Page 109 of Good Sisters

Dad shuffled about in his chair. ‘Oh, busy playing golf and just getting on with things.’

‘What things?’ Louise asked. ‘Clara was asking for you. I want you to come for dinner tomorrow. It’s a big week for her, and she needs to see her granddad.’

‘Of course I’ll be there.’ Even Dad was scared of Louise.

‘So what has kept you so busy?’ I asked.

‘Well, ah –’

Dolores put a hand on his arm. ‘We have a hectic social life. Golf and bridge and dinners and we’re in a theatre club and a cinema club. It’s non-stop.’

‘Wow, that’s a lot. No wonder you can never visit or even take Lemon for a walk,’ Gavin said, just as pointedly.

‘Keeping busy is important when you get to a certain age,’ Dolores said. ‘It stops you being lonely.’

‘So is checking in with your family and spending time with your grandchildren,’ Gavin said. ‘Lemon’s doing well, in case you’re interested.’

Dad stiffened. ‘Didn’t I text you yesterday to ask after her?’

‘Yeah, you did, a one-line text. I thought you might be interested in actually seeing her.’

‘I’ll call in tomorrow so.’

‘Oh, no, you can’t tomorrow, Georgie. We have Enda’s eightieth-birthday lunch.’

‘And then Dad is coming to me for dinner,’ Louise said firmly.

‘I hope you’ll still be at the triplets’ quarter-final game on Wednesday, Dad?’ I asked.

‘I wouldn’t miss it. It’ll be a great day.’

‘Good! It’s a big day for them.’ I smiled at him.

‘I’ll be there too, Julie,’ Dolores said. ‘I love the rugby. My son played, you know. He lives in Canada now, but he was good in his day.’

Bloody hell. I didn’t want Dolores at the match. I wanted Dad there alone, even if he was a bit too critical for my liking. I wanted him beside me. Now she’d be there annoying everyone.

‘Please don’t feel you have to. Dad can be a bit intense when he’s watching the boys. You might be better off staying at home,’ I urged Dolores.

‘Not at all, Sophie –’

‘It’s Julie.’

‘Sorry, Julie. I’m very keen to see your boys. I hear all about them and all the grandchildren. I’m looking forward to getting to know them all. Georgie is a very proud granddad.’

Our food arrived and the waitress asked Dad and Dolores what they would like. Dad ordered a full Irish breakfast.

‘Now, Georgie, we’ve discussed this. You have to watch your cholesterol. He’ll just have brown toast with scrambled eggs, please, and the same for me.’

‘Wow, Georgie, it looks like things have changed a lot,’ I said.

‘Don’t you worry. I’m looking after his health.’

‘And his whole life,’ Gavin noted.

Louise pointed her fork at Dad. ‘Do not forget, Clara’s father is coming here next week and you are all meeting him on Saturday.’ Glaring at Dolores, she said sharply, ‘Just the immediate family. No one else. I want everyone at my apartment at five p.m. sharp on Saturday. Do not be late and noexcuses are good enough. I don’t care whose birthday it is or what golf tournament is on. You are to be there, Dad. This is important to me.’

Dolores tutted. ‘I’m afraid that’s going to be difficult, Louise. We’re away next Saturday in Belfast.’

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