Smells of a roast drifted through the house, and she followed the scent into the kitchen. Her mother was by the sink washing lettuce, and Kaitlyn was setting the table with only three place settings.
“Hi, Ma.” Jade kissed her on the cheek. “Where’s Connor?”
“Hi, sweetheart. He got called into work.”
“That’s a shame.” She lied because she didn’t know if she could look him in the eye quite yet after getting busted making out in public again. She loved her brother, but she could do without the disapproving glare he would aim at her over dinner.
While their mother’s back was turned, Kaitlyn winked at Jade and whispered, “How was your make-out session in the car?”
Jade shook her head, pretending she couldn’t hear what her sister was saying.
“Do you really want me to repeat the question louder?” This time Kaitlyn didn’t whisper.
“What question?” Their mother looked over her shoulder at them.
“Nothing,” Jade said and threw her sister a dirty look.
Their mother wiped her hands on a dish towel and focused her attention on Jade. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? You look sad.”
“I do?”
Her mother nodded.
It would seem her emotions were out there for the world to see. Thankfully, Nate was too blind to notice. There was no point denying she’d seen better days, but how much did she tell them?
“Toby had to put me on annual leave.” Needing to do something, she grabbed a knife and chopping board and cut cucumbers for the salad.
“What? Why?” Her mother frowned.
Jade scraped the cucumbers from the board into a bowl and started on the tomatoes. “Because parents were complaining about the article online. The one with my arse in the air and me flipping the bird.”
“I can see why that could upset some parents, but surely they can understand that these people have been harassing you?” her mother snapped as she took the lamb from the oven and placed it on the counter. The scent of rosemary and garlic filled the kitchen. “I thought Toby had more sense than to be dictated to by parents who don’t know the full facts. I’m disappointed in him. How long are you on leave?”
“Indefinitely,” Jade answered.
“Indefinitely! How can he do this to you?” Her mother huffed.
“It’s not Toby’s fault. He tried really hard to support me. But then…” Jade bit her lip and flicked her gaze at Kaitlyn who sat on the edge of her seat, looking eager to hear the rest.
“And then what?” they both asked.
Paying close attention to putting the salad together, she said, “One afternoon after music lessons, a parent walked in on Nate and I kissing.”
Jade’s mother sucked in a quick breath.
“It doesn’t look good for a primary school teacher to be involved with two different men at the same time.”
“But they’re not,” Jade’s mother pointed out.
“We know that, and Toby knows that, but no one else does. To calm everyone down, he thought it would be best if I lie low for a while.”
“I still don’t like how he’s holding you to blame for something out of your control.” Her mother sniffed.
“I talked to the paparazzi. I shouldn’t have.”
“Those leeches have been hounding you. I don’t know how they live with themselves making money from innocent people.” She sliced into the lamb with a bit too much force.
“Here, Ma, let me do that.” Kaitlyn took the knife from her hand before she hurt herself.
