Aunty Bev appeared and made a fuss of Humphrey.
‘Layla knows we have been in the west wing,’ I mumbled with a heavy chest. ‘She knows we found the keys in her handbag. I have betrayed her.’
‘Don’t worry,’ soothed Aunty Bev, ‘I’ll speak to her.’
‘I didn’t want to put her in a difficult position. She’s been through a lot.’
‘Relax,’ assured Aunty Bev, ‘it will be fine. We had to find out what was going on.’
As I walked back into the kitchen, Grandpa was holding up my phone. I groaned as I saw that Mum was facetiming me. We hadn’t spoken since I’d hung up on her.
‘Hello, Mum,’ I said, after pressing accept.
My mother’s face appeared on the screen. Once again, she was on her sunbed. Today she was wearing a bright red halter-neck bikini. Her hair was pinned up at the back and in her ears were gigantic golden hoops. ‘Hello, Rachel. It’s good to see you’ve calmed down.’
I bit my lip at her dig. ‘How are you?’
She frowned. ‘Where’s Bev?’
‘Janice, I’m here,’ shouted Aunty Bev, peering over my shoulder and waving.
Relief passed over Mum’s face. ‘Thank God you’re there, Bev. We’ve all been so worried.’
Aunty Bev cackled with laughter. ‘As well as drinking and partying, Janice?’
‘Bev, this is no time for jokes. How is our father?’ In the background the sounds of heels clopping towards the phone could be heard, followed by Aunty Karen’s voice. ‘Janice, prepare yourself, Bev has walked into utter chaos.’
‘He’s fine,’ shouted Grandpa, holding aloft his cup of tea.
Aunty Bev smiled. ‘Janice and Karen, I haven’t seen Dad this happy in a long time. He told me that living here is a hundred times better than back at his home with Karen popping in every day.’
There was the sound of hissing and mumbling in Tenerife. Mum must have passed her phone to Aunty Karen as she appeared on the screen. Her pink sunburnt face made me gasp. ‘Beverly, that’s a hurtful thing to say. I do such a lot for Dad.’
‘Like what, Karen?’ Aunty Bev shouted. ‘From what I’ve heard – you do bugger all!’
Aunty Karen yelped with shock. ‘How dare you say that, Beverly! You never come up here as you’re too busy cavorting with that ninety-year-old millionaire, the one who pays for you to go on luxury holidays with him every time you flash a bit of leg.’
‘At least I enjoy myself,’ roared Aunty Bev. ‘I’d rather be on holiday with Harold and his millions than sitting watching Robert gawp at my hairdresser.’
Irritation at my family prickled away at me. I didn’t need another facetime argument and there were more pressing matters at hand like my sister’s husband having an affair and me betraying Layla’s trust. ‘We’re not having another row on this phone; we have enough stress going on here as it is.’
My mother snatched the phone back from Aunty Karen as I let out an inner groan. Why did I say the last bit of that sentence?’
‘What do you mean, Rachel? I knew you were not telling us everything.’
I had to act fast. ‘Mum, Christmas Day is on Friday, and I must cook for us all. There is more snow forecast and it’s hard work here keeping everyone fed and watered.’
Mum eyed me suspiciously. ‘You’re making me worry and I want a cocktail. It’s still early here and Gary has said no booze until after lunch.’
‘Please can I have one, Janice,’ sobbed Aunty Karen in the background. ‘Beverly has hurt my feelings.’
I’d had enough of my family. ‘Look, it’s Christmas, can we all be nice?’
‘I don’t want to speak to Beverly,’ wailed Aunty Karen.
‘Merry Christmas,’ shouted Aunty Beverly and I hung up.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
