‘You didn’t have to invite them. We could have gone down to Anchor House. Or claimed we were both busy.’
‘I know that!’ snapped Martha again. ‘But that doesn’t stop it feeling weird and frankly, just plain wrong.’
What Willow found more wrong and unnatural was the unfamiliar sensation that for the first time ever, she was the sensible calm sister, and Martha was the flighty one who was all over the place. Putting her arm around Martha’s shoulders and feeling how stiff and uptight her body was, she said, ‘It’s bloody bonkers, that’s what it is, but we’ll get through it. Together.’
‘I should never have suggested they come here,’ Martha said faintly, while staring out of the window. ‘But I thought I’d feel better about meeting this stepson of Ellis’s on my home turf. You know, putting them on the back foot, but so far I’m the only one on the back foot.’
‘You’ll be fine. You’ve just put too much thought into this. It really isn’t a big deal. It’s just lunch with—’
‘Mum’s new family!’ interrupted Martha.
‘Potentiallyournew family,’ said Willow, ‘which is kind of interesting, if you look at it objectively.’
‘I’m not sure interesting is the word I’d use. Or that it’s possible to be remotely objective when it comes to what Mum is doing.’Frowning, Martha said, ‘What do you really think, is it going to rain?’
‘No idea,’ said Willow, looking outside at the cloudy sky. ‘But even if it buckets down, we can just come inside, can’t we?’
Abruptly Martha leant forward and rapped on the window with her knuckles to attract Tom’s attention. With Rick’s help, he was setting out the cushions on the rattan garden furniture on the patio. He turned around to look enquiringly at Martha through the window. She pointed up at the sky. Willow knew what she was trying to indicate to Tom, but he merely shrugged. There again, that might have been his answer, that he couldn’t predict the weather any more than Willow or Martha could.
What Willow couldn’t predict either was how the afternoon would unfold. She just hoped that everyone would get along, that there would be no awkwardness. For Mum’s sake mostly, because, and despite what Martha might think, none of this could be easy for her.
Chapter Thirty-Four
It had started to rain shortly after they’d arrived at Tom and Martha’s, so they were eating in the dining area of the kitchen, which was large and fitted with charcoal-coloured units and white marble worktops, resulting in a very striking look. The walls were painted in a dramatically dark grey colour, and always when she came here Naomi felt as though she were in a still-life painting. She couldn’t help but feel slightly out of place, as if she might be spoiling the sophisticated effect.
The circular copper-topped table they were seated around had been custom-made to Martha’s specific instructions and placed at the centre of it was a hefty glass vase containing three tall dark purple irises and, because with Martha no detail was overlooked, the paper napkins were the same rich hue. Naomi had to admire her eldest daughter’s flair for elegant scene-setting. In contrast, her own style had always been a rather more ad hoc affair, a bit of this with a bit of that thrown in. An eclectic jumble, some might say. Characterful, she liked to think.
Naomi had taken to him straight away when Ellis had introduced her to his stepson. He may not have inherited any biological genes from Ellis, but Lucas had acquired his easy-going manner and one or two of his mannerisms, like the way he sat back in his chair,his head tilted ever so slightly to one side while quietly assessing his surroundings. And let’s face it, he had a lot to take in, with the prospect of a new stepfamily thrust upon him.
Aware that Lucas was another important piece of the jigsaw when it came to her relationship with Ellis, and the coming together of their two families, Naomi knew that Ellis had been as nervous as she was about today. They both badly wanted Martha and Willow to like Lucas, and equally for him to like them. She could see that Willow had already bridged that initial awkward moment on meeting Lucas, but then that was one of her great strengths, always able to connect with people and put them at ease.
‘It was really kind of you to invite us here today,’ Lucas said to Martha, ‘and to cook such a great meal. I think this is the best chicken Kiev I’ve ever tasted.’
‘It’s Tom you need to thank, not me,’ she said. ‘He’s the chef, all I did was chop and clear away.’
‘But darling, you do it so well,’ said Tom with a wink.
She rolled her eyes. ‘Did I mention that he’s also incredibly patronising?’
They all laughed, if a little stiffly and the conversation continued as before, in short stop-start bursts. It was all so horribly stilted, not how Naomi wanted things to be. She had a sudden and inappropriate mental image of Colin being here and jollying things along with one of his lengthy shaggy-dog stories. He had prided himself on always being able to get the party mood going, even if it meant he dominated proceedings and ensured the spotlight remained on him
‘How’s your chicken, Willow?’ asked Rick, ‘it is cooked enough, isn’t it?’
‘It’s absolutely delicious,’ she replied, ‘just as Lucas said. Top marks to you, Tom.’
Clearing her throat, and with no attempt to disguise her irritation, Martha said, ‘Rick, I can assure you under no circumstances would Tom serve undercooked chicken.’
‘Hey, I didn’t mean to cause any offence,’ Rick said. ‘But what with the terrible news Willow had recently I just feel it only right we should take extra care.’
Her expression suddenly anxious, Martha looked at her sister. ‘What terrible news? There’s nothing wrong with the baby, is there?’
Willow shook her head. ‘No, it’s my friend Lucy, she had a miscarriage.’
‘Oh, that’s awful,’ said Martha. ‘What happened?’
‘I don’t know the details, only what Simon texted me on Lucy’s behalf. I’m so sad for them both.’
‘Perhaps now you can understand why I don’t want Willow taking any unnecessary chances,’ persisted Rick.
