CHAPTER Seventeen
Christopher
“Aren’t you going to the races today?” I ask my grandpa, who’s got the TV on loud and the newspaper in his hand while sitting at the kitchen counter.
“I thought I might watch it at home,” he says, adjusting the pages.
Nellie’s working the Sweet Cocktails event in my grandpa’s box. As season ticket holders, my family can already get into the racecourse whenever we like. Usually, I only go if my grandpa asks me, but I’d really like to see Nellie.
“Is this because someone might be sitting in your favourite seat?” I give him a pointed look, knowing he’s a creature of habit.
“Absolutely.”
“Then why did you tell Janette she could use the box?”
“Because she asked, and I like to help people.” He makes it sound simple, even though I know he’d rather be at the races without the event taking place in his box.
“You’re a sweet old man.”
“Eh, less of the old.”
I chuckle. “Come on. I need a date for the races, so you need to get ready. I’ll kick anyone in your favourite seat out onto the balcony.” It wouldn’t feel right to go without him, so I need to change his mind.
He clears his throat, studying me for a few seconds. “How are things going with Nellie?”
I smile. My feelings for her have grown so much, and we’ve been officially dating for a couple of weeks. “Great. She’s great.”
“I told you she was the gem in Sweet Cocktails.”
“And you were right, of course.”
He puts down his paper. “What makes you want to go to the races today? Can’t you take a break for one day?”
I’ve been sleeping over at her house a lot lately. We’ve been going out on dates and enjoying each other’s company. But I’m like a dog with a bone. I know what I want, and I can’t help it. “No.”
He smiles. “I guess it’s time, then.”
My frown comes easily as confusion sets in my mind. “For?”
“You to bring her home to formally meet the family.”
I wait for the fear to seep in. I’ve never introduced a woman to my family, and the idea sounds like commitment. Instead of being unnerved, excitement bubbles within. My grandpa already met her, but I think he’ll like her more when they meet again. Plus, I’d like them to meet Ainsley. She’s a bright kid and a big part of Nellie’s life. They come as a package, and I like that. “Okay. I’ll arrange something. Now, back to today. Go and get changed because I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“You’ve twisted my arm. But you’re buying the pies.”
“You have yourself a deal.”
***
Maybe my grandpa was onto something when he said we should avoid the races today. Janette has got the place decked out like a martini glass, and the usual calming atmosphere is missing. There are balloons for bubbles, cellophane strips as the glass against the wall, and glitter everywhere. It’s like we’ve stepped onto a performance stage.
Grandpa’s favourite seat is filled with boxes of Sweet Cocktail brochures, and it takes me a full five minutes to switch then to a different chair.
“Hey. What are you doing here? I thought you couldn’t make it,” Nellie says as she stacks glasses into a pyramid configuration.
“We’ve come for support,” I say, moving closer. She puts down the glass and carefully retreats from the display to give me a kiss.
“Hello, Mr McNabb,” she says to my grandpa.
“Please, call me Thomas. It’s nice to see you again.” This greeting is warmer than the last one, and I’m glad. I want him to like my girlfriend.
She beams at his response. “You too.”
Janette shows the first few guests into the room, and Nellie offers them a drink. The women are working the room, so I end up making our whiskeys. We watch a few races while Janette talks business.
Nellie’s phone is on the bar and keeps buzzing until it falls onto the floor. I cross the room and pick it up. There are thirty-four missed calls from Ainsley. When I look for Nellie, she’s busy topping up glasses at the other side of the room. It rings again, and I answer.
“Hello.”
“Christopher? Where’s Nellie?” Her voice is panicked, making my pulse quicken. The number of calls was already strange, so this must be urgent.
“Let me get her for you.” Interrupting her conversation with a guy in an expensive suit, I push my way through to her. “Nellie. You have an important phone call.”
“Sorry, Mr Vine. I’ll be right back.” She gives him a tight smile before eyeing me curiously. We move toward the fridges away from the guests. “That was rude. Couldn’t you see we were talking? What could be so desperate you couldn’t wait a minute for me to come back to the bar area?”
