Page 3 of The In-Laws

‘I sold Sloane’s translation rights to Norway and Croatia this week,’ Jamie said.

Sloane was obviously the agency’s new star writer. Amanda supposed she should take more of an interest now that Ross had started working in his mother’s literary agency too.

‘That’s good news, but you need to push harder, Jamie. She should be translated by everyone. She’s a star.’ Nancy was not impressed with her youngest son’s news, and Amanda could see that her response bothered Jamie.

‘What a fecking witch,’ Katie whispered, gulping back her wine.

‘Mum, that’s so mean and you said a very bad word.’ Lucy’s eyes were wide. Amanda smiled at her. She was a sweet kid, quiet and compliant, the complete opposite to her mother.

‘Sssh, I know. I’m very naughty,’ Katie said, pressing her finger to her lips.

Katie’s nine-year-old daughter shook her head. ‘Now you have to put money in the curse jar.’

‘I will. When we get home.’

‘It’s already very full, Mum, and you always curse more when you drink. You need to shush or Granny will hear you.’

‘I know, I know. I have a potty mouth and my happy juice –’ Katie pointed to her wine – ‘does make it worse. I’ll try harder, sweetie.’ Katie blew Lucy a kiss.

Lucy rolled her eyes. ‘Stop calling it “happy juice”. I’m not a baby. I love Granny and you promised not to say mean things about her any more.’

‘Jeez, relax, Lucy, it’s fine. She didn’t hear me.’

‘It’s okay. No harm done. Why don’t you take a seat here?’ Amanda said, wanting to avoid a showdown and to reassure Lucy.

They sat down – the kids on a separate table, which Nancy insisted on, and the adults at their own. Amanda placed platters, dishes and bowls of food on the table and they busied themselves passing everything around.

Everyone complimented the beef, except Frank, who ate only the vegetables but was very complimentary about them. Nancy ate all of the food, but didn’t praise any of it or thank Amanda for making it.

The chat remained very general and light, until Nancy homed in on Frank. ‘So, Frank, any news at your end?’

Amanda noticed Melanie’s body tense. Frank, meanwhile, looked very relaxed.

‘Nothing concrete, but I met up with Steevy Pine to talk about him writing a biography.’

‘He’d be a great person to get. Is he keen?’ Jamie asked.

Frank shrugged. ‘He said he’d think about it.’

‘In other words, no.’ Nancy sighed. ‘They’ll put “nothing concrete” on your tombstone, Frank. It’s your life motto at this point.’

‘Let’s wait and see.’ Frank shrugged again. Melanie’s jaw was clenched so tightly that Amanda thought her sister-in-law might crack a tooth.

‘So, how are you guys settling back in?’ Jamie changed the subject.

‘Good. It’s been pretty seamless,’ Ross said.

Amanda tried not to choke on her drink. What a liar.

‘I’m looking forward to getting stuck in at the agency now that all the admin of moving has been sorted out.’

‘What are you planning to do? Sales, marketing, optioning, deal negotiation, contracts, foreign rights, media, reading our massive slush pile?’ Jamie asked.

‘All of it.’ Ross wiped his mouth with a white linen napkin, one of the set that Nancy had insisted on using and Amanda would have to launder.

Amanda looked at the red-wine stain on the napkin: it reminded her of red lipstick – the kindshewore. Amanda pressed the image down. Not now, not here.

Jamie frowned. ‘Well, foreign-rights contracts are my area.’

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