‘I’ll sign whatever you need me to sign.’
‘Excellent.’ She looked me up and down again. ‘You’ve lost weight.’
‘I know.’
‘It doesn’t suit you. And didn’t I send you a link to that article about the best hairstyles for women in their thirties to attract success?’
I nodded. ‘You did.’ I’d deleted it without evening opening it.
‘Well, it was good to see you again.’ She smiled, but it was a smile without warmth. ‘Enjoy your lunch. Jack, you haven’t forgotten the meeting about the festival, have you? It’s just to go over a few final things.’
‘Of course not,’ Jack said. ‘It’s highlighted in my calendar.’
‘Good.’
‘I’ve already gone over the info you sent, and I’m happy to help out however I can.’
‘This town needs more people like you,’ she said pointedly. She was staring at him, but the volume and delivery of her words was clearly directed at me. ‘Community-minded people who are keen to stay and help make this town a success.’
‘Remind me where your son lives again?’ Ray enquired. ‘New York, isn’t it? And didn’t your daughter move to Boston?’
She ignored him. ‘We’ll be in touch regarding the divorce, Taylor. Now I must go, so much to do, but I’ll see you at the meeting, Jack.’
I watched her leave, feeling slightly shell-shocked, as I always did after any length of time in her presence. Somehow, one withering look from her and I regressed to my seventeen-year-old petulant and self-absorbed self. She brought out the worst in me, always had, and for as long as I’d known her she’d made it quite clear that I wasn’t good enough for her son, or her family for that matter.
‘So,’ Jake said, his tone conversational but his expression shrewd, as if he could see how rattled I was. ‘Your mother-in-law is the town chair.’
‘Exmother-in-law,’ I corrected him. ‘And soon to be absolutely nothing to me at all, once the divorce is done and dusted.’
‘She’s a horrible woman,’ Ray said, using a finger to run around the rim on the bowl to wipe up the last traces of his chowder. Normally I’d have told him to stop being so disgusting in public, but right at the moment I was just grateful that he’d stood up for me. ‘And that son of hers is a coward. Always has been. Imagine getting your mother to do your dirty work for you.’
‘I don’t think that was planned,’ I reminded him. ‘She had no idea I was even in town.’
‘Maybe not. But she has no business getting involved. What you do in your private life is nobody’s business. I’ve half a mind to go to that meeting too, just to annoy her.’
‘Thanks for sticking up for me.’
‘You and I might not be best friends,’ Ray replied. ‘But that woman is insufferable. Always has been. If your mother was here she’d have told her where to go.’
‘Yeah she would have. But I didn’t expectyouto.’
‘Don’t make a big deal out of it.’
‘I’m not.’
‘Good. I’m tired. Let’s go home.’ He glared at Jack. ‘Shift, will you?’
I gave Jack an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry about him.’
‘Don’t be. He’s entertaining.’
I slid out of the booth, shaking my head. ‘I guess that’s one word for it.’
10
JACK
I knocked on the door at the top of the stairs with my knuckles, aiming for not too loud in case she was still asleep, but loud enough that she’d hear me if she wasn’t. ‘Hannah?’
