Archly, Matthew said, ‘I won’t remind you who made you his guest at the rugger today, or who blew off a date last night so I could pick you up from Cardiff—’
‘You had a date?’ Aiden cut in, all interest. ‘Tell us more.’
Cristy watched Matthew flush and almost laughed.
‘OK, not adateexactly,’ he confessed. ‘I was supposed to be having dinner with friends, but I let them down becauseyou, idiot that you are, had maxed out on your credit card and lost your rail ticket home.’
Frowning, Cristy said, ‘Couldn’t you just have paid for his ticket over the phone?’
Matthew grimaced. ‘Why would I pass up an opportunity to spend some drive-time with my son and two of his fascinating friends …’
Cristy laughed. ‘Someone set you up on a blind date last night and you bailed. That’s the real story here.’
Matthew didn’t deny it, simply looked helpless and long-suffering as Aiden launched into all the apps he could try, toget himself a ‘bit of action, no strings’ or someone to take him on ‘long walks, and even longer shags …’
‘Why does everything come down to sex with you?’ Matthew groaned. ‘It sounds to me as though you’re the one who’s not getting enough, the way you keep going on about it.’
‘No problem here,’ Aiden assured him, ‘but that’s because I come at things kind of differently to you. I get we’re a different generation, and you’re, like, recognizable – don’t want anyone posting about your performance on social media if you’re no good, I get that – but think what it would be like if someone described you as a tiger. I’d share that – could reflect well on me as your son.’
As Cristy laughed, Matthew said, ‘Ishe my son? Because if not, now would be a good time to tell me.’
Loving their banter, Cristy sat back in her chair and thought fleetingly of how much she’d miss it if she weren’t here in Bristol any more to share it.
‘So how was David?’ Matthew asked. ‘Is it still on between you two?’
Used to the jibe, she said, ‘Still on, and he’s great, thanks for asking.’
‘Well, there’s a relief,’ Matthew stated, ‘or the party next weekend would be a bit awkward.’
How true that was. ‘I take it you’re going to be there,’ she said, picking up her wine.
‘Are you kidding?’ Aiden cried. ‘No way are we going to miss your fiftieth in Guernsey. We love it there. Hayley’s definitely coming – did she tell you?’
Cristy nodded. ‘And Hugo and his parents, by all accounts. Plus the wholeHindsightteam … Have you seen the guest list?’
‘Not since Friday,’ Matthew admitted, ‘but I noticed Andee Lawrence’s name is on it. It’ll be really good to see her and to meet her partner, Graeme – is that right?’
Cristy nodded and wondered again if he knew something about Paul Kinsley’s offer. Maybe he’d brought Andee’s name up to make a point, although it didn’t seem to be the case.
‘No one’s spilled any detail about the big surprise yet, have they?’ Aiden wanted to know.
As Cristy’s heart flipped, Matthew groaned, saying, ‘Why did you even bring it up? You’re such a tosser at times …’
‘Do you hear what he just called me?’ Aiden demanded of his mother.
‘So who’s the surprise?’ she interrupted, trying to conjure up an answer and getting nowhere. Unless it was Paul Kinsley. No – surely to God it wouldn’t be him. She was overthinking things, unable to get the offer out of her head.
‘If we told you that, we’d ruin it,’ Matthew pointed out.
‘But is it someone you’ve invited, or David?’ she insisted.
‘Let’s just say we agreed it would be a great idea. Now, change of subject: I’ve put in a request for archive material on the Ivorson story, but I have to ask if you’re sure you want to go into it again. I get that it was a long time ago and we’re all a bit older and wiser now, but it kind of messed you up a bit back then.’
‘What was it about?’ Aiden wanted to know.
‘A couple of twins, murdered by their mother,’ Matthew told him. ‘Babies, they were. It was a horrible case, got us all on edge with the strange way it played out.’
‘Strange in what way?’
