My father worked hard to get to where he is today. It was his insight and innovation twelve years ago that saved his boss’s logistics firm from going under. They rewarded him with a huge bonus, a raise and a promotion, and he hasn’t looked back since. Now, he and Mumhave a nice house on the edge of the New Forest, two holidays a year, and a membership at the local golf club.
I get out of my little red Toyota Yaris and pick my way across the driveway, avoiding the shaded patches that are still covered in ice. I’m fairly certain my parents will be happy with my news, but with Dad you never really know. So, I’m excited but also apprehensive.
Mum opens the door before I’m even at the porch. She’s flawless as ever in a pair of black trousers and a pale-pink cotton-knit top, her brown waves pinned off her face with a silver comb. ‘Come in, darling. It’s freezing out there.’ We hug and she takes my coat and hangs it in the hall cupboard. I have an instant flashback to coming home after school and Mum telling us to hang up our coats and take off our shoes.
‘Something smells nice,’ I say, following her through to the kitchen where my brother-in-law, Graham, is turning the roast potatoes.
‘Hi, Alice, how are you?’ He glances over with a smile.
‘Good thanks. You got your hair cut. Suits you.’ His hair was always quite thick and wavy, but it started receding over the past year which is probably why he decided to cut it.
‘Thanks.’ He rubs the top of his head. ‘Felt like a change. The kids have been doing double-takes all week.’ Graham’s the headmaster of the local junior school. The same school we all went to as kids.
‘Where’s Elizabeth?’ I ask.
Mum looks up at the ceiling. ‘In the office with your father talking about some legal thing at his work.’
My younger sister is a corporate lawyer. She’s always been super-smart and super-efficient. We get on well, but we’re not close. Well, not as close as we used to be. Her husband Graham is my ex-boyfriend. We started going out when I moved back to Ringwood after uni. We were only together for a couple of months, and were broken up years before she started going out with him, but things have been slightly awkward between me and Elizabeth ever since. Not on my part – I don’t think of him in that way at all any more. She’s the one who’s been weirdabout it. Not sure if she feels guilty or resentful. She always changes the subject when I’ve tried to clear the air with her. I thought my relationship with Elizabeth would improve once they were married but, if anything, we’ve grown further apart. Hopefully she’ll relax once she hears that I’m about to marry Seth. I have butterflies at the thought of telling everyone.
‘Should be another half hour until lunch is ready,’ Mum says. ‘Shall we have a drink in the lounge? I’ve opened a new bottle of sherry.’
‘Sounds good, but I’m driving,’ I reply.
‘We can drop you back,’ Graham offers.
‘Great. In that case ...’
We troop into the lounge just as Dad and Elizabeth come down the stairs deep in conversation. Eventually, they notice me.
‘Alice.’ Dad nods.
‘Hi, Dad.’ I take a step towards him and we kiss on the cheek.
He claims his favourite spot in the corner of the sofa and Mum brings him a glass of Amontillado.
‘Hi, Alice,’ Elizabeth says, her gaze sweeping me from head to toe. ‘Nice top.’
‘Thanks,’ I reply, touching my shirt. ‘I got it in that boutique opposite the candle shop.’
She nods, not really listening. Her eyes narrow. ‘There’s something different about you.’
I’m hyper-aware of my engagement ring, but no one’s clocked it yet as I already turned the diamond so it’s facing inwards.
‘Sit down,’ Mum says gently. ‘You’re all making me nervous, hovering about. Elizabeth, sherry?’
‘Yes please.’
We take a seat while Mum fusses around, setting down drinks and bowls of nibbles. Dad’s reading the Sunday papers as usual and probably won’t look up until lunch is served. It’s down to the rest of us to make conversation. I was going to wait until dessert to make myannouncement, but the news is fizzing in my chest, waiting to pop out. I’m going to have to ruin Dad’s precious reading ritual.
‘Alice, what’s up with you? You’re so fidgety.’ Elizabeth is irritated with me. Honestly, I sometimes feel like she’s the older sister, not me.
‘Well,’ I say. ‘There is something actually.’
‘Don’t say you finally got made partner,’ Dad says, peering over the travel section.
‘I’m working on it,’ I reply.
‘Glad to hear it, because you’ve been at that firm a few years now. Maybe you need to move on if Faraday’s dragging his heels.’
