‘Huh?’
Grandpa nodded.
‘You can’t be responsible for everyone’s actions, and I hate to say this, but you live your life in fear of going against her wishes.’
‘I was supposed to be caring for Grandpa. Getting engaged was not on Aunty Karen’s list.’
Aunty Bev shook her head. ‘If your mother and Karen were so concerned about Dad they should have stayed in the UK and looked after him themselves. Instead, Karen buggered off to Tenerife to be with Janice and party Christmas away. Do you know something? Karen had a bloody cheek sending you that list of dos and don’ts. After talking to Dad, it’s very clear Karen doesn’t do any of that back home.’
I placed my head into my hands.
Aunty Bev gave my arm a rub. ‘Rachel, you have so much talent. You do things to food which I can’t recreate at home. The dishes you cook are amazing and don’t get me started on your sandwich-making abilities.’
Grandpa beamed at me. ‘Rachel is changing the world one sandwich at a time.’
I smiled at him. ‘You remembered my little phrase, Grandpa.’
Aunty Bev continued. ‘It was upsetting for me when I heard Janice tell me all those years ago you were jacking in your catering company to work in an office.’
‘She’s right,’ said Grandpa.
‘Stop living your life for your mother, Rachel. Start living it for you. Move out of that awful flat, come here and start a new life. Block your mother on WhatsApp while you are at it, too.’
I rose from my chair and began to cook breakfast. Aunty Bev made everyone coffee before looking at the weather on her phone. ‘Oh God, there is a snowstorm coming on Christmas Eve.’
Grandpa fist pumped the air. ‘Adventure time.’
‘It’s going to be bad,’ explained Aunty Bev. ‘Have we got enough food?’
‘Have you seen the cupboards, the fridges, and the freezers? Frank has bought so much food we could stay here for weeks and eat comfortably.’
As I walked over to give Grandpa and Aunty Bev their food, my phone began to vibrate. I checked it and saw it was Maddie.
‘Hey, how’s Malibu?’
‘Rachel, I can’t talk but I need to tell you something.’ Her voice sounded shaky and emotional. It reminded me of the calls Maddie used to make when she was in California and not coping.
‘Maddie – are you okay?’
The phone began to crackle, and I couldn’t hear what she was saying. ‘Maddie, I can’t hear you. What’s wrong?’
‘I’m okay, don’t worry,’ said Maddie. ‘Speak soon.’
Aunty Bev and Grandpa had worried looks on their faces. ‘Is she okay?’ Aunty Bev asked.
‘I don’t know, she didn’t sound all right.’
Grandpa shook his head with disapproval. ‘Why is she so far away? She needs us.’
My phone vibrated. It was a message from Maddie.
I am fine. Please don’t worry. Bad line. Hope you are having a lovely time. Give my love to Grandpa and Humphrey x.
I showed Aunty Bev my phone. She was about to reply when there was a knock at the front door. Humphrey leapt out of his basket. ‘Oh no you don’t,’ I said, grabbing the lead and attaching it to his collar. ‘I’ve learnt my lesson.’
After opening the door I saw that it was Kay from the gift shop. Judging by her narrowing eyes and pinched mouth, she wasn’t pleased with the engagement news. ‘My mother isnotgetting engaged to your grandfather,’ she snapped. ‘I will not allow her to marry intoyour terriblefamily.’
Frustration and anger at Frank which had been simmering inside my belly after Maddie’s call now came to the boil. ‘Can everyone stop assuming we’re all like Frank Baxter? We’renothinglike him. Nor is my sister who made the unfortunate mistake of marrying him. If you all took the time to get to know my grandfather, my sister, and me, you would know that we are the opposite of Frank Baxter. Instead, you all have assumed we love the fact an arsehole called Frank Baxter married into our family and brought us all a lot of pain and misery. Have I made myself clear?’
