‘When, Mum?’ Robyn asked.
‘August. The White House should be up and running by then and Kamran will be able to leave it for a few days.’
‘A few days?’ Robyn smiled. ‘No big honeymoon then?’
‘No; as Kamran says, you can’t start a new business and then just abandon it for a month.’
‘A month?’
‘Yes,’ Mum said almost shyly. ‘We’re thinking of heading to the Caribbean for Christmas.’
‘Christmas?’ I felt my face actually drop, and Robyn squeezed my arm in sympathy. She knew I always made a big thing about Christmas, setting to with my Christmas puddings and cakes once September, with its promise of harvest and bramble jelly, was finished.
‘Well, maybe you can say hello to Jayden?’ I went on. ‘He appears to have been pretty settled over in Jamaica for the past couple of months.’
‘If I bump into him, I shall be nothing but civil and friendly.’
‘D’you not think you need to tell him, Mum?’ Robyn was solicitous.
‘Has your father ever informed me ofhisnew relationships?’
‘A bit different that, Mum. You and Kamran are serious.’
‘We are. And that’s why I’m actually going to move in with him in the next couple of weeks.’
‘Oh.’ I felt my heart plummet. ‘Right.’
‘That OK, Jess?’ Mum asked gently.
‘OK? Of course it’s OK.’
‘I’m just a bit concerned you might be lonely out here when I’m gone. Now that Dean’s no longer here, Jess. Because, remember, Sorrel won’t be next door either.’ Mum reached out a hand in my direction.
‘You were happy to see Dean go, Mum! And now you’re feeling guilty that I’m going to be alone? Make your mind up.’
‘Darling, I don’t feel guilty.’ There was a firmness to Mum’s voice. ‘Concerned about you, of course…’
‘Oh, don’t worry about me, you lot. I’ve Lola – not that she’s speaking to me much – and Arthur.’
‘Don’t go all sulky on us, Jess. It’s not you and it doesn’t become you.’ Robyn, in turn, spoke firmly. ‘And you’ll be so busy at The White House you won’t have time to think about being lonely.’
‘Oh, don’t worry about me,’ I said once more, turning away. ‘I can always get a lodger…’
‘Well, there you go!’ Robyn beamed in my direction. ‘I’ve got one for you.’
‘One what?’
‘A young man in need of a home for a couple of months.’
‘Ayoung man?’ I shot Robyn a look of pure fury. ‘I’m not doing any more fostering. How can I, when I’m going to be up at the restaurant every hour God sends?’
‘No, you’re not,’ Mum said. ‘Stop it, Jess. Kamran and Fabian have sorted it so that it’ll be almost a nine-to-five job for you to begin with. Until Lola is able to look after herself a bit more.’
‘Listen, Jess, Joel Sinclair needs a place to stay while he does his exams,’ Robyn said quickly. ‘And, in return, Sorrel reckons she can persuade Joel to take the part of Danny inGrease. So we won’t have to cancel after all…’
‘Joel Sinclair? The drug pusher? Sorrel’s boyfriend? No way! I’m not giving him a bed in my house just so you can put on your bloody concert. And Sorrel would be having him round next door the minute you’re not there, Mum.’ I turned to Mum, wanting her agreement on what I’d just said. But I was to be disappointed.
‘Jess,’ Mum said softly, ‘Sorrel will be away at school in London.’
