Page 43 of The In-Laws

‘Table, champagne, flowers, plate, fork.’

‘Great. Now what four things can you hear?’

‘Laughing, corks popping, glasses clinking, ice rattling.’

‘Excellent.’ Frank beamed at her.

Sloane smiled back. They continued with feel, smell and finally taste, by which stage Sloane had visibly relaxed.

‘Wow, you’re amazing,’ Sloane told Frank. ‘You have such a calm and serene aura. I feel so safe with you and my anxiety is almost gone now.’

Frank smiled at her. ‘I’ve picked up a few good tools.’

Melanie was reminded of why she’d fallen for Frank.He was so kind and calm. He refused to be ruffled by anything. It drove her nuts at times, but it was also kind of a super-power.

Sloane bent her head closer to Frank’s. ‘Maybe I should go to therapy. Did you go for anxiety?’

Melanie watched her husband.

He smiled at Sloane. ‘It all started when I was in a car crash with my father when I was eighteen. I watched him die, which was harrowing. I struggled with depression and panic attacks afterwards so my mother, Nancy, sent me to see a therapist. It saved my life.’

Sloane’s eyes were wide. ‘Oh, my God, Frank, that’s horrific. But you seem so together now and so amazing. I’m in awe of you. Well done to Nancy for seeing your need for help. Honestly, I find her intimidating, but I guess she had a mother’s instinct.’ Turning to Melanie, she said, ‘How come you never told me your husband was such an incredible person?’

Melanie looked sheepish. ‘It never really came up. We always talk about work.’

Frank laughed. ‘Melanie finds my therapy-speak a bit annoying.’

Ross, Nancy and Jamie had stopped their conversation and were now listening.

‘We all do,’ Ross said.

‘Not true. I think Frank’s very wise actually,’ Jamie said.

‘I think he’s incredible,’ Sloane gushed. ‘To be so healed and together after all that damage.’

‘Frank had a very tough time and he came through it well,’ Nancy admitted. ‘All that therapy-talk is a bit too much for me, but it works for Frank and that’s what matters.’

‘I don’t find it annoying,’ Melanie lied, not wanting Sloane to think badly of her.

Frank laughed. ‘Yes, you do. You told me to take my “breathing bolloxology and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine” the other day.’

Melanie smiled stiffly. Seriously, Frank? Now? In front of Sloane? ‘I’m sorry about that, Frank. I was in a bad mood. I’d had a long day.’

‘I know, and I was trying to help.’

Trying to keep her voice light, Melanie responded, ‘Sometimes, when you’re stressed, being told to breathe doesn’t help.’Like sometimes when your husband isn’t pulling his weight in work, and your brother-in-law is breathing down your neck, it’s very goddamn stressful.

‘I’d love to find a man who understands anxiety, and respects that it is a serious condition and has the patience and emotional intelligence to help me manage it,’ Sloane said.

‘Well, Frank’s kindness is one of the reasons I married him.’ Melanie tried to save face.

‘You’re both incredibly kind. I’m so lucky to have you as my agent.’

Melanie saw Ross’s eye-roll and tried not to smirk.

‘We’re lucky to have you as our author,’ Nancy put in. ‘We’re very proud of you and your book. Now, let’s cheers for a win tonight.’

‘We are all so honoured to represent you,’ Ross said, while Melanie tried not to vomit.

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