signed a fantastic debut author. We have very high hopes. She’s a wonderful agent.’
‘I know. I found her for you, remember,’ Melanie replied.
Go, Melanie. Katie was enjoying the show.
Jamie jumped in: ‘She’s great.’
‘Good, so everyone’s happy,’ Frank, ever the peacemaker, said.
‘I wouldn’t say happy, Frank. We’re getting on with things after an unexpected and unwelcome upheaval,’ Nancy said.
‘How are you, Frank?’ Katie changed the subject. She didn’t want any drama at her lunch. She wasn’t going to let Nancy wind people up.
‘Really good, crazy busy. I’ve had to rent a studio because my classes were too big for the sunroom at home. I’m doing six a day at the moment but loving every minute of it.’
‘And he does one a week at our school,’ Joni said.
‘The first one was sooooo embarrassing, but now everyone’s really into it,’ Janis said proudly.
While the twins described Frank’s classes, Katie turned to Ross and quietly said, ‘Congratulations. I hear you have a baby girl.’
‘Yes, it’s … it’s strange. I’m still getting my head around it.’
‘It’s a lot for all of you.’
‘Has Amanda said anything?’
‘She just told me that the baby had arrived safely and that Theo had met her.’
Ross rubbed his eyes. He looked exhausted. ‘I’m trying to be sensitive to all parties. It’s a bit like walking on eggshells.’
You reap what you sow, Katie thought, but then she had behaved badly, so who was she to judge?
‘You’ll figure it out.’
‘I’m glad Amanda is busy. I admit I was a bit taken aback at first that my wife was with a rival agency, but she’s really happy to be working and it will help keep her mind off everything else.’
‘She’s amazing. Melanie really values her.’
‘Dad!’ Janis’s voice cut through them. ‘Theo is allowed to vape, so can we?’
‘Absolutely not,’ Frank stepped in. ‘Theo is eighteen, you’re fifteen.’
Katie knew that Amanda and Ross had agreed to let Theo vape because he said he needed some kind of outlet to help him with everything that was going on.
They weren’t happy about it, but it was better than the alternative.
Amanda had described it to her as a compromise she was hoping to nip in the bud once he had finished his exams and got used to having a new half-sister.
‘It’s a temporary thing, just until after his exams,’ Ross said.
‘Your hair looks nice,’ Amanda said to Nancy, clearly keen to move on from Theo’s vaping and the twins’ envy.
Nancy touched her hair. ‘Thank you.’
‘Mum did it for her,’ Lucy said. ‘She’s very clever at making people look and feel good.’
Amanda smiled at her niece. ‘Yes, she is.’
They chatted on, and after dessert, Katie nodded to her sisters-in-law. They stood up.
‘Where are you three off to?’ Jamie wondered.
‘We’re going for a swim.’
‘Now?’ Ross said.
‘It’s lashing rain,’ Frank said, nodding towards the window.
‘We’re hardy,’ Katie told him.
‘We’ll be wet anyway,’ Amanda added.
‘We haven’t had time to catch up this week, so we’re going now,’ Katie explained.
‘But you’ve just had lunch together,’ Jamie said.
Katie laughed. ‘No, Jamie, our proper catch-ups are for in-laws only. Your ears will be burning soon.’
‘On fire.’ Amanda chortled.
‘They may fall off.’ Melanie grinned.
They stood on the edge of the rock in the lashing rain. They had the place to themselves – no other nutters swimming that afternoon.
‘I don’t know,’ Melanie said nervously. ‘It’s very high.’
‘We’ve watched people do it every time we’ve come here. Now it’s our turn to be brave,’ Katie urged her on.
‘I’ve taken so many leaps of faith in the last year, what’s one more?’ Amanda said.
And with that, she threw herself off the rock and dropped into the water below.
Katie whooped.
Melanie shrugged. ‘What the hell?’ she said, and leapt in.
Laughing, Katie jumped after them.
Their screams and gasps as they hit the cold water could be heard for miles.
‘God, that feels so good.’ Amanda’s face shone as she shivered.
‘I needed that. I was up until three working,’ Melanie admitted, treading water.
‘You need to be careful or you’ll burn out,’ Katie warned her.
Melanie shook her head. ‘I won’t. I’m loving every second of it. I’ve never felt so energized or motivated. Amanda works really long hours, too.’
‘I’m a bit jealous of you two working together,’ Katie admitted.
‘You’re always welcome at the agency,’ Melanie told her.
‘I know my lane, and my lane is hair. But thanks.’
‘Christ, it’s cold. Come on, we’ve done the ballsy jump, time for a hot cuppa,’ Amanda said, striking out for the shore.
The others followed her. They ran up to the towels and pulled on their dry-robes, snuggling into them. The rain fell lighter and by the time they were dressed, it had stopped. They abandoned their wet towels and went to sit on the wall.
‘How are you coping with all the baby stuff?’ Katie asked Amanda.
She shrugged. ‘I’m not going to lie, it feels strange and confronting.
Sometimes I feel like an outsider in my own family.
I’m not sure how it’s all going to pan out, to be honest. I’ll give it until Theo heads off to university, and then if things aren’t better, if Ross and I are not in a better place, I’ll leave him.
I was terrified of my marriage breaking up before, but now I know I can manage on my own, thanks to you two, so I feel I have options. ’
‘Look at us! Who’d have thought we’d become best mates?’ Katie grinned.
‘Not me anyway.’ Amanda laughed.
‘Nor me,’ Melanie agreed.
‘But I want to say to you both that you have been my rocks.’ Amanda’s voice shook with emotion.
‘Honestly, I would not have got through the last few months without you. I’ve never had real friends before.
I was so busy trying to be friends with the “right people” when all the time the best people were in front of my nose. ’
‘You’ve saved me too, helping keep me off the booze, deal with Nancy and learn to read. What would I do without you?’ Katie said.
‘And me,’ Melanie said. ‘What a few months it’s been.
You both encouraged me to leave the agency and Amanda is my rock in work.
And, Katie, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the chats you’ve had with the twins.
It’s made such a big difference to my relationship with them and how they’re coping with everything. ’
‘Ah, stop, I’m getting emotional now.’ Katie fought back tears. It had been a roller-coaster of a time, but moments like this were so precious.
‘They may not always appreciate it, but how lucky are the three boys to have married us,’ Amanda said.
‘Ross and Jamie were blessed,’ Melanie said, ‘but I’m not sure how lucky Frank was.’
‘Yes, he was!’ Amanda wagged a finger in Melanie’s face. ‘You gave him two beautiful girls and a lovely home and have supported him for decades.’
‘They all made good choices,’ Katie agreed. ‘Lucky for us they did or we’d never have met. Let’s be honest, we’d never have been drawn to each other naturally, but we were thrown together and look what happened?’
‘Magic,’ Amanda said.
‘Chemistry,’ Melanie added.
‘Three mighty women who are so completely different but who have grown to appreciate, support and love each other,’ Katie cheered.
‘Maybe we should toast the three brothers for choosing us,’ Amanda suggested.
‘Sod that, here’s to us.’ Melanie held up her mug of tea.
Amanda giggled. ‘To us, then.’
‘To sisters-in-law,’ Katie said. ‘We may be in-laws, but we’re outlaws at heart.’