‘Nice to meet you,’ Brodie said automatically. ‘Hi, sis.’ He walked over to his sister and gave her a hug. ‘I haven’t seen you at the surgery yet. You should pop round and I can show you the place.’
‘I’d much rather have a look around your cottage.’
Brodie wished he had somewhere else to be so that he could make an excuse not to have to navigate his family. He loved them dearly but needed more energy than he had right now to cope with them all when they were together. ‘I’m not ready to redecorate it yet,’ he said, hoping but not expecting his newly qualified interior designer sister to be put off by that nugget of information.
‘Rubbish. I’ve heard on the grapevine that it’s in a terribly neglected state. Old Man Winter apparently invested any money hemade back into the practice and didn’t bother updating his home. It must be horribly outdated.’
It was, and damp, but Brodie had no intention of admitting anything of the sort to Maddie. She was just as determined about things as their mother when she put her mind to it and he wanted to have a chance to get fully settled before even thinking about changing any decor. ‘I really don’t have the time to focus on it just yet.’
‘There’s no need for you to do anything,’ Maddie answered in her usual enthusiastic way. ‘You just leave everything to me.’
He couldn’t think of many worse things. ‘I’m not sure our tastes are that similar though,’ he said trying to be tactful since he knew Maddie’s style tended to veer towards busy floral wallpapers and heavily framed paintings, if the look of her recently decorated home was anything to go by. He doubted she would care about that, but it was worth a try.
‘I’m qualified to show you what’s best for your property.’ Their mother walked into the room carrying her own glass of wine. ‘Isn’t that right, Mum.’
He caught Cathy trying hide a smile as she took a drink from her glass before turning to stare at something out of the window.
‘It’s very kind of you to offer, Maddie,’ he said. ‘But I don’t have any spare cash to pay for your work.’
‘That’s fine,’ Maddie argued. ‘You can settle up whenever you do have some money. Anyway I can use the before and after photos for my portfolio.’
‘I think it’s very sweet of your sister to offer to do this for you, Brodie,’ their mother said proudly.
Brodie gave his father a pleading look.
‘Let’s leave Brodie alone, shall we?’ their father said, resting a hand on his shoulder. ‘The poor devil only recently took over the practice and must be exhausted from working all day.’
‘It has been a tiring week,’ Brodie agreed.
‘But I said you could leave the cottage to me,’ Maddie argued. ‘You won’t need to do anything.’
‘Madison,’ their father barked. ‘That’s enough. I’m sure your brother will let you know when and, more importantly, if he wants you to do any decoration.’
‘I will,’ Brodie said, relieved to see his sister press her lips together and end the subject. ‘But I appreciate your offer, Maddie.’
Soothed by his thanks, she shrugged. ‘I know you do.’
Their mother waved for their attention. ‘The food is just about ready, so we may as well be seated.’
After finishing their roast chicken supper, Brodie began to relax and started to enjoy the evening with his family and Cathy.
‘So tell us a bit about yourself, Cathy. How long have you known this one, for example?’ Brodie cocked his head in his sister’s direction and grinned.
‘I’ve known Maddie since we met at a mutual friend’s engagement party a couple of years ago.’
‘I see.’ He couldn’t recall his sister mentioning her before, but then again, when was the last time they had sat and had a catch-up? ‘And do you mind me asking what you do, workwise?’
He was intrigued to find out more about the pleasant girl who didn’t seem remotely fazed by his sister’s enthusiasm towards most things. She was clearly very fond of Maddie and he liked her even more for that. Maddie wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea and as much as his older sister’s bossiness drove him nuts on occasion, he loved her deeply and hated to think that anyone might dislike her.
‘I’m a radiographer.’
‘Yes, another medical person,’ Maddie said smiling. ‘I’m surrounded by them.’
‘I’m not a medical person,’ their mother said.
‘Mum, you were a dentist, like Dad.’ She looked at Cathy. ‘My parents met at dentistry school and Mum fell pregnant with me so didn’t end up qualifying but married Dad instead.’
‘Er, thank you, Madison,’ her mother snapped. ‘I’ll thank you not to share my, um…’
