Greta nodded. ‘Sure. The sweater belongs to your boyfriend, right?’ she said, trying to sound casual. ‘I didn’t know you had one. What’s he like?’
Lottie snatched the sweater and tucked it under her arm. ‘He’s just afriend,okay? I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘Okay, that’s fine. Whenever you’re ready. He’s welcome here anytime, you know?’
Lottie gave a sharp laugh. ‘Yeah, so you can interrogate him, too? No thanks.’ She spun around and marched toward her room. The door slammed shut, and moments later, the thump of rock music filled the flat.
Greta stood still for a moment, letting her breath hiss through her gritted teeth.
Well-done. And the Mum of the Year award goes to . . . Greta Perks.
Everything felt like two steps forward and one back with Lottie these days. She told herself to keep marching forward.
The Maple Gold programme was still running, and Greta switched off the TV.
When her phone pinged with a text, she read the message from Nora.
Darling Greta. So sorry how things unfolded. You mean the world to me. Let’s meet for lunch soon! Love Nora x
Greta pursed her lips. Her agent always thought a Caesar salad and prosecco could bring about world peace. She couldn’t be bothered replying to such a breezy apology and headed to the kitchen, where she grabbed a pair of scissors from the drawer. The gaping dress was proof that her glory days were long gone and, with one last tug of the zip, she gave up.
Clenching her teeth, Greta sliced through the dress. The sound of ripping fabric was strangely satisfying as she set herself free.
Afterward, she sat at the dining table, her conversation with Lottie bouncing around in her head. With her daughter’s sixteenth just around the corner, she wanted to relieve some of the tension, so she reached for her phone and called Jim.
‘Hi,’ Greta said, pleased not to get his voicemail. ‘Can we arrange Lottie’s birthday dinner soon?’
‘At the Anvil Inn?’
‘Yes. Can you pull any strings to get us a table? I think we could all do with a . . . boost.’
‘Agreed. I’ll try to work the old Perks magic with my contacts,’ Jim said.
Later that evening, he called her back. ‘We’re in. Saturday at seven. A prime spot in the dining room,’ he said.
‘Thanks. That’s very impressive.’
‘Still got it.’ He laughed.
Let’s hope this helps,Greta thought as she said goodbye and hung up.If this doesn’t bring us all back together, I’m all out of options.
She picked up the shredded remnants of her blue dress and threw them in the bin.
Chapter 5
LOTTIE’S FACE SHONEwhen she opened her birthday presents.
She loved the sample sizes of Charlotte Tilbury perfumes, and the promise of a meal at the Anvil Inn officially earned Jim and Greta cool-parent status, a rare and welcome feeling.
Now seated on gold thrones around a marquetry table in the dining area of the restaurant, Greta took in the quirky décor. Pink stuffed zebra heads jutted from the walls, and the carpet was woven with giant moths. A gold chandelier the size of a tractor wheel hung from the ceiling.
‘This is very cool,’ she announced, trying to keep the mood positive.
‘It’s certainly different,’ Jim mused, scanning the menu. ‘Matcha and Brie Omelette,’ he read aloud. ‘Half of this stuff sounds like it belongs in a chemistry lab. Iseverythingon here vegetarian?’
‘Yeah, Dad. No animals were harmed in the making of this menu,’ Lottie replied, cracking a rare smile.
Greta felt hope glimmer inside her. After a few further days of tension between the three of them, she hoped this dinner would be a turning point. It would prove they could be a normal, happy family.