“Your sister’s on the phone.”
Her eyebrows knit together as she processes what I’ve said. “Is there a problem?”
“I’m not sure.” I hold the phone up to her and she takes it.
“Hi, Ainsley. What’s wrong?” She touches her forehead as horror washes over her face. A lead weight fills my stomach. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She turns and knocks one of the glasses from the tower of drinks she made earlier. The pyramid tumbles down, sending alcohol flying around the room. She hangs up the phone, hardly noticing the mess she’s made as people begin to stare. “I have to leave.” Her skin has turned ghostly white.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Janette says, trying to cover her despair.
“I have no choice. My sister’s at the hospital. Our house has burnt down.” Her eyes appear glazed over like she’s not completely here.
“There’s no one else to help me with serving these guests.” Janette grits her teeth, gesturing to the room.
“I’m sorry, but my sister comes first,” Nellie says with unwavering confidence.
“If you leave, I won’t have you back at Sweet Cocktails.” The vein in Janette’s head pulses as she loses her cool.
Nellie hesitates for a few seconds. I know how much Sweet Cocktails means to her. It’s not family, though. “I’m sorry.” She grabs her things and starts to run out of the door. My grandpa follows me out onto the corridor and we chase Nellie into the parking lot.
“Wait, Nellie,” I shout.
She finally stops when we’re out of the building. When she turns, her eyes are full of tears. “Ainsley’s at the hospital.”
“You’re in no state to drive. Let me take you there.”
She shakes her head. “You’ve been drinking.”
“I’ve only had one. I’m under the legal limit.”
“Okay. Please will you take me to Ainsley.” She sniffles before wiping her tears on her shirt.
We get into my car and drive to the hospital. Grandpa and I stay in the AE waiting room and Nellie follows staff into the bay area. I try to sit still, but I’m fidgeting. The vending machine coffee is disgusting, but it’s all they have. Hours pass before the ladies materialise.
“I’m okay,” Ainsley says when she sees us. I’m overwhelmed with the need to check her over. Since I started dating Nellie, I’ve become closer to her sister, and her safety is important to me.
I pull her into a hug, looking for any signs of injury. Relief fills my chest. “I’m glad to hear you’re not hurt. What happened?”
She pulls away so we can hold eye contact. “I’m not sure. The police are going to look into it.”
Nellie clears her throat. “Can I speak to you in private for a minute, Christopher?”
“Sure. Ainsley, this is my grandpa.” I gesture to him.
“Nice to meet you,” he says. They start chatting, and I take a walk with Nellie.
Once we’re alone, her worries spill out of her. “The police are asking questions about my mum. We have nowhere to live, and I just lost my job.” An ugly cry escapes her lips, making my heart bleed.
“I know you told me to keep boundaries, but I have a property you can stay in. I have empty houses, but what I’d really like is for you to stay in my apartment. You’re welcome in my home and I’ll give you as much space as you need.”
“We never discussed how bad the situation with my mum is. She’s been missing for a while now. She does this every so often, but it’s been a lot longer than usual. If the police start looking at our lives, Ainsley might be taken away from me.” Her bottom lip wobbles. All I want to do is reassure her.
“That’s not going to happen.” I’ll do everything in my power to keep them together with me.
“Did you miss the part where I have no house, job, or stability?”
“You have me. I’m your stability.”
“We’ve only been dating a few weeks.” She looks down at the floor, hiding her emotions.
Giving up isn’t in my nature. I need her to see me and what I’m truly offering. “I’m not going to turn my back on you.”
She pulls me into a hug and sobs into my chest. “I want to be strong, but I can’t do it if I lose her.”
“You are everything you think you are. It isn’t a weakness to accept help.” I rub my arm over her back.
“Thank you.” She hugs me tighter.
It takes a lot for her to accept my offer, but eventually, she does. By the time we go to find our family, she’s stopped crying and pulled herself together. Ainsley doesn’t seem fazed by the idea of staying with me.
Everyone is quiet on the drive home, and when we get in, I get Ainsley and Nellie settled. It’s been a rough day and I’m happy to give them time to comprehend what happened.