Page 61 of Now and Again

Amanda was unimpressed. ‘If that were true, you’d be kinder to me. You’d treat me like I was special. But you don’t do that.’

Juliet felt a bit embarrassed to be watching this. But what was she supposed to do? This was her sister’s house; she couldn’t just leave. Actually, yes, she could. She went to the door, saying, ‘I’m gonna leave you to it. Let yourselves out when you’re done.’

Amanda turned. ‘No, I’m not here to talk to him, I came to talk toyou!’

‘Amanda, just hear me out,’ Mike begged his wife.

‘Call me later, you’ve got my number,’ Juliet said. She didn’t address it to anyone, in particular, she wasn’t sure who to say it to. She opened the door.

But lo and behold, standing in front of the door was yet another Powell. ‘Hi,’ said Riley, sounding nervous.

Juliet felt a truckload of emotions dumped onto her at the sight of Riley. She couldn’t deal with it. ‘Why are you here?’ she snapped.

‘Umm, I came to talk to you,’ Riley said, looking flustered.

‘Riley?’ said Amanda and Mike in unison from the room behind her.

‘What the fuck?’ Riley exclaimed as her father and stepmother appeared at the door behind Juliet.

‘Why are you here? Are you trying to hire her for Mia too?’ Mike said, baffled.

Amanda tutted at him. ‘That’s not what this is, Mike.’

‘Then what is it?’ Mike asked.

No one answered him.

Juliet looked behind her and in front of her. ‘I don’t know what’s happening, but I’m leaving. And then I need to have a word with whoever keeps giving this address out. Lock the door behind you, someone.’

‘Hold on, I need to speak to you,’ Riley begged.

‘You can have her after me,’ Mike said. ‘So, will you come back?’

Juliet turned around to Mike. ‘Well—’

‘He doesn’t need you, I do. He’s only gonna look after her at weekends,’ Amanda said. ‘Which will make a bloody change,’ she added bitterly.

Mike sighed.

Riley said, ‘Juliet, can we—’

‘Right!’ Juliet said sharply. ‘We’re not doing this on the doorstep! Riley! Get in the house.’

Riley stepped inside, and Juliet closed the door. She looked at the three of them, all awkward and out of place. ‘Everyone sit!’ Juliet commanded.

Everyone looked around them and perched wherever they could. Mike and Amanda at either end of the sofa. Riley in an armchair.

Juliet was surprised at how quickly they’d all done as they were told. She supposed kids never grew up, forever responding to the person in the room who took charge. But now she had everyone sat and quiet, she didn’t know what to do with them. ‘Would everyone like a cup of tea?’

‘I’ve still got one in the kitchen,’ Mike reminded her.

‘I’ll bring it through,’ Juliet told him. ‘Well? Riley? Amanda?’

‘Sure,’ said Riley. ‘OK, thanks,’ said Amanda.

Juliet went into the kitchen and got a tray of tea assembled, including one for herself. Extra sugar. She needed it. She took the tray in and put it down on the coffee table. Everyone took a mismatched mug.

Juliet blew on her tea and took a sip. ‘Right, so I guess… Look, Mike? Amanda? Clearly, there needs to be a conversation between the two of you before you can hire Mia a nanny. But whatever happens… I don’t think I can come back. I love Mia, and I miss her. But the situation has changed. I’m not a private nanny anymore.’

---