Keep It In The Family

By Jess Newton

Remember the time you almost kissed your husband's aunt? Lisa does.

Lisa has it all. A hard-working

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessica Newton
• Release date: Feb 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781739225315

Book preview

Chapter One

The phone rang when I unlocked the front door, trilling insistently as I closed the door behind me and dropped my bag. The irritating jingle continued as I fumbled my way across the room until the moment I reached my hand out to grab it, when it stopped. I swore and trudged back to the front door to remove my coat and shoes in a more leisurely fashion. Seconds later, my mobile rang. I checked the caller ID: my husband, Steve.

I just wanted to check you got my message about the plumber, he said, without introduction.

I sighed. I haven’t read it yet. I’ve literally just got through the door.

Oh, okay. He’ll be over this afternoon about one. Is that ok?

Yeah, fine, I agreed, toeing my shoes off absently. As long as he’s done before I have to go get the kids.

Oh. I could almost hear him frown. Do you want me to make it earlier?

I really don’t care.

Ok. There was a pause. Have a good day.

You, too.

He hung up, and I continued my battle with my outdoor clothing, finally emerging victorious into the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea. I’d forgotten the plumber was coming later, and although the leaky sink did need to be fixed, I was mildly annoyed about the intrusion. It had been a long term, and I had a large list of things to sort on my final few days of relative freedom before the chaos of the Easter holidays began. Clutching my mug, I made my way into the living room and sat down for five minutes before getting started on my jobs for the day.

Five hours later, I was cursing the plumber and my husband with him.

I need to leave, now, I explained, for what felt like the seventh time.

The wretched man took no notice and flashed me a grin. I’ll be ten minutes, tops.

You said that twenty minutes ago, I replied, through gritted teeth. I need to be out that door in five minutes, or I’ll be late for the school run.

He withdrew his hands from under the sink and smirked. Tell you what, love, you make me a cup of tea, and I’ll sit in the van and wait for you to get back.

I exhaled through my nose, counting slowly to ten. Fine. I tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling creeping up my back from the way he smiled at me and strode swiftly from the room.

I didn’t get to sit down again until nine o’clock in the evening. With the dinner things all cleared up, I flopped onto the sofa in my favourite corner by the fireplace and prepared to lose myself in my book until Steve looked up at me, blue eyes narrowed under his blond crew cut.

Are we all set for tomorrow?

I paused, thrown. What had I forgotten now? Tomorrow?

Steve sighed, with the air of a long-suffering man who has learned how to be patient. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled in response.

Tomorrow is the twelfth. We’re driving up to my parents’ after I’ve finished work. Ready for the party the day after?

Oh, that. I haven’t done anything yet. I’ll sort everything out tomorrow.

Cutting it a bit fine, aren’t you?

Well, I didn’t have much time today with the plumber here! I snapped. It’ll be fine. We’re only going for three nights.

Steve raised his eyebrows. Ok, if you’re sure. I’ll lay out a couple of shirts, so I’ve got some options for the party. His brow furrowed. Have you seen my suit bag recently?

I picked up my book. I’ll look for it tomorrow.

Burying my nose in my book, I tried to forget about the stupid party. It was Steve’s mum and dad’s ruby wedding anniversary this year, and they were throwing a huge party to celebrate. We were driving up tomorrow to stay with them for a few days, and Steve had been busy with it for weeks, albeit from a distance. He had spent hours on the phone with his mum and sister, talking through decorations and god knows what else. I snorted internally. Nobody in their right mind would ask Steve’s opinion on table decorations, which said a lot about his relatives.

I bit my tongue to stop myself from giggling, even as guilt welled up in me. That was unfair, and I shouldn’t be taking my annoyance with Steve out on his mum, who I actually liked very much. I tried to drag my mind back to my book. I flicked my eyes over the top of it; Steve had absorbed himself in his sudoku again. I tried for a moment longer to concentrate, then put the book down with a huff. Steve looked up, a question creasing his forehead.

