Charlie tilted his head. ‘Mine doesn’t.’
‘Right, well … they usually do. And my dad is the one in our family.’
‘Okay.’ Charlie didn’t look convinced.
‘I bet your family has one. Have a think.’
He shook his head. ‘Nope. We’re all perfectly normal. No oddballs.’
‘In that case the oddball is probably you.’
‘Hey,’ he said, but at least now his usual smile was back in place.
Regan knocked on the door and her dad appeared. A troubled expression was etched on his features, his shiny face not looking at all happy. ‘Hiya, Dad. We’ve come to start the decorating.’ She held up a paint pot and he viewed it as if it was a severed head.
‘I’m not sure about this,’ he said, his tone pure Eeyore.
‘It’ll be fine. This is Charlie,’ she said, proudly, and she waited for her dad’s reaction.
‘Not very sure about this at all,’ he said, retreating inside.
Charlie gave her a look. ‘I did warn you,’ whispered Regan.
Regan marched off to the bedroom, noting the row of stilettos lined up in the bottom of the wardrobe. Tarty Tara was making herself very at home here.
‘Where are you going?’ Graham sounded alarmed.
Regan looked over her shoulder. ‘Cupboard to get the old curtains we use for decorating. You’ve still got them, haven’t you?’
‘Oh, yes.’ He seemed relieved. ‘But I’ll get them,’ he said, almost pushing Regan out of the way. He dashed into the bedroom and gave her a suspicious glance before shutting the door sharply.
Charlie was staring open-mouthed. Regan gave a shrug. This was embarrassing; her dad was acting even odder than usual. ‘I can see what you mean,’ whispered Charlie.
The kitchen was pretty small, and with only a clock to take off the walls it was quite simple. Charlie started on the ceiling and Regan set to work doing the tricky bits around the edges. Graham stood and watched from the doorway looking apprehensive.
‘No T … Tara today?’ She had to catch herself; she was so used to referring to her as Tarty Tara, she feared one day she’d say it out loud.
Graham’s expression changed to one of suspicion. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Because I’m being nice and showing an interest.’Which is more than you’ve done, and I’ve been here twenty minutes and introduced you to my gorgeous new boyfriend, she added in her head.
‘Oh. I see,’ said Graham, and she saw Charlie hide a smile.
‘Sooo, where’s Tara?’ asked Regan.
‘At hers. I told her about the decorating. She wasn’t sure about it either.’ The light caught his bald patch and Regan realised he was getting older.
‘It’ll be fine, Dad.’ She patted his arm.
‘You will be finished before bedtime, won’t you?’
‘Of course, Mr Corsetti,’ said Charlie. ‘We’re proper little worker bees when we get going.’
‘I don’t like bees,’ said Graham.
Eventually Graham left them to it.
‘Sorry,’ said Regan. ‘He’s all right when you get to know him … Actually, I don’t know if that’s true because obviously I’ve known him my whole life, so I guess I’m used to him. Maybe after a few months you’ll get used to him too.’ She smiled and then what she’d said made the smile slide away. Charlie might not have a few months to get to know Graham. Every time she made one of these faux pas it hurt her. It was like someone kept sticking something sharp into her heart to remind her that this happy state was all temporary.
