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She sighs as the person on the other end obviously speaks and then she says tightly, “What about Anton?”
I recognise her sister’s husband’s name and I hear a deep sigh and a terse, “Are you kidding me? What the hell were you thinking of…”
Whoever is on the other end obviously hangs up because her furious expletive makes me head away from the door and as she storms in, I see the anger flashing in her eyes which makes me growl, “Close the door.”
“What?” She looks up and I say with a frown, “Close the door and tell me what the hell is going on.”
As she runs her fingers through her hair with an agitated grimace, I know things are bad and yet before she can enlighten me further, there’s a thump of feet on the stairs and the two children burst into the room like a tornado whipping through the house and destroying it in seconds.
CHAPTER21
JESSICA
Thank God for unruly children because they saved me from a grilling by barrelling into the room and distracting our attention.
As I make the drinks, Robert tries to entertain them by switching on the massive television and settling the fight that breaks out as they decide on what to watch.
In fact, the next two hours are spent in utter chaos as we attempt to do what’s right and fail miserably. If I thought that children actually did what they were asked, I was ill-informed because it appears that my niece and nephew do whatever the hell they like at all times.
It’s utterly exhausting, and I don’t know how my sister does it and as we settle in a role neither of us has been trained for, it makes me determined to settle this nightmare once and for all.
I realise Robert has questions. He’s not stupid and I wonder how much I should tell him. I wish I could confide in him, but for some reason I want him to think good of my family. If I tell him, he would be appalled and probably make his excuses and leave, and it surprises me more than anything that I really don’t want that to happen.
After a while, we settle into some sort of calm and I sit at the table with Angelina colouring in a Christmas picture, while Robert entertains Brad with a computer game. There are Christmas tunes on the radio and as I listen to Angelina’s excited chatter about Santa and the elves, it makes me smile at how happy that makes her.
Suddenly, Robert gets a call and everything changes.
I watch his expression alter in an instant as he says quickly, “Calm down.”
I try hard not to listen, but my curiosity is getting the better of me as I try to pretend I’m not listening.
“It’s not convenient. I’m well…”
I glance up as he catches my eye and I’m surprised at the desperate look in his.
He sighs heavily, “It’s, well, I’m not alone.”
Angelina says loudly, “When’s mummy coming back?”
“Soon honey, shh.”
I dismiss her quickly because I’m intrigued by Robert’s conversation and, from the expression on his face, his call is as unwelcome as my earlier one.
“I know I promised, but things have changed.” He sighs heavily and his voice is laden with defeat, “Ok, but be on your best behaviour.”
He hangs up the phone and throws an agonised glance my way and I say quickly, “Who was that?”
“My mother.”
I completely forgot we were supposed to meeting them this evening and I say with horror, “Was she checking where we are? It slipped my mind.”
“Same, but no, well, she was calling for another reason.”
He shakes his head and groans. “I’m sorry about this, but she’s asked if we’ll all head over there now.”
“All!” I can’t believe what I’m hearing, and he growls, “It’s, well, it appears the postman has extended his round to include my parents.”
“Why? What did they say?”
