‘Daddy!’
Two small children run up to Brandon and tug at his arm. ‘Can we go swimming now?’
‘Good to meet you all,’ he says to us, ‘but duty calls.’
But before he is dragged away by two pairs of small hands, his attention lingers on Margot for a fraction of a second longer than the rest of us. She reciprocates.
‘He’s so hands-on,’ Liv coos.
‘I bet he is,’ Margot replies, with a subtle smirk. ‘This is quite some bash,’ she continues.
‘You think it’s completely over the top, don’t you?’ Liv says apprehensively.
‘No, not at all,’ lies Margot. ‘Who cares if you make friends or buy them?’
‘Margot!’ I chastise.
‘Oh Anna, I’m joking. Sometimes you’re much too woke for your own good. Who are all these people?’
‘Some are your neighbours,’ Liv explains, ‘others are friends from London. And a few are potential clients and investors in the wellness studio.’
‘Have you chosen a location for it?’ Nicu asks.
‘A redevelopment close to the railway station in town, as I’m targeting pre- and post-work commuters. The refurbishment started a few weeks ago and we hope to finish by early June. I alsowant to attract new mums who want to exercise under the same roof as their babies, so we’re installing a crèche and a café. Are any of you yoga fans?’
‘Margot and I went to a couple of classes last year but I wasn’t very good,’ I admit. ‘I’m not very flexible.’
‘It was like watching Geppetto operating Pinocchio,’ says Margot.
‘And you, Margot?’ Liv asks.
‘I’m a little rusty. I don’t have as much free time as I used to.’
‘Self-love is so important, you should definitely make some time for yourself.’ Liv shoots a glance at me with a twinkle in her eye, then says to Margot, ‘It might have been a while since you had your kids, but I bet we can still get your pre-baby body back in no time.’
I cover my smile with my hand. Margot’s kids are her stepchildren.
Chapter 5
Margot
Has she just called me fat? Do I look bloated? My hand slips to my waist where I allow it to rest on my stomach.
Nicu keeps his head down but I hear him emit one of those snort-laughs that he tries to disguise by clearing his throat. He can be so rude sometimes. I put it down to him being Romanian. They’re much more direct than the British. They’ll just stand up and leave mid-conversation if they’re bored, while we’re in it for the duration and wait until later to be snarky about it.
The fact is yes, I should keep more active than I do. Motherhood doesn’t keep me as busy as I’d like people to think. And when God was handing out maternal instinct, I was probably too distracted byThe Kardashiansto stand in line. But I try my best. We all make mistakes and I like to think I learn from mine. Sometimes. It’s my family who are in the wrong anyway, so there’s not actually that much to learn.
‘If you excuse me, ladies,’ says Nicu, and wanders off in the direction of an egg-shaped man who has stuffed himself into a pair of ill-fitting chinos.
‘So, have you finished everything you’re doing to this place?’ I ask Liv.
‘Most of it, but we’re hoping to start work on an orangery at the back of the house in the summer.’
Why she can’t call it a conservatory is beyond me. As is why she needs another room in an already oversized house. My guess is it’s more for bragging rights than usable space.
‘Would you like to have a look around?’ Liv asks.
‘Oh yes please,’ says Anna a little too eagerly.
