“No,” Dec says as the car comes to a standstill and Mase is already out and rounding the car to help Olivia out.
I turn to Dec, and he continues. “This wasn’t our family home. Mum lives here with her current husband, Tommy.”
I nod, remembering that his mother has been married several times since her first marriage to Mase and Dec’s dad, Jimmy.
My door flies open and Mase stands there with an arm around Liv. “Come on you two, Mum’s on the prowl.
We both follow Mason’s gaze to find Charlotte looking perfect in every way heading towards us.
~~~
Once in the house, any initial nerves I felt are gone. Charlotte is lovely and her husband, Tommy is funny and very friendly, immediately putting me at ease. There are a few other people there and from what I can gather they are stepchildren and grandchildren of Charlotte’s. Everyone seems to love her, and I can see why as I watch her interactions with the children and adults.
The sound of voices from the hall is followed by a couple, the man is carrying a toddler and the woman is clearly pregnant and with them is a girl, an older girl of maybe eleven or twelve years.
“Uncle Mase,” she squeals, hurtling towards Mase.
“Oi, never mind Uncle Mase, we all know I am the cool uncle and your favourite,” Dec calls wearing a big grin for the little girl who possibly hasn’t seen him.
She releases Mase and hurls herself towards Dec who is already bracing himself for the impact of her hug.
“What are you doing here? I didn’t know you were coming. Mum said you might not turn up.”
Dec turns towards the little girl’s mum who I remember is Bethy, his sister. “Cheers, sis, you know I struggle to turn down one of Mum’s afternoon teas.”
Bethy smirks but does roll her eyes while Mia remains attached to Dec’s side and Charlotte is positively beaming at her youngest son.
“Anita,” Charlotte calls to me. “Would you like to see the sunroom? Olivia, you should come too as you designed it and literally changed my life.”
Liv is already on her feet. I have heard the story of the sunroom but have never seen it so am happy to go and take a look. Plus, with all of the people in this room viewing me with interest as they perceive me to be Dec’s plus one, I am glad of the opportunity to leave the room for a while.
Dec smiles as his mother reaches for me and with one arm already linked with Liv’s, she repeats the move with the other arm that links with mine and we are off to the sunroom.
The room that Liv renovated is beautiful and although I may not know Charlotte very well, at all even, it is very her; simple, classic, elegant and clean cut. She doesn’t stop singing Liv’s praises as she tells me how much she loves this room, although her description of the old room is beyond hideous, and I assume she is exaggerating.
“Tommy has some photos on his phone…” she begins as we are joined by Tommy who has overheard what his wife has said judging by how quickly he gets his phone out to show me hideous images of bright oranges, reds and strange shades of yellow.
“Wow!” I have no other words to convey how awful the room that is barely recognisable as the one I am standing in is shown to me in a series of images.
“Well, that’s one word for it.” Tommy laughs then turns to his wife. “Imelda and her clan have just arrived.”
“Oh, I am pleased. Maybe it’s time to build a few bridges, hey, Olivia?” Charlotte says to a nervous looking Liv.
I have no idea who Imelda is or why there is beef between her and my sister. Charlotte is already leading Liv back towards the large lounge where everyone is assembled.
Tommy looks across at me and offers a genuinely friendly looking smile. “Shall we?” He gestures to the doors that lead back to the house.
I am unsure why, but I feel as though I need a moment. “I, erm, bathroom,” I stammer.
With another smile, Tommy directs me to a nearby bathroom that doesn’t require me to go back to the lounge just yet.
Chapter 18
Declan
I am sitting talking to my niece, well, she is talking at me and by talking at me I mean interrogating me.
“So, who is Anita again?”
