They both remained still, not moving any closer to each other, but unable to break their gaze.
‘Daddy!’
Jenna blinked and turned round in panic at the sound of Ada’s excited call.
‘Oh, bloody hell,’ she murmured.
‘Is that him?’ Sam asked, his voice different, harsher. ‘Is that Joel?’
She nodded, unable to speak as her husband strode along the path towards his daughters, carrying two bags of birthday presents and wearing a very guarded expression as he caught sight of the crowd in the garden.
‘I-I’d better go and…’
Sam nodded. ‘Yeah, you’d better.’
She gave him a look that was meant to convey something, but she wasn’t sure what. Regret? An apology? A plea for understanding? A question? She really couldn’t say.
18
The twins had rushed over to greet their father, who pushed the bags into their hands then patted them both on their heads, as if they were obedient dogs.
‘Happy birthday,’ he said, already scanning the garden to see who else was there and paying little attention to his daughters. He caught sight of Jenna walking towards him and for a split second there was a look of relief on his face, which was quickly replaced by a scowl.
‘I thought you said it was a kids’ birthday party? Where are the other bloody kids then? If I’d known it was going to be all your sodding family… Is that a barbecue?’
‘Nice to see you, too. Itwasgoing to be a party, but it was decided a barbecue would be more fun.’
‘For the children? Or for the adults?’
‘Both. It was the girls’ suggestion actually.’
‘Oh, come off it!’ he said scornfully. ‘As if. Is that your mother’s new boyfriend then?’ he asked, nodding over to where Mac was flipping burgers at the barbecue, helped and advised by Seb, Stella, and Jenna’s grandad.
‘The one cooking the burgers? Yes,’ she said flatly. It was odd how quickly Joel could dampen her mood. When she thought about it, he’d done that a lot over the years. She wondered why she’d never noticed it before. ‘Do you want to come and meet him?’
He gave her a withering look. ‘Hardly. I can’t believe I’ve walked into the lion’s den. I suppose I’mpersona non gratahere with all your family. Well, they’d just better remember that these two aremychildren, and I’m every bit as entitled to be here as they are. More so.’
‘Ah, Joel. Welcome to Watersmeet.’
Jenna swallowed as her mum approached, a smile of sorts on her face, though it didn’t reach her eyes.
‘Alison,’ he said briefly.
‘It’s good that you’re here,’ she told him. ‘The girls look delighted.’
‘I know,’ he said briefly. ‘That’s why I came.’
‘Thank you for the presents,’ the twins chorused, and they all looked round to see that the bags had been emptied and there was wrapping paper all over the path. The girls were surrounded by shiny toys and games that looked expensive. Jenna could tell from their expressions, though, that nothing had particularly won their hearts.
‘You’re very welcome,’ Joel told them. ‘Now, pick all that paper up and put it in the bags please.’
The twins did as they were asked.
‘Shall we take the presents inside?’ Hallie enquired.
‘No, it’s okay. I’ll do that,’ Jenna said. ‘Why don’t you show your dad around?’
Joel gave her a look of horror, but Hallie and Ada grabbed his hands and told him he was going to love it and just wait until he met the ducks and the hens and the ponies and the Highlands.
