A Spot Of Bother

119

Katie did her makeup and let Sarah negotiate with Jacob.

“I’m afraid you really do have to come.”

“Want to stay here,” said Jacob.

“You’ll be on your own,” said Sarah.

“Want to stay here,” said Jacob.

It wasn’t a tantrum yet, just a bid for attention. But they had to stop it gaining momentum. And Sarah probably stood a better chance than Katie. Unknown quantity. Less leverage.

“Want to go home,” said Jacob.

“There’s going to be a party,” said Sarah. “There’s going to be cake. You just have to hang on for a couple of hours.”

A couple of hours? Sarah wasn’t very clued up about children and time measurement. Jacob was pretty much incapable of distinguishing between last week and the extinction of the dinosaurs.

“I want a biscuit.”

“Jacob…” Sarah took his hand and stroked it. If Katie had done that he might just have bitten it. “I know you haven’t got your toys and your videos and your friends. And I know everyone’s busy and can’t play with you at the moment…”

“I hate you,” said Jacob.

“No you don’t,” said Sarah.

“Do,” said Jacob.

“No you don’t,” said Sarah.

“Do,” said Jacob.

“No you don’t,” said Sarah, who seemed to be reaching the end of her repertoire.

Luckily, Jacob’s attention was deflected by Ray coming in and flopping onto the bed. “Jesus H. Christ.”

“What’s up?” asked Katie.

“I’m not sure you really want to know.”

“Tell me,” said Katie. “I could do with some entertainment.”

“Not sure this counts as entertainment,” said Ray, who sounded worryingly somber.

“Perhaps you should tell me later,” said Katie. “When certain people aren’t around.”

Sarah got to her feet. “Right, young man. We’re going to play hide-and-seek. If you can find me in ten minutes, you win twenty pence.”

Jacob was out of the room almost instantly. Clearly Sarah knew more about child management than Katie had given her credit for.

“So?” asked Katie.

“I guess you’re going to find out sooner or later,” said Ray, sitting up.

“Find out what?”

“Your dad scarpered.”

“Scarpered?” Katie stopped doing her makeup.

“Went a bit wobbly. You know, like when we were last here. Bit tense about the wedding I guess. Jamie called a doctor…”

“A doctor…?” Katie’s mind raced.

“But when he arrived your dad had vanished. So Jamie’s gone to look for him.”

“So where’s Dad now?” Katie went a bit wobbly herself at this point.

“Oh, he’s back. Says he just went for a walk and bumped into Eileen and Ronnie. Which might be true. But I was in the kitchen when he came back and he was doing about Mach 3.”

“Is he OK?” asked Katie.

“Seems fine. He’d got some Valium from his GP.”

“He’s not about to overdose or anything…”

“Don’t think so,” said Ray. “He took a couple. Seemed happy just holding the bottle.”

“God,” said Katie and took a few deep breaths, waiting for her heart to slow down. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“Jamie didn’t want to worry you.”

“I should go and talk to Dad.”

“You stay here.” Ray got to his feet and came over and knelt down in front of her. “Probably best to pretend you don’t know anything.”

Katie held Ray’s hand. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “God. This is meant to be our wedding day.”

Then Ray said something wise. Which took her by surprise. “We’re just the little people on top of the cake. Weddings are about families. You and me, we’ve got the rest of our lives together.”

And then Katie did cry a little bit.

And Ray said, “Oh shit. Jamie. He’s still looking for your dad. Have you got his mobile number?”