‘What, this?’ Frank asks, frowning. Two small topiaried shrubs in zinc containers flank the doorway. But nothing tells us what kind of place this is.
‘Yeah. It’s a club,’ Eddie mutters, peering down at his feet.
‘You belong to aclub?’ I stare at him. His hair is so clean, I can smell apple shampoo coming off him.
‘What kind of club?’ Frank asks. Does this explain the eerily pressed outfit?
‘Just a club. I don’t belong to it,’ Eddie says quickly. ‘I’m not amember—’
‘Could’ve fooled me,’ Frank remarks dryly, his feeble attempt at a joke offering a glimmer of hope that he might be softening, and perhaps the Silvas might even be able to enjoy a pleasant lunch?
‘Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.’ Eddie winces. ‘It’s a bit awkward. I wasn’t sure how you’d react.’ He rakes back his dark hair and glances furtively up and down the street.
‘React towhat?’ I ask.
‘This, uh, this thing today.Pleasedon’t be mad at this—’ there it is, the line no parent ever wants to hear ‘—but we’re, erm … I mean, it’s not just us.’
I frown at him. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘I mean there’s, uh … gonna beother people.’
Shit, we’re going in front of a tribunal because my contraception talk failed to communicate the basic facts.
‘What d’you mean?’ I stare at him.
‘I mean, urr …’ His mouth twists. ‘We’re meeting Lyla today.’
‘Who?’ Frank barks.
‘Lyla!’ Eddie repeats.
‘We’re meeting her today?’ I exclaim. ‘What, here?Now?’
‘Yes, now.’ He nods grimly.
‘Who’s Lyla?’ Frank looks baffled.
‘Lyla-who’s-having-a-baby.’ I glare at him.For God’s sake, keep up!It’s astounding how he’s coasted through the raising of three children without bothering to remember the name of a single person connected to their lives. Not me, obviously. Frank just about remembersmyname. But the kids’ teachers and friends and their friends’ parents? Or the Scout leader who’d called me in for a ticking-off after Eddie had mooned through the coach window on the way back from a trip? To Frank, it was a sea of random faces – or, if forced,that pointy-nosed woman, orthe guy with the beard.
He exhales forcefully and shakes his head. ‘No, Ed. Sorry. We’re not meeting her now—’
‘No, we are,’ Eddie insists. ‘And her mum’s going to be there too—’
‘Hermum?’ I choke out.
Eddie nods. ‘Yeah.’
‘No way,’ I say firmly. ‘Sorry, Eddie, but I’m with your dad on this. We’re not doing this today. We’ve come to see you and we need to talk as a family.That’swhy we’re here—’
‘Please, Mum.Please!’ Eddie’s voice wavers and he grips my arm. ‘They’re in there. They’re waiting for usnow …’ A pause, then: ‘I thought I’d be able to count on you.’
His gaze locks with mine, and something sparks between us; the fact that our son really needs our help and support, like never before. Are we really going to refuse to go in?
‘All right. We’ll meet them.’ I press my hand briefly over my eyes, as if that will imbue me with special powers. Then I turn to Frank. ‘You okay with that?’
He shrugs extravagantly as if acknowledging that he no longer has any control over his destiny. ‘And another thing,’ Eddie adds, hand already on the glass inner door. ‘She’s told her mum that we’ve been together for six months and are solid together. So that’s the story, all right? That’s what she’s got to think—’
‘Absolutely no way!’ I cry out, horrified. ‘If you want to lie then that’s up to you but—’ I cut off and look around helplessly at Frank. Because Eddie has already marched in.
