Page 81 of The In-Laws

Melanie, Frank and the twins came up the garden path behind Jamie.

‘Are you talking about Katie’s blacklisting?’ Melanie asked.

‘Yes,’ Amanda said.

‘If Nancy wasn’t my boss, I wouldn’t be here,’ Melanie said. ‘I was very conflicted but … my job is too important.’

‘My job … my important job.’ Janis rolled her eyes.

‘Always about the job,’ Joni said. ‘We didn’t want to come because we love Katie and we wanted to go on strike.’

‘But Mum and Dad made us,’ Janis said, shooting her parents a sour look.

‘I believe if we keep the communication channels open and talk to Mum, she’ll come around,’ Frank said.

‘Well, I’m very glad you’re here.’ Amanda smiled at them as they walked past her into the house. ‘Jamie, I’ve put some of the chocolate cake aside for you to take home to Katie.’

‘Thanks,’ Jamie said. ‘All right, let’s get this over with.’

Nancy insisted that Lucy sit beside her at the table, while the other children sat together at the end.

‘Fine by me,’ Joni muttered.

‘We won’t have to listen to Granny giving out about our English test results,’ Janis said.

Amanda made sure she sat at the far end from Nancy, with the children. She would have taken her plate out into the garden and eaten there, if she could. There was no way she was going to make pleasant small talk with Nancy today.

‘Let’s just eat quickly and we can go to my room and hang out,’ Theo suggested.

‘Sounds like a plan.’ The twins looked happy to be able to make a quick getaway.

‘Okay, but don’t play music too loud. It sets your granny off,’ Amanda reminded her son.

‘I know, Mum. I live in this prison, remember.’

‘You’re an actual saint,’ Janis told him.

‘I’d be on Xanax if I lived here,’ Joni said.

Amanda winced. ‘Theo doesn’t need any medication whatsoever.’

Theo rolled his eyes.

‘Hopefully we won’t be living here for much longer,’ Amanda added.

Nancy tapped her glass with her fork. ‘We’re ready to eat now,’ she told Amanda, whom she seemed to be mistaking for a slave.

Amanda got up and did her duty. Ross helped her hand out the food-laden plates and everyone got stuck in. There were lots of ‘Yum’ and ‘This is so good …’ comments from the family. Nancy, as usual, held back on the praise. God forbid she’d actually show appreciation to her daughter-in-law for cooking all morning to feed her family.

Jamie, Ross, Melanie and Nancy talked about the agency. Frank tried to veer onto different topics, but he was ignored and gave up. Amanda sat back and let the conversation wash over her. She missed Katie: they’d always have a little eye-roll across the table when the family started droning on and on about work.

‘Are you listening to all this, Lucy?’ Nancy asked her granddaughter. ‘You need to take an interest in the agency. It’ll be yours someday.’

Amanda watched her husband’s face flush.

‘I think that’s a little premature.’ Ross’s voice was tight. ‘All of the grandchildren have a right to be involved in the agency if they want to. No one child is entitled to it.’

‘No, thanks,’ Janis said instantly. ‘Lucy, it’s all yours.’

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