Page 58 of People Skills

‘Why didn’t you wear a shirt?’

‘Because I’m a heathen.’

‘And my lovely Charlotte,’ Hillary says, kissing my cheek too, which is also disconcerting. That’s not how we ever greet each other. Normally Hillary just starts talking, as if we’re in the middle of a conversation—because we usually are, via text or email or phone call.

‘Thanks for inviting me,’ I say. I am feeling very self-conscious. Hillary is in a green patterned shirt-dress, cinched at the waist, and pearl earrings, her dark hair pinned up in a perfect sleek twist.

‘Of course,’ she says.

‘Who’s outside with James?’ Xavier asks.

‘Your father,’ Hillary says, calmly.

‘Very funny,’ Xavier says.

‘He is.’

‘Dad is here?’ Xavier says.

‘Yes.’

‘Graham Sullivan, here, in this house, your house?’

‘Yes. Is that so hard to believe?’

‘Well, it’s the first time in over a decade so excuse my shock.’

‘Your father and I thought it would be nice to see you boys together,’ she says.

Xavier and I both must be making similar disbelieving faces because she sighs. ‘It’s a new thing we’re trying. Engaged co-parenting.’

‘Now? When your children are grown up?’ Xavier says.

‘Better late than never. We’re about to have a grandchild.’

‘Ettie’s not even here.’

‘She thought the stress of being in the same room as us both would be bad for the baby.’

‘I need a drink,’ Xavier says. ‘Charlotte? Wine?’

‘I’ll get it,’ I say, hurrying to the kitchen.

‘No, Charlotte, you’re a guest tonight,’ Hillary says. ‘You both go and sit on the deck, I’ll bring out wine and nibbles.’

God. I shouldn’t be here. This is too much.

I start following Xavier outside when Hillary calls my name, and I turn and walk back to her.

‘Do you know where I put those new wine glasses we bought, remember, the ones you ordered online for me with the fancy stems?’

‘In this cupboard,’ I say, reaching down to a bottom cupboard in her gigantic butler’s pantry. I pull out a box. ‘We didn’t unpack them. I can give them a wash.’

‘No, no, I’ll do it. You go outside and meet Graham.’ She makes a face.

‘You decided to go the nuclear option?’ I say to her, unpacking the wine glasses.

‘No, Graham decided. He invited himself. And it’s true, about the baby. Once she’s born, we’re going to have to see each other at birthday parties and everything else. We may as well start now.’