‘No. You’re right. I’ve been unfair. It’s just that Dad could attract all sorts of gold diggers if they know what he’s got. I can see your mother isn’t like them. She wouldn’t have raised such a nice daughter if she was.’
Tears spring to my eyes as I listen to the two of them talk about giving me a chance.
‘I did notice she was very kind to that kitten outside. I wanted to stop and say something and have a look at it, but I didn’t know what to say. I’ve been so mean to her that she might not forgive me.’
‘Oh, she’s very forgiving. I promise. My mam doesn’t hold a grudge. Unless you manage to ruin her brand-new top. She doesn’t forget things like that.’
They both laugh and I join them with a giggle.
‘What was that?’ asks Danny.
‘What?’
‘I thought I heard someone laugh outside. God, I hope no one’s overheard our conversation.’
‘No, everyone’s down by the pool.’
‘Are you sure?’ Danny pops his head out of the room and sees me at the side of the door. Sheepishly I smile at him while cursing myself as I realise that I have been caught snooping about yet again. I just hope he doesn’t tell his dad.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Marmalade is purring in his cat basket in the kitchen as we take drinks out for the barbecue that Elias is preparing by the pool. He is quite a content little thing and quickly becoming a valued member of our household.
All the young ones hang around the pool in shorts and flip-flops whilst I float around in my strappy summer dress feeling like I belong here. I never thought I’d fit in somewhere like this, but Renee has welcomed me with open arms to the neighbourhood. She says she will introduce me to some of the other neighbours once both sets of offspring leave, and I have found myself quite looking forward to it.
I look across to Danny, who is drinking a bottle of beer. He glances over at me, and I smile. After he caught me sneaking around, I fear I may have damaged all the good that Jasmine did, but he lifts his beer bottle as if to say cheers and nods his head at me. That’s certainly a more positive interaction than I have had so far with him. I decide to try my luck at a conversation and gingerly approach him since he is sitting with Poppy.
‘Hi, you enjoying the place so far?’ A bit of a lame question, but how do you thaw the ice with someone who has taken a dislike to you through no fault of your own and who then caught you eavesdropping?
‘Yeah, great. I didn’t know I’d have so much in common with Poppy here. She plays soccer at uni. I’d no idea.’
I am so relieved that he is finally willing to speak to me civilly.
‘Yeah, she’s very good too, aren’t you? She has a whole language of her own. Like offside and flip flap, what on earth is that? I thought she was playing soccer in her flip-flops when she said that.’
‘Oh, Mam, you’re so embarrassing,’ says Poppy, rolling her eyes.
‘Dad’s the same. Comes out with some right clangers,’ says Danny.
‘That’s old people for you,’ interrupts Poppy.
‘Oi, excuse me,’ I say.
I look across to the barbecue, where Elias has left James in charge for a moment as he heads over to join the three of us.
‘What’s going on here then? Am I missing anything exciting?’
‘No, just talking about the stuff you come out with,’ says Danny.
‘All intellectual, I assume?’ says Elias.
‘Umm, no, quite the opposite, but never mind.’ Poppy and Danny laugh, and Elias pretends to look offended. Then he takes my hand in front of Danny, and I worry he might find it difficult. I watch Danny as he notices, but then he looks at his dad and smiles.Oh, Jasmine! You have worked wonders on him.
‘Did Danny tell you he’s renting a space for artists to display their work, in memory of his mum?’ says Elias.
‘Oh, how fantastic. Well, if we can do anything at all to help, please let us know.’
‘I will. Although Dad said that you’ve been writing a book.’
