“What does Shane make of it?”
Karen looked towards the doorway, keeping her voice low. “He won’t say anything to him, because Jack’s been ‘so good to us’. He seems to think we owe him free room and board because he helped out with arranging our mortgage.” Her face was red with indignation. “I like my privacy and good to us or not - I don’t agree with Shane’s family appearing on our doorstep at the drop of a hat. His mother did the same thing last weekend. Decided she fancied a cup of tea after some shopping and just popped in like she owned the place. It’s still our house and our mortgage – we’re the ones making the monthly repayments. It's like being in the bloody Mafia or something.”
“Sshh,” Tessa whispered. “You don’t want Shane to hear.”
“Do you know, I couldn’t care less if he did.” Karen refilled her wineglass, took a large mouthful and gulped it down. “You know he’s too bloody placid for his own good.”
“Well have you told him that you’re not comfortable with all this?”
“There’s no point,” she said flatly. “As far as Shane’sconcerned, Jack is Big Brother Wonderful. What I think doesn’t matter.”
“Well, you’ll have to try and sort this stuff out somehow. If you’re unhappy now, what will it be like when you two are married? I know they say that you marry the man and not his family, but in your case that doesn’t appear to be true.”
“I know,” Karen said, standing up. “But you know what we’re like – any problems we have are only ever sorted after a huge blow-up.” She grimaced.
“Seriously, get it sorted. It won’t do you any good to bottle it up – and will surely get a lot worse if you let it fester.”
“OK, Mrs Burke, I promise. Come on then, let’s go in and join the boys. The others should be here soon.”
“So was it fantastic?”
“Oh yes.” Tessa gave a broad wink at Gerry. “Absolutely fantastic.”
“Oh, I don’t meanthat.” Jenny said, pink-cheeked. “I meant Bali itself – what was it like?”
“Amazing – wasn’t it, love? I have to admit when we got off in Bangkok after a ten-hour flight, and then another four onwards, I couldn’t care less what the place was like. I just wanted to sleep for a week. And then …”
“Then we got to the hotel,” Gerry finished.
“Just paradise,” Tessa said. “Bounty Ads, Robinson Crusoe – you name it. The hotel was on its own beach – there was hardly anyone else around.”
“Sounds like paradise, all right,” Shane mused turning to Karen. “Where’ll we go for ours?”
Jenny let out a squeal. “Have you twofinallyset a date?”
“I think she’s having second thoughts about marrying me altogether,” Shane joked, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
“Pity. I wouldn’t mind another day out. I so enjoyed your wedding.”
“I’d sayyoudid, all right,” Tessa teased, hoping to change the subject for Karen’s sake.
“It was OK,” Jenny glanced sideways at Mike, “apart from this weirdo I met. Keeps following me everywhere, and won’t leave me alone – ouch.” He pinched her thigh.
Karen went out to the kitchen for more drinks and Tessa followed.
“Can you believe those two?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“I told you, didn’t I? Completely besotted with one another.”
“But it’s lovely,” Tessa said. “Means that she’s finally over Roan. Mike’s an absolute pet too. I have to admit, I didn’t really believe it when you said she was back to herself.”
“Didn’t you notice how she hasn’t stopped grinning since she walked in the door?” Karen was struggling with the bottle opener.
“Who hasn’t?” Jenny asked from the doorway.
“Speak of the devil.” Karen handed her a freshlyopened bottle. “Get another glass from the cupboard. Tessa’s dying to know all the gossip.”
“There’s no gossip,” Jenny blushed. “We’re just – friends, that’s all.”
