A Spot Of Bother

101

Jamie pulled into the village and felt that slight sinking in his stomach he always felt going back. The family thing. Like he was fourteen again. He parked over the road from the house, turned off the engine and gathered himself.

The secret was to remember that you were an adult now, that all of you were adults, that there was no longer any need to fight the battles you were fighting when you were fourteen.

God, he wanted Tony with him.

He glanced across at the house and saw Uncle Douglas emerging from the side gate with his wife. Mary. Or Molly. He’d better check that with someone before he put his foot in it.

He slipped down in his seat so that he couldn’t be seen and waited till they’d climbed into their car.

God, he hated aunts. The lipstick. The lavender perfume. The hilarious stories about how you wet yourself during a carol service.

They drove away.

What was he going to say about Tony?

That was the problem, wasn’t it. You left home. But you never did become an adult. Not really. You just fucked up in different and more complicated ways.

At this point, Katie drove up and parked beside him. They got out of their cars simultaneously.

“Hey you,” said Katie. They hugged. “No Tony?”

“No Tony.”

She rubbed his arms. “I’m so sorry.”

“Listen, I was going to ask you about that. I mean, what have you said to Mum?”

“I haven’t said anything.”

“Right.”

“Just tell them the truth,” said Katie.

“Yeh.”

Katie looked him in the eye. “They’ll be fine. They have to be fine. I’m queen for the weekend. And no one is stepping out of line, all right?”

“All right,” said Jamie. “Great haircut, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

They headed into the house.