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“Yeah.”
“She lives in LA, doesn’t she?”
“Yeah. I don’t see her much.”
“How old were you when she moved?”
“Eighteen.”
“Did you miss her a lot?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Are you close?”
“No, not really. Kait doesn’t have much time for anyone but herself.”
Her blue eyes study me curiously. “You call her Kait? Not Mum?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“It’s complicated,” I say again. I’m crazy about Missie, but I’m not ready to talk about my mother to her yet.
“You’ve got two sisters, right? Gaby and Michelle?”
“Yeah. We call her Belle.”
“Like the Beatles’ song?”
“Yeah. It’s Damon’s fault. He called her it when he first met her, and it stuck. She was only six. I should have known they’d end up together.”
She smiles. “She’s younger than Gaby?”
“Mmm, she’s twenty-two. Gaby’s twenty-five.”
“I’d like to meet her.”
I have a mouthful of whisky. “I was thinking about that. What are you doing next week?”
“We’re going up to Blenheim for few days. My aunt—my mum’s older sister—and uncle live there, and we stay with them quite often.”
“Hmm.”
“Why?”
“Damon’s getting married. I said I’d fly up on Boxing Day for a couple of days to help organize some of the final bits and pieces. His stag night’s on the twenty-eighth. On the twenty-ninth it’s the wedding rehearsal, and the thirtieth is his big day. I’m his best man.”
“Oh!” She smiles. “You’ll be fantastic.”
“Well, thank you. I was wondering whether you and Finn would like to come with me? My invitation was a plus-one, and I know Damon wouldn’t mind if Finn came, too.” Her expression softens, and I add, “What did I say?”
“‘You and Finn.’ You didn’t have to say that.”
“Of course I did. I know you’re a package. I’m sure your mum’s welcome too, except I didn’t think she’d want to go to the wedding of someone she doesn’t know. But if you have other plans, that’s fine.”
She nibbles her bottom lip, thinking. Then she says, “What are you doing with Zelda? Is she going to your dad’s?”