I think I’m going to have a bath, I said.

He nodded and looked back down, mind already back on his numbers.

***

By the time I got in the car the next day, my irritation had hit new heights. Packing took me most of the day; Ella, my eldest, had hidden her favourite teddy with such aplomb that I seriously considered calling the school to ask where she was. I resisted, and after picking her up from school, Ella merely laughed at me and pulled the teddy in question out from inside her desk.

You didn’t look very hard, did you Mum? she said, raising an eyebrow with ten-year-old disdain.

Packing for Edie, her younger sister, presented the opposite problem; her stuffed animals covered every surface of her bedroom like barnacles, and she quite simply couldn’t see why not all of them needed to come with us.

You can take five! I found myself shouting finally, after the tenacious eight-year-old had spent ten minutes haggling upwards from my initial offer of two.

With a smug grin she scooped up a selection, seemingly at random, and thrust them into my arms. I sighed as I plonked them into her bag on top of the clothes I had picked out for her. She didn’t know which ones I had chosen and, as such, hadn’t yet objected to them. We would save that argument for the following day when she actually had to put some on. Why bother having all the fun in one go? I thought, forcing the zip closed over the bulging shapes of the teddies.

Steve had laid out three shirts, as promised, two in different shades of blue and one in a pale pink. What he hadn’t done was pick out anything else, so after a flurry of text messages, I decided he was just going to have to live with my choices and shoved a handful of pants and socks into the bag along with a couple of polo shirts and some chinos. Like Edie, I knew he’d complain when he got them out, but at this point I didn’t have the energy to care.

Steve’s parents lived just over two hours away, and the kids bickered most of the way there. Ella whined about missing a sleepover at Sophie’s that all her friends were going to, and Edie complained that she wouldn’t be able to sleep without all her toys in bed with her. I turned the radio gradually up to cover the noise and stared out of the window at the streetlights flashing past, their lamps glowing through the spring drizzle like giant, orange dandelion clocks.

We turned off the main road, and the unnatural silence of the engine at rest filled the car as we stopped at a traffic light. The streets grew gradually smaller and quieter as we twisted and turned our way towards Steve’s parents’ house in Clacton-on-Sea. The kids had gradually quieted as we drove, bored into submission, but they perked up again as we approached the familiar streets.

There! Edie shouted, pointing out of the front window as we turned onto their cul-de-sac. There’s Nan and Gramps’ house!

We know. Ella rolled her eyes. Dad’s driven us this far; I think he knows which house we’re going to.

The car rolled to a stop on the drive, and the kids immediately unstrapped themselves. I stretched as I got out, opening Ella’s door and letting them tumble out. They had a brief scuffle over who rang the doorbell, and a minute later the door opened to reveal the smiling face of Elaine, Steve’s mum.

Oh my goodness, who are these big, grown-up girls? I barely recognised you! she beamed, sweeping them both into a hug.

I’m nearly as tall as Mum now! Ella boasted proudly, looking up at me as I approached.

Mmm, not quite. I scrunched my face in disagreement.

Nan, Nan, look at my tooth! Edie exclaimed, grabbing Elaine’s face to force the point. Edie had been losing teeth steadily for two years, but our previous visits with the grandparents had never yet coincided with a wobbly one.

Oh, now, said Peter, Steve’s dad, appearing in the doorway behind her. What you want to do with that is tie a bit of string round it, tie it to a door handle and…

Eww!

Eurgh!

Dad!

Elaine and I laughed at the expressions of shock and disgust on the children’s faces, but Steve’s held a warning. The kids disappeared through the door, thundering up the stairs to their usual bedroom, and Elaine turned her attention on me. Everything about Elaine was soft, from the powdery scent of her perfume to her hugs and her cashmere jumper. She wore a kind expression, and as she leaned in to give me a hug and a kiss, I relaxed.

Lisa. It’s so good to see you.

