Page 103 of People Skills

Graham follows Xavier and stands in the kitchen doorway. ‘I’m just pleased that everything with your mother and me is out in the open and everyone is supportive,’ Graham says.

Xavier snorts.

‘And you and Lana are getting back together,’ Graham adds.

‘Lana and I are not getting back together.’ Xavier is out of my eyeline in the kitchen, so I can’t see his face when he says this, but his tone is firm.

‘Oh, I saw the way you were looking at each other,’ Graham says.

‘I was avoiding looking at her.’

‘Well, the steak was good. A bit overdone maybe. Don’t tell your mother I said that.’

‘Dad, why exactly are you here?’

‘I’m actually here to talk to…’ He pauses, looks at me.

I smile back. I am not going to say my name. Let him endure the awkwardness of having forgotten it. Let him feel one moment of shame, please.

He blinks at me a few times. ‘Charlotte,’ he says, snapping his fingers and looking pleased with himself.

I nod.

‘I was hoping to get your help with something,’ he says.

‘Of course,’ I say, my heart sinking.

‘I want to set up a little surprise for Hillary.’

‘A surprise?’ I repeat. Uh-oh.

‘Dad, is a surprise the right move right now? You and Mum are still figuring things out,’ Xavier says.

‘A big gesture is exactly what we need. I want to show her how I feel.’

‘What about a massage voucher for after the festival?’ I say, trying to head off anything dramatic. ‘I know a spa she really likes.’

‘Yes perfect,’ Xavier says.

‘A massage voucher? You think my big romantic gesture after twenty-five years of marriage and twelve years apart should be a massage voucher? God, you young people have no sense of romance.’

‘Mum hates surprises,’ Xavier says.

‘Please stop assuming I know nothing about your mother,’ Graham says. ‘Because I know her in ways you don’t. And she, in fact, likes a surprise.’

‘What do you need from me?’ I ask, giving in. Maybe he’s right. His knowledge of Hillary is very different from mine.

‘I’m hoping you can come with me to the park quickly,’ Graham says.

‘Dad, she—’

‘I can do that,’ I say, speaking over the top of Xavier.

‘Excellent. Let’s go!’ Graham says and he walks out the door.

As I go to follow him, Xavier grabs me and pulls me back, out of Graham’s sight, and he kisses me, pressing me against the wall.

‘Don’t be long,’ he whispers in my ear. ‘Or I might die.’