“You forbid me? I’m a grown woman, and you’ve no say over what I do or who I see.”
“So it would seem. His family are awful, don’t forget I was in school with his parents, his father is a dreadful man. Elijah is not to be trusted or his brother. Jack will probably cheat on his wife within the first week,” Gale said.
“How would you know that?” Aunt Jane asked.
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Gale answered to no one in particular.
“I don’t know what’s made you so bitter, mother, but you need to get over it. You’ve never said a positive sentence to me ever. I’m used to it, but listen closely when I say that I’ll date whoever I want,” Lilly said.
“On your own head be it, don’t come crying to me when he breaks your heart.” Gale folded her arms over her breasts.
“Mother, if you hate him so much, why on earth are you going to the wedding? You got your sister to come up here and insisting that I go too? Where is William in all of this?” Lilly asked her.
“William is not invited. He can’t be trusted at the moment to behave himself. I don’t want any embarrassments there and at least I can trust you to conduct yourself in a befitting manner,” Gale said.
Aunt Jane snorted again. “You’re such a hypocrite Gale, does this mean I’m off the hook and can go home?” She asked hopefully.
“No, it certainly does not. If Lillian is with the bestman, then she won’t be on our table and you’ll have to do, just don’t get drunk,” Gale instructed.
“I won’t promise anything Gale, I’ll come along because I am fascinated to see how you’ll behave in front of Michael after all these years,” Aunt Jane added.
“Can I go now?” Lillian asked, already standing.
“Yes you may go Lillian. Jane, see her out will you dear?” Gale said.
“Oh, it will be my pleasure Mistress, right away Mistress.” Aunt Jane stood and bowed to her sister.
Aunt Jane linked her arm with Lilly’s and stage-whispered to Lilly “I’ll tell you all about what happened that summer on the way out.”
“You wouldn’t dare Jane, you wouldn’t dare, and we all have secrets, remember that.” Gale warned as she glared at Jane’s retreating back.
Jane laughed and dragged Lilly through the house and to the front door at double the speed they had come through the first time.
“Now, Lills, listen to me carefully, try your very best to ignore the swipes your mother takes at you and make sure you have the best time at that wedding. I may or may not come, there is a history there for me too so it will depend on how I feel on the day. There’s something else I want to say too, what the fuck is going on with Wills?” Aunt Jane asked.
“I’m not sure, he’s not speaking to me because I quit my job and now I don’t have any spare money to lend him,” Lilly said.
“Take it from me Lills, he’s in a dangerous place and he needs help. try to get him that help before something worse happens,” Aunt Jane said.
“I’ll talk to him when I see him next,” Lilly promised.
“Good, now get the hell out of here while you can andkiss that man of yours like it’s the last kiss you’ll ever have,” Aunt Jane said.
Lilly kissed her Aunt Jane’s cheek, left the house and walked down the drive. She had survived another trip to her parent’s house.
She was ready to talk to Elijah.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Elijah hurried along the corridor to Mickey’s office oblivious to the stares coming from the glass-fronted offices. Mickey didn’t usually have visitors so their nosiness was at a peak. Elijah walked right in. It was only when he saw Mickey on the phone that he realised he should have knocked or called to say he’d arrived. There wasn’t an outer office or waiting area.
“Stop stressing, take a seat, I’m just finishing up,” Mickey said with his hand over the mouthpiece.
Elijah nodded to him, instinctively moving to the furthest part of the office to give him as much privacy as possible. He suddenly had an interest in law books and took one out to read. Flicking through the pages of criminal fraud, Elijah got involved with a case from the 1920s.
“The plaintive lost that case, sorry to spoil the ending,” Mickey said over Elijah’s shoulder.
“Mate, I was getting into that case, it sounded interesting,” Elijah said.
