‘That’s not what I was thinking,’ I lied, feeling mortified that she could read me so easily. ‘I love your use of colour and pattern, Liv; it’s really bright and cheery.’ Liv’s décor style was the opposite to my neutral-toned, minimalistic home and yet for all the clutter and mess, it told the story of a happy, much-loved family home.
‘Hugo, do you know Jay?’ Liv said by way of introduction.
‘Nice to meet you,’ Jay said as the two men shook hands and then the six of us stood uncomfortably around the kitchen.
‘Well, it’s nice to see everyone outside of our therapist’s office,’ Hugo quipped.
‘I know it’s kind of awkward how we… eh… how we all know one another but you’re all very welcome here and I just want us all to have a nice evening,’ Jay said after a beat.
Liv smiled adoringly at her husband. ‘I’m glad you got it out of the way.’
‘Isn’t it weird how things work out?’ I enthused. ‘If the four of us had never gone to see Julia,’ I moved closer to Liv, linking her arm before turning to Jay, ‘I would never have got to know your lovely wife.’
Liv beamed in appreciation and put her other hand over mine to seal it there.
‘Who’s Julia, Mammy?’ Finn asked, looking up at the adults in confusion.
Liv paled and dropped my arm. ‘Oh, she’s just a woman we all know, lovey…’ she said quickly. ‘Why don’t you go show Elliot your sandpit?’
‘Okay, Mammy,’ he said. The two boys wandered out to the garden.
‘I’d better go get the steaks on the BBQ,’ Jay said, excusing himself so it was just me, Hugo and Liv left in the kitchen.
‘Would either of you like a glass of wine?’ Liv offered, after a beat. ‘Or I have prosecco. Or maybe you’d prefer a beer…’
‘Sure, I’d love a glass of Pinot Grigio,’ I said.
Her face turned stricken. ‘I only have Chardonnay. I’m not much of a wine expert.’
‘Don’t worry, I’m not fussy,’ I said with a wave of my hand.
‘Maya will drink anything,’ Hugo interjected.
I shot him a pleading look, begging him not to ruin this evening for me.
‘Chardonnay is perfect, thank you, Liv.’
Liv visibly relaxed as she turned to Hugo. ‘Would you like one, Hugo?’
He shook his head. ‘I’m driving so I’ll stick to the soft drinks, thanks. I’ll have a Coke if you have it.’
‘No worries.’ Liv uncorked a bottle of supermarket own label wine and poured me a glass. She handed it to me before she gave Hugo a Coke. He wandered out to the garden to where Jay was reigning over his BBQ.
Through the kitchen window, I winced as Hugo wandered across the garden and practically ignored Jay as he strolled around, looking at something on his phone. Maybe this was a terrible idea. What had I been thinking bringing him here? I should have known that he and Jay would be total opposites.
‘Let’s go outside,’ Liv suggested, obviously thinking the same as me. We went out to the garden and sat down at a small timber table. I glanced over to the boys, who were busy filling a toy dumper truck with sand. I was relieved they seemed to be getting on much better this time, compared to the day we had them over in our house. Perhaps Elliot was just being a little territorial that day.
‘Did you watch the Liverpool match at the weekend?’ I heard Jay asking Hugo, to make conversation.
‘I’m not much of a football fan,’ he replied bluntly.
I cringed. Sometimes, I wished Hugo could just play along with stuff like this instead of making the conversation awkward for everyone.
‘Oh what sports are you into?’ Jay asked, trying a different angle.
‘I play a bit of golf. Do you play?’
Jay shook his head. ‘Never could get into it. You need time. Liv would divorce me if I headed off playing eighteen holes at the weekends.’
