Page 41 of The In-Laws

‘Opposites attract, hadn’t you heard?’ Katie told them.

‘You and Jamie aren’t opposites, and Ross and Amanda aren’t opposites. They’re a bit weird but kind of similar.’

‘Hey now, they are not weird.’

‘Yeah, they are, and so is Theo. He barely says anything.’

‘They’re just trying to settle back into life in Ireland. It’s not easy on any of them.’ Katie defended her in-laws.

‘I think Auntie Amanda looks sad,’ Lucy said.

‘Yeah, me too,’ Janis said. ‘Maybe Ross is mean to her. I heard Mum saying he was a pain in the arse in the office.’

Katie wanted to get off the subject of Ross. ‘Okay, what are we doing? Honey and caramel highlights?’

‘I want bleach blonde,’ Joni told her.

‘That’s not happening. You are not leaving here looking a state or I’ll have your mum furious with me.’

‘Come on, Katie, we want to look cool.’

‘It will be cool, and also gorgeous, without being too dramatic.’

Janis popped a Malteser into her mouth. ‘You are so nice to buy us treats too.’

Joni poured herself a Coke Zero. ‘You are the funnest aunt.’

To be fair, the competition wasn’t very high. Amanda was about as much fun as a fart in a spacesuit, but Katie took the compliment.

She poured herself a Coke and, pulling a bottle from behind the counter, tipped a splash of vodka into it.

Janis’s eyes widened. ‘Can we have some?’

‘Are you mad? Do you thinkIhave a death wish? This is for me to unwind after a busy day, not for my fifteen-year-old nieces.’

‘Mum always has a few drinks to unwind,’ Lucy said.

‘Not a few, Lucy, just one. The twins wouldn’t want me getting sloshed and ruining their hair, now would they?’

‘No! We have a party on Saturday so we need to look hot.’

‘Oh, yeah? Any cute boys going?’ Katie loved the gossip.

Joni blushed. ‘Maybe.’

‘Joni fancies a guy called Kenny who’s going.’

‘What about you?’ Katie asked Janis.

‘No one I like-like. But I don’t know everyone going, so …’

‘Well, I’ll have to make you look even more beautiful than you already are with my magic.’ Katie giggled. ‘Let’s put on some music.’ She played Dua Lipa and turned the volume up. The twins whooped and danced around the salon, taking selfies every two seconds.

Katie went to the stockroom to mix some colours, taking her vodka and Coke with her. This was fun, her nieces were good company – it was like a little party.

‘Mum?’ Lucy came in behind her.

‘Yes, pet?’ Katie sang along to the song.

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