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I decided I’d call a taxi for Blossom as soon as we’d finished our cheesecake.
*****
‘Stop picking on her, will you?’ I hissed at Skye in the kitchen. ‘It’s not up to you what Blossom does with her life. And she’s happy!’Probably a lot happier than you, was what I was thinking, although I didn’t say it.
‘But it’s such a waste. Don’t you think? I just want the best for her.’
I shot her a sceptical glance.
‘It’s true. I want Blossom to achieve her potential instead of just wasting her bloody life living in a fantasy land. As long as Ada’s bailing her out, that’s just what she’ll carry on doing!’
‘Keep your voice down.’
She took another glug of her wine and said in a stage whisper, ‘She’s got a brain. She could have been a doctor or a solicitor. I mean, she’s definitely bright enough. Or she could have worked in publishing... she reads enough books.’ She was slurring now. ‘But hey, if she wants to continue grubbing around in the muck, sleeping in her childhood bedroom forever and wasting her love on a succession of useless men, who amIto point out that she could be doing so much better for herself?’
‘But she doesn’t “grub around in the muck”.’
‘What’s gardening then, if it isn’t that?’
‘True. But Skye, she’s a self-taught horticulturalist. She knows the names of practically all the plants on the planet, of which I’m totally in awe because I couldn’t recognise a... sycamore tree... even if it came over, introduced itself and asked me if I’d read Monty Don’s latest book! Plus, she’s started blogging about gardening, answering reader’s questions. It’s brilliant. You should have a look at it.’
‘What’s that?’ Blossom came in at that moment, and I turned to her with a smile.
‘I’m just telling Skye about your blog. And you’re thinking about writing a book as well, aren’t you?’
‘Well, I’m researching it at the moment . . .’
‘A book?’ Skye studied her. ‘Can I read it?’
‘Well, no. I haven’t actually started writing it yet. But I’d really like you to look at it when it’s done. I’d love your opinion.’ She swung around to smile at me. ‘Both of you.’
Skye sighed. ‘Problem is, the market’s already awash with gardening books. I doubt you’ll ever find a publisher willing to take a chance on a complete unknown. Not when there are celebrities out there writing books about growing their own. You’ll have to publish it yourself.’
‘That’s exactly what I’m going to do,’ said Blossom, calmly.
‘Hmm, well. Good luck with that. If you do it yourself, you won’t have a publisher to do all your marketing for you.’
‘Publishers expect the writers to do theirownmarketing these days,’ she said decisively, which was as close as Blossom ever got to snapping at someone. ‘I’ll take these to the table, Rori.’ She picked up two plates of dessert and hurried out with them.
I gave Skye a look. ‘A little encouragement would be nice. You didn’t have to immediately shoot her book idea down in flames like that.’ But she just shrugged and disappeared with the other plate.
Over cheesecake and coffee, I persuaded Blossom to stay over and get the train home in the morning, as it was getting late.
‘Ignore your big sister,’ I told her with a smile as we cleared up in the kitchen together later. ‘She’s in a bad place, what with all these stories from the past being raked over again.’
I’d told Skye she should go to bed because she was drunk, after she’d almost fallen asleep in her cheesecake. She’d raised her wine glass with a smile and taken it with her.
Tears sprang to Blossom’s eyes. ‘Skye hates me. She always has.’
I laughed. ‘Of course she doesn’t hate you! Shelovesyou. She just wants what’s best for you. Whatshethinks is best for you.’
‘Maybe.’ She shrugged, clearly unconvinced.
Later, I made sure Blossom was comfortable on the sofa with extra pillows and said goodnight, retiring gratefully to my room. I felt shattered after hours of playing my usual role of mediator with my sisters.
But a while later, just as I was turning off my light, I heard raised voices and my heart sank. Getting wearily out of bed, I went to investigate. They were in the kitchen, arguing, but when I went in, Blossom rushed past me in tears. ‘Why is she always so horrible to me?’ she whispered, running out.
‘What have you been saying to her now?’ I demanded, furious with Skye. ‘Admit it. You’re jealous of her – and you always have been – just because she’s always been Ada’s favourite.’
