Page 124 of The In-Laws

‘Yes, it’s … it’s strange. I’m still getting my head around it.’

‘It’s a lot for all of you.’

‘Has Amanda said anything?’

‘She just told me that the baby had arrived safely and that Theo had met her.’

Ross rubbed his eyes. He looked exhausted. ‘I’m trying to be sensitive to all parties. It’s a bit like walking on eggshells.’

You reap what you sow, Katie thought, but then she had behaved badly, so who was she to judge?

‘You’ll figure it out.’

‘I’m glad Amanda is busy. I admit I was a bit taken aback at first that my wife was with a rival agency, but she’s really happy to be working and it will help keep her mind off everything else.’

‘She’s amazing. Melanie really values her.’

‘Dad!’ Janis’s voice cut through them. ‘Theo is allowed to vape, so can we?’

‘Absolutely not,’ Frank stepped in. ‘Theo is eighteen, you’re fifteen.’

Katie knew that Amanda and Ross had agreed to let Theo vape because he said he needed some kind of outlet to help him with everything that was going on. They weren’t happy about it, but it was better than the alternative. Amanda had described it to her as a compromise she was hoping to nip in the bud once he had finished his exams and got used to having a new half-sister.

‘It’s a temporary thing, just until after his exams,’ Ross said.

‘Your hair looks nice,’ Amanda said to Nancy, clearly keen to move on from Theo’s vaping and the twins’ envy.

Nancy touched her hair. ‘Thank you.’

‘Mum did it for her,’ Lucy said. ‘She’s very clever at making people look and feel good.’

Amanda smiled at her niece. ‘Yes, she is.’

They chatted on, and after dessert, Katie nodded to her sisters-in-law. They stood up.

‘Where are you three off to?’ Jamie wondered.

‘We’re going for a swim.’

‘Now?’ Ross said.

‘It’s lashing rain,’ Frank said, nodding towards the window.

‘We’re hardy,’ Katie told him.

‘We’ll be wet anyway,’ Amanda added.

‘We haven’t had time to catch up this week, so we’re going now,’ Katie explained.

‘But you’ve just had lunch together,’ Jamie said.

Katie laughed. ‘No, Jamie, our proper catch-ups are for in-laws only. Your ears will be burning soon.’

‘On fire.’ Amanda chortled.

‘They may fall off.’ Melanie grinned.

They stood on the edge of the rock in the lashing rain. They had the place to themselves – no other nutters swimming that afternoon.

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