Page 97 of The Last Saturday In July
She’d never have hurt her cousins, because of Úna’s insistence that she try to squeeze in last-minute guests.
But the reality was, Simon wanted marriage and a family. Jess just wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore.
‘Are you going to tell me what’s really wrong?’ Zoe looked up from her phone that evening as Jess tidied up the sitting room. ‘And don’t bullshit me about this celebrity wedding.’
Jess glanced over her shoulder. ‘Where’s Dad?’
‘He’s upstairs. I think he’s trying to give us some space.’
Poor Dad, Jess thought. Neither of her parents had any idea what was going on. She stacked some gardening magazines and straightened up.
‘Kate found out that I had a one-night stand with Adam.’
‘Oh shit.’
Jess sighed. ‘It gets better. She ran into Adam on Saturday, and she told him about me and Simon.’
Zoe stared at her. ‘You know, I used to think your life was really boring.’
‘Cheers.’ Jess threw herself into her dad’s armchair. Maybe if she stopped thinking about her problems for a while, they’d all somehow sort themselves out. Because the more she tried to fix things, the worse she made things. ‘What about you? How’s Finn?’
Zoe shrugged. ‘He’s cool.’
‘Are you two okay?’
‘Yeah, we just need to get on with our lives, and we can’t do it in Dublin. I know you think it’s weird that he’s staying with Nana, but it was weirder having him living here. Mam and Dad were trying to be chill, but it was a total turn-off having Dad snoring on the other side of the wall.’ She pulled a face and Jess gave a tired laugh. ‘Anyway, stop changing the subject. What are you going to do?’
Jess found a bobbin on the coffee table and pulled her hair back off her face. ‘All I know is that I’ve managed to screw up everything. I still don’t know what to do about Simon, and Kate …’ She swallowed. ‘She’ll probably never talk to me again.’
Zoe rolled her eyes. ‘Kate needs to cop herself on. She’s been a third wheel for so long that she can’t get her head around the two of you splitting up. That’s why she’s so pissed off.’
Jess tried to pin down her thoughts, but her head felt like wool. ‘I get that she’s angry at me, but she’s been pulling away from Simon too. I just don’t get it.’
‘Don’t overthink it, Jess, she’ll come around. You’re her person.’
‘I used to be.’ And then Simon had become Kate’s person. Until recently, anyway.
‘You girls in here?’
Jess looked up as their dad stuck his head around the door.
‘Zoe, would you mind if I had a quick word with Jess?’
‘I’ll go help Mam with the dinner.’
Zoe left and Tom sat down on the sofa. Jess turned in the chair to face him, tucking her legs up.
‘Everything all right, Dad?’
He looked at her steadily. ‘You tell me, Jessie.’
A laugh caught in her throat. ‘You haven’t called me that since I was a little girl.’
Tom rubbed his nose. ‘I’ll come straight out with it, love: do you want to marry him? Because if you’re having second thoughts ... look, none of it matters, that’s all. Everything can be cancelled; wedding gifts can be returned.’ He reached over and took her hand. ‘Your Mam and I just want you to be happy.’
Jess blinked rapidly as she squeezed her dad’s hand. For a while they sat in silence. Maybe he was right. She would tell Simon that she couldn’t marry him. She wouldn’t even have to tell him about Adam, just that she’d used the break to think about things.
It was the perfect solution. And the coward’s way out. Not to mention that she wasn’t convinced breaking up with Simon was the answer. She shook her head. ‘Simon and I need to talk, Dad.’
