“It’s real,” Mum says.
I blink and shift my attention to her. “What is?”
She gestures between us. “Your feelings for each other. Your dad’s an idiot if he can’t see that. It’s written on your faces.”
“You’re okay with us being together?”
She sighs. “It would be unfair of me to blame Archer for what Molly and your dad did. I do want to get to know you, though, young man. You’ll need to come around for dinner as soon as you’re back in the country.”
“Are you inviting us both or just Archer?” I ask.
Mum laughs and wags her finger. “Cheeky. Both of you. Your dad has abandoned the holiday over this?”
I dip my chin. “Yes.” My voice is shaky.
“What a fool. And Molly?”
“She’s still here,” Archer replies.
“She didn’t go with him?”
Archer shakes his head.
Mum purses her lips. What is she thinking? “How are you feeling, love?”
I suck in a shuddering breath. “It hurts that he won’t talk to me or look at me.”
“I’m going to wring that man’s neck. Figuratively speaking. Although those roses he bought me could do with some fertiliser—” Mum says.
“Mum!”
“I’m joking.”
“What would you have said to your dad?” Archer asks.
I tap my finger against my thigh. “That he can think what he likes, but that I know the truth. Yes, I was angry at him for breaking Mum’s heart, but I would never have played games with someone else’s heart to get revenge on him. If that’s how little he thinks of me, I don’t want him in my life.” I clench my fists. “That’s what I would have said. Only he didn’t give me the chance. He robbed me of the opportunity to say my piece.”
“He wouldn’t face me either,” Mum says.
“He’s a coward,” Archer says.
Mum points at him. “Yes. That’s exactly it. Neither of us needs him in our lives, Jacob. We’re better off without him.”
“Do you mean that?” I ask.
“Yes. I’m sorry it took him hurting you to make me realise that.”
I smile. “It’s okay. Does that mean you’re going to let go of your anger?”
“I’ll try. Is that good enough?”
“Yes.”
She blows us kisses. “Come and visit me when you get home.”
“We will,” I say.
“I love you, Jacob.”
