‘Jenna, where are you?’ Grandad came ambling down the drive, carrying a plate piled so high it was a wonder the food didn’t topple over and drop onto the tarmac. ‘Your mum wants to know if you made that potato salad, and if so, where did you put it?’
‘Stan, stop fibbing,’ came Auntie Elaine’s voice from behind the trees. ‘Cherry just told you that you’ve got more than enough on your plate and you don’t need to go scouring the house for more supplies. Take no notice, Jenna!’ she called. ‘You carry on with whatever you’re doing.’
As Grandad huffed and stomped back into the garden, Sam and Jenna looked at each other and she gave him a rueful smile. ‘Better get back.’
He nodded. ‘Guess so.’
She couldn’t help wondering what it was he’d been about to say, but whatever it was she was sort of glad he hadn’t had the chance to say it. She had enough to think about right now. The last thing she needed was yet more complications.
And the very last thing shewantedwas to hurt him.
19
All week, Jenna had been feeling sick at the thought of the twins going to stay with Joel. At her lowest moments she tortured herself with pictures of him driving them into the car park of his new home. She imagined Annette, the tall, blonde and willowy woman she’d seen in the background of his Instagram photos, rushing to greet them as they walked into the flat, a broad smile on her face, a plate of home-baked muffins or cupcakes in her perfectly manicured hand.
She’ll probably be wearing a bloody apron, too, she thought savagely. The ideal wife and stepmother.
Or maybe it wouldn’t be like that at all. Maybe Annette would greet them sullenly, annoyed that Joel had foisted his offspring on her. Furious that two boisterous eight-year-olds might mess up her perfect flat. She might issue orders to them and treat them with contempt, while she sat applying lipstick and pouting into her hand mirror.
That, she thought dismally, would be even worse.
Whatever the rights and wrongs, she didn’t want the girls to feel unwanted or unwelcome. She just hoped Annette wouldn’t turn out to betoowonderful. And on the plus side, she’d get to know where Joel was living. There was no way she was going to let the twins go to stay somewhere that she didn’t know the address of. She just hoped Joel wouldn’t be too argumentative about that, but you just never knew with him.
I hope he hasn’t got a balcony,she thought, then marvelled at how mean-spirited and petty she’d become. It really wasn’t a good look.
On Friday at five thirty, Joel arrived, having travelled to Kelsea Sands straight from work. He looked tense and although he greeted his daughters with a smile, it wasn’t exactly brimming with warmth.
‘Are you sure this is okay?’ Jenna asked him as they fixed the twins’ high-backed booster seats into his car. ‘Not having second thoughts? Because if there’s a problem?—’
‘Why would there be any problem?’ he said irritably. ‘I’ve just come straight from work, that’s all. Nettie’s gone home to get everything ready for movie night.’ As they finished connecting the seats and stood back from the car, he reached over and handed her a piece of paper.
‘What’s this?’
‘Our address. Nettie doesn’t think it right that the girls come to stay with us without you knowing where they’ll be.’
‘That’s… kind of her,’ Jenna mumbled, feeling guilty and rather ashamed that Joel’s girlfriend had been so thoughtful, when Jenna had fully expected to have to demand it from him. She glanced at the address and frowned. ‘Hull? This address is in Hull.’
‘Yes,’ he said impatiently. ‘That’s where we live.’
‘But…’ Jenna shook her head.
‘What? Go on, if you’ve got something to say, just say it.’
‘I thought – someone mentioned – it doesn’t matter. I thought you lived in a flat, that’s all. I heard she had a flat in Corlington.’
Joel gave her a suspicious look. ‘Someonementioned? Like who?’
‘I-I can’t remember. Anyway, it doesn’t matter.’
She walked round to his side of the car and tucked the piece of paper in her jeans pocket. ‘Thanks. Tell her, thank you.’
Joel hesitated. ‘Look, I know this can’t be easy for you. We’re both very aware of how you must feel about it.’ He eyed her with some curiosity. ‘As a matter of fact, Nettie’s mum lives in a flat in Corlington. Yoursourcemust have got mixed up.’
‘Must have done.’ Jenna fought the jealousy that was ripping through her at the thought that Joel had clearly gone to visit Annette’s mother with her. He’d never wanted to visithermum. She imagined them playing happy families and it made her feel nauseated.
‘Does she know?’ she asked, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice.
‘Does who know what?’ Joel asked, surprised.
