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‘Aariis fine, Caleb,’ my mother says with a smirk, emphasising his use of my shortened name.
‘What are you girls up to?’ He looks unsure.
‘Nothing, just cooking,’ my mother responds sweetly.
He is doubtful, but leaves. It takes me a minute to catch my breath.
‘What makes you think that?’
My mother gives me the look she reserves for those she thinks are particularly dense.
‘The last time he turned up you elbowed him in the stomach, he avoided you all evening and he went home with that Katherine. Now, he’s whispering in your ear, even though there’s no one around who can possibly overhear, and you’re giggling right along. Yes, I caught that at the station. He’s opening your doors, checking you’re okay, stroking your arm and playing with your fingers in the back seat of the car when he thinks no one is looking, and he smells like you.
‘And not your perfume; he smells of your body cream. When he gave me a kiss, I smelled you on his neck. There are only two ways it could get there and, as we have just seen, he hasn’t been strangled. I can’t say the same for you, though – what are those purple things on your neck? I assume that’s why you’re wearing your hair down today?’
She points to my neck with an inquisitive look on her face. She knows exactly what they are. Caleb swore he couldn’t see them. Great. I rearrange my hair in front of my shoulders.
‘Just a bruise.’
‘Vampires living in Hampstead now, are they?’
Now she’s enjoying herself. I am not going to admit that Caleb and I have been intimate. Mommy has been dying to have this conversation with me but I’m not ready to have it with her. She was as subtle as an elephant on the London Underground when Jasper and I were together. I don’t want to discuss it, but I’m not going to lie.
‘Mommy, please don’t say anything,’ I plead.
‘Are you kidding? Say anything? Daddy will murder Caleb. He loves Jasper, and it’s best to keep shtum, especially as they now go running together once a week.’
My mother knows how to drop a bombshell but make it sound like she is talking about laundry.
‘They what?’
‘Ariella, you really must work on your vocabulary. Jasper and Daddy have been going running weekly for the last couple of months. They went this morning, regular as clockwork. Don’t you think Daddy’s looking great?’
‘Mommy! Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Because it has nothing to do with you. Well, I hope not. It’s good for your dad and he really misses Jasper. Did I mention Jasper might be coming to lunch today? Darling, what’s wrong?’
She knows what’s wrong. I can’t breathe. This is not happening.
‘Mommy! What else? Just give it to me straight.’
She stops what she is doing and looks at me. Here it comes.
‘Jasper’s coming to lunch with Katherine.’ Mommy rolls her eyes for dramatic effect before she continues. ‘Margaret invited her. She still hates you, by the way. I think we’re here because your father may have brainwashed Jasper into giving your relationship another shot. Margaret, most certainly, is dragging Katherine along to put a stop to it, so don’t expect an easy ride.
‘Purely as a recommendation, maybe keep your hands to yourself – and Caleb needs to stop making puppy eyes at you. I might shove Zachary and Isszy between Caleb and Jasper just in case. I don’t want to mop up any blood tonight. They’ll be here in half an hour. So, if you need to tell Caleb, go now.’
I bolt from the kitchen, run up the stairs and call Caleb up to my room. He bounds up after me. He looks slightly frantic when he arrives, shutting the door behind him.
‘Aari, we can’t do this now. Your father keeps looking at me. I think something’s up. I’ve just helped him set the table for ten! I thought it was just the six of us?’
‘Jasper, Katherine, his mother Margaret, and stepfather Phil are coming.’
‘Why would he bring Katherine? Everyone thinks I shagged her – which, again, I didn’t.’
‘I think Daddy is trying to get Jasper and me back together, and Margaret has probably invited Katherine to be antagonistic.’
Caleb relaxes visibly, then mischief sweeps across his face.