Hi, Elaine. How are you both?

Better now you’re all here. Her eyes crinkled in a smile, and I knew she was telling the truth. Family was everything to Elaine, and she showed her love for her grandchildren by spoiling them rotten and feeding them too much. Do you want to come in and have a drink before we send the boys out to get the bags?

Yes, please, I agreed, exhaling in relief.

I stepped into the living room, a study in Laura Ashley, with a three-piece suite that matched the floral curtains framing the bay window and a small, glowing electric fire. Elaine got me settled on the sofa with a glass of wine, and I sank into the overstuffed chintz, sipping gratefully at the cool, sweet liquid. A moment later she joined me, perching on the edge of her seat.

Journey alright? she asked.

I could hear the thudding of feet upstairs as the children chased Peter around their bedroom, muffled giggles sinking down through the floor. Steve emerged from the bathroom, his usual post-drive toilet trip complete, and stood in the doorway, hands on his hips.

Give us a hand with the bags, Lisa? he frowned.

Elaine turned on him in a motherly fashion. Let her sit down for a minute. The bags’ll keep. Help yourself to a beer, your Dad’s put plenty in the fridge.

Oi! Hands off my beer! Peter appeared behind Steve. He clapped him on the back. Come on, let’s get the bags in, then we can relax.

***

I stayed in bed late the next morning, revelling in the luxury of having someone else to get the kids up and dressed. I rolled over and stared at the ceiling, the light bleeding through the peach curtains rendering the white, gilt-framed cupboards warm and cosy. By the time I emerged, taking the time to wash and dry my hair properly, Elaine had fed the girls, and they were playing with some of Steve’s sister Charlie’s old toy horses on the rug by the fire.

Elaine put her paper aside when I entered and looked me over with a smile. Morning, Lisa. Can I get you some breakfast?

I waved her aside as she tried to stand. Don’t worry Elaine, I’ll help myself. Does anyone else want a cup of tea or coffee?

Another coffee would be lovely, thank you dear, Elaine said. I’ve just put a pot on, she called after me as I headed into the kitchen.

Steve and his dad were nowhere in sight, and I assumed they were in the garden admiring Peter’s latest labour-saving purchase – whatever it might be, there was always something – but Elaine put me right as I joined her. She took her mug of coffee with a smile, wrapping her professionally manicured hands around the delicate china that was the complete opposite of my sturdy, child-proof dinnerware back home. Everything here was different; perhaps that was why I found it so restful.

They’ve gone out to pick up the balloons for the party and take them to the hotel, she explained.

I took a sip of my tea to hide my surprise. I didn’t realise it was in a hotel, I said, after a moment. You’ve really gone all out!

A frown of worry creased Elaine’s forehead. Didn’t Steve tell you? It’s been booked for months.

I looked at my knees. How could I explain to Elaine that we didn’t really talk anymore? Not unless it was about visits from plumbers or the kids’ school reports, anyway. The days had long since gone where we sat down and talked to each other about what was going on in our lives. We had become two separate entities, locked in our own orbits around the one thing that connected us: our children.

I pulled myself from my thoughts and looked at Elaine, unsure of how to respond. She smiled sympathetically, seeming to understand what I hadn’t said.

Don’t worry, dear. It gets easier. She inclined her head minutely towards the children, lowering her voice. Once they’re a bit older, you can get a bit of your own life back.

I smiled automatically and sipped my tea. Edie pushed over Ella’s horse, and Elaine left to intercede in the ensuing altercation, leaving me to myself. All too soon, it was time to start getting ready for the party in earnest, the leisurely start to the morning long behind me.

***

Hey, Lisa!

