“Why, do you run away into another room, screaming?”
“No, but I have to take them out using a jar or a glass and a piece of paper,” I admit. “Although recently I had a significantepisode with a pigeon and I managed to get it out of the house myself with no fuss. Quite proud of that.”
“Nicely done. I can imagine that was quite stressful. London pigeons are very stubborn.”
“It took some persuading but eventually it got the message.”
He chuckles. “Does your dad live alone, then?”
“Yeah, just him and his pond.” I take a sip of Guinness, careful to wipe my lip in case there’s any foam left behind. “My brother and I would like him to get back out there and start dating, but I don’t think it will ever happen.”
“Too set in his ways.”
“Those were his exact words.”
Jamie laughs, impressed with himself. “Your dad and I are on the same wavelength. What about your mum?”
I hesitate. “She lives in the Lake District with her partner, Evan.”
“I take it from your sour expression that you’re not the best of friends.”
“You could tell that from my expression?”
“Yeah, you looked irritated.”
“And there I was thinking I was hard to read,” I say, surprised. “Mum and I aren’t close. We haven’t been for a long time. She wasn’t very interested in my life once she left my dad. Or even before she left, to be honest.”
“What sort of terms are you on now?”
“Bad ones.” I look out the window, frowning. “She’s trying to make amends, though.”
“You’re not happy about that?”
“I don’t know. My dad really wants us to have a relationship. I think my brother is starting to build one with her, too, which makes me anxious.”
“Worried that she’ll hurt him?”
“That, and worried about being left behind.” I tear my eyesaway from the window and pick up my pint again. “I don’t want everyone else to be all happy families again, while I’m still too angry to play.”
“Maybe you need a bit more time to trust her again. That’s not a bad thing.”
“Yeah, maybe. She’s been making quite a bit of effort since the wedding was called off. But it’s hard to welcome her back with open arms when she didn’t give a hoot about making an effort when I got my A-level results or my first job, or even when I got engaged. Those were important life moments, too. She didn’t care about missing them.”
“She might have a different side to the story,” Jamie reasons. “She was too scared or other things were going on. I’m not making excuses for her, but I can see why she’d want to be there for you when you’ve been through a big heartbreak.”
I nod, though I’m not convinced. “Are you close with your parents? Or do they prefer the dogs to you?”
“The dogs are definitely top billing, but we’re close,” he says, breaking into a wide smile. “We’re quite different, but that doesn’t seem to matter.”
“Different, how? They have good music taste?”
He laughs. “They’re big on Classic FM, so yes. Although apparently the dogs prefer Radio Four.”
“How predictable.”
“I guess my sister and I are a lot more open than my parents. They’re gentle, quiet countryside types. They’re thinking about getting some ducks.”
“Sounds idyllic. I’m picturing them pottering around a garden, listening to classical music, chatting to friendly, gossipy neighbors.”
