“And I’m glad you’ve found a passion. She does seem a very sound and strong role model for you.” I liked the singer. I liked looking at her boyfriend even more, but I’d keep that to myself unless I wanted to gross out my offspring. “Now I love you very much, but I have the mother of all hangovers, so why don’t you go and make the most of the internet before we go out for Sunday lunch?”
There was actually no whinging about going out for Sunday lunch even if they had no internet access, because the four of them loved being with their cousins.
Wren emerged, looking far too fresh for someone who’d camped outside with a load of kids.
“I need to write that speech down for future use. It was good.” She eyed me. “Is Callum with you?”
I shook my head, aware and not in the slightest bit bothered that I was about to throw him under the bus. “He’s gone to Jackson’s to do something, I’ve no idea what.”
Wren shook her head. “It’s a car. Jackson’s seen this classic car and sent the details to Callum. If we end up having to sort out getting a piece of scrap metal back to the farm I’m going to stay here.”
“Sounds sensible.” I stood back up, groaning because my feet and my head really did hurt. “Callum’s also bagged one of the huge sideboards from the house.”
Wren made a noise that sounded like a cow giving birth. “Why?”
“I don’t know. It’s one they bought after Callum had moved out so it doesn’t have any sentimental value. You can ask himabout it at dinner.” I squinted at her. “Why are you so fresh after sleeping in a tent surrounded by small people?”
“I slept in tents with lions prowling outside perfectly fine. I’ve learned to ignore the noises from wildlife.”
“Good description. I’m going to get another shower and see if it can turn me into a human.”
There was a laugh from Killian who was in the lounge, probably flicking through security camera feeds or something equally riveting on the TV.
“I don’t think a shower has those powers.” His dulcet tones echoed through to the hallway.
“Shame you don’t either.” That was about the best I could come up with.
We met at four, the rain having cleared and my daughters having ceased with trying to get me to move on the internet rule, which wasn’t going to happen. They’d realise when they had kids of their own why I did it, but I’d be waiting until then for any gratification, which was no problem. I was queen of the long game.
Which was helpful, as Payton was late as usual, and so was Max, which was less usual. The hunger part of my hangover had kicked in, but a glass of prosecco was enough to ease it.
I rarely drank nowadays, preferring not to lose a day to recovery, but this weekend was a write off, given the triple helping of news. I wasn’t surprised about Ava being pregnant; she’d been adamant that she and Eli would only have one and Nancy would be fine as an only child, but the last few months she’d been staring at babies when we’d walked past them in the street and cooing over cute little clothes. I’d been tossing out a load of Quinn’s baby clothes because we weren’t having any more – that’d been made definite after Quinn was born. Anotherpregnancy would not have been straightforward, as much as we’d have liked to have tried for a boy, and I knew I didn’t have it in me to carry another. I was ready to pass over everything baby orientated to a charity that helped out new mothers without much income, until Ava had intervened and asked me to store them.
Her reason why had been about as solid as a house without foundations.
Seph’s news about Rose was worrying, but I also knew that the procedure she was having was relatively commonplace and that she’d be okay, especially once it’d been done. Rose was tough and the sort of grounded kid that would go far in which ever direction she chose. She hung around my house with Eliza a lot, which I encouraged. Rose’d also told me about it a week ago, swearing me to secrecy, which was difficult because I knew exactly how Seph would feel.
The selling of the house where we’d grown up was a different thing though. I knew it was coming – Marie had made a comment to my dad about needing to move the glasses they’d been given as a wedding gift to the apartment and for some reason, it’d given me an inkling that they were planning to sell.
I got it.
I think all of us did.
“So I’m the tallest of us all now.” Seph sat back at the table, looking like he’d just been crowned king. “The chart evidences it.”
“By chart, he means the wall in the secret room which is really old wallpaper and black marker pens.” Payton shook her head. “And if Eli, Killan and Owen were on it, you’d be the fourth tallest.”
“But they’re not. It’s just Callaghans.” Seph shot her a look like she was about to push him off his perch.
Max used the opportunity to steal one of Seph’s roast potatoes. “We should do something with that room before the house completes.”
“Why?” I wasn’t particularly sentimental – Marie had made sure of that – and I was time poor, especially because Eliza had recently decided she wanted to take up cheer.
“We need to make it so someone finds it.” He pinched one of Seph’s roasted parsnips.
I shrugged. “Finding it’s part of the fun.”
“I agree with Claire.” Payton drew the battle lines. “But maybe we leave some bits in there.”