I turned at the familiar voice to see Steve’s sister Charlie weaving her way towards me, her arms full of boxes. I had always liked Charlie, although I found her effortless cool a little intimidating. This evening she looked stunning, her long straight red hair hanging knife-blade-sharp down to the line of her strapless black dress. The hot pink sash around her middle matched perfectly with her 6-inch heels and the slash of colour on her lips, and though it clashed with her hair, she made it look like a statement. My own outfit was nowhere near as daring; I wore a green, fifties-style flared dress that suited my curvy figure, with my dark hair twisted up into as elegant a chignon as I could manage. I actually liked how I looked tonight; with Elaine around, I had had time to do my makeup properly, lining my eyes with black and painting my lips a bright red. Normally I didn’t bother, but it was refreshing to get a chance to dress up for a change, even if I’d never look as stylish as Charlie.

Hi, Charlie, I grinned, leaning in for an air kiss. How are you?

Good ta, and you? Oh, this is Kevin, she added, nodding her head over her shoulder as a pale skinned, muscle-bound man appeared behind her. He jerked his chin quickly upwards in greeting, his sky-blue suit bulging at the seams as he crossed his arms over his chest.

I plastered on a smile. Nice to meet you, I lied.

Charlie went through at least one boyfriend a year, and Kevin, with his shaved head and tattoos along the side of his neck, didn’t look like he’d last any longer than the previous model.

Go give Dad a hand with the balloons, would you babe? Charlie asked him. He grunted and left. I raised my eyebrows at Charlie. Oh, don’t, she warned me, though she was laughing. I get it enough from Mum and Dad.

Sorry, I grinned.

He’s no Einstein, she conceded, but he treats me well enough.

Well, that’s all that matters then, I smiled at her. Do you need a hand with those?

Her boxes turned out to contain party poppers, streamers, and other celebratory paraphernalia. I summoned the girls over from where they had been chasing each other around the balloons, and they joined  in distributing them over the tables, childish enthusiasm making them eager to help.

Elaine and Peter had opted not to go for a sit-down dinner, choosing instead a more informal dance party with snacks and drinks. The large room they had booked had a proper, staffed bar, a long buffet table, and several smaller tables for weary party-goers to rest at. Balloons floated everywhere, and a DJ at the opposite end of the room to the bar tested her sound system with loud pop music.

Did they choose their own outfits? Charlie asked me, looking at my children. They appeared to be taking their job very seriously, and I could see Ella frowning as she politely disagreed with Edie’s party popper placement.

Yes, why? I asked, hiding my smile.

I knew perfectly well why Charlie was asking; while Edie wore a red velvet dress with a poofy skirt and a black satin sash, Ella was very smartly attired in a miniature dinner jacket. I thought they both looked lovely, and Ella’s suit went very well with her fashionably short hair. As I watched, she swept her long fringe out of her eyes and nodded, helping Edie to spread some sequins across the table.

What did Mum say? Charlie asked, not answering my question.

My smile widened. She didn’t say anything, actually. She looked like she might do for a moment, but then she just said they looked lovely.

I had never seen Elaine speechless before, but the seconds before she swallowed and smiled at the girls had been highly entertaining. They had both beamed proudly at her praise, and the moment passed without incident.

I’m impressed. I told Mum I didn’t want to wear a skirt to a party once.

I looked at Charlie. Really?

Yeah. I wanted to copy Steve. I think I was five, and he was ten.

What happened? I laughed.

Charlie arched a brow. What do you think? I ended up in pink tulle.

Well, this is the 21st century now, I said, looking back at the girls. If a girl wants to wear a suit to a party, who’s to say she can’t?

That’s always been my motto, said a voice from over my shoulder. We turned, and my heart stopped.

The woman standing behind me must have been ten or fifteen years older than me, tanned with short, dirty blond hair in a similar style to Ella’s but undercut on one side and with streaks of grey peppered throughout. She was immaculately dressed in a dark blue suit, with a crisp, white shirt visible under the open jacket. Her flat, pointed shoes shone as bright as her gleaming silver belt buckle, and her shirt hung slightly open at the collar to reveal a glimpse of chiselled collarbone. She had three silver studs in one ear and none in the