Page 98 of The Last Saturday In July
‘I’ll leave it with you, Jessie. Mam and I are here for you, no matter what you decide.’
Jess heard her mother’s footsteps on the stairs as she came up from the kitchen and then Carmel appeared, hovering at the door of the living room.
‘Is everything all right, pet?’ Carmel gave Jess an overly bright smile, the one Jess guessed she used to calm and reassure her patients, even when she knew everything wasn’t all right. That was it: she’d put her parents through enough.
‘Everything’s great, Mam. Actually, I’ve been thinking about things and I’m moving back in with Simon after dinner.’
‘Oh Jess!’ Relief washed over Carmel’s face. ‘I’m sure he’s been missing you like mad.’
Jess felt her dad’s eyes on her. ‘Do you need some help downstairs, Mam?’
‘Not at all, Zoe came down to make the rice for the curry. I’m ready to serve up now.’ Carmel’s smile was genuine. ‘And I’ll give you some dessert to take home to Simon.’
Almost reluctantly, Jess’s eyes met her dad’s again. She knew she hadn’t fooled him for a moment.
Chapter 38
SIMON’S flat was quiet when Jess got back later that night. She dropped her case in the hall and walked through to the living room. She hadn’t thought it was possible, but the whole place looked even tidier than usual, and a faint smell of beeswax lingered in the air. It was the first time she and Simon had spent more than a day apart since she’d moved in, and it struck her that despite her best efforts it still felt like his flat, rather than theirs. Behind her, the front door closed.
‘Jess?’
‘I’m in here.’
Simon came into the living room, and stopped a couple of feet from her, his expression unreadable. Jess managed a smile.
‘Mam sent you over some dessert.’ She held it out like a peace offering. ‘Brownies, they’re really fudgy. I’ll put them in the kitchen.’ She turned and walked over to the kitchen area, grateful for something to do.
‘That was good of her.’ Simon pushed his glasses up his nose. ‘I won’t have any now, I’ve just eaten with my folks.’
Jess came back into the living room. ‘How are they?’
‘Fine, I suppose.’ He frowned. ‘They’ll be pleased that you’re back. If you are back.’ Without waiting for a reply, he pulled a clean white envelope out of his pocket and handed it to her. ‘They gave us this.’ Jess opened it and took out a voucher.
‘It’s a two-weeks’ stay at the Ritz Carlton in Rome, where my folks stayed on their honeymoon.’ Simon cleared his throat. ‘I thought we could go in September, when the weather’s cooler.’
‘Wow!’ Jess looked up, brushing aside the uncharitable thought that as well as deciding where they’d get married, Úna had now chosen their honeymoon destination. ‘That’s incredibly kind. I thought the dance lessons was their wedding gift.’
Simon gave a slight smile. ‘Mum didn’t want us to disgrace ourselves. Apparently, our generation can’t dance properly.’
This was agony: she couldn’t put it off for any longer. ‘Simon, we need to talk.’
He didn’t quite meet her eyes. ‘Are you calling off the wedding?’
Jess swallowed. What she was about to do was cruel, but Simon deserved to know. ‘No, but I need to tell you something.’
He looked at her properly. ‘I’m going to have a gin and tonic. Would you like one?’
Jess shook her head and Simon strode past her into the kitchen, taking down a single tumbler. Drink in hand, he went into the living room and sat down.
Jess perched on the edge of the sofa and took a deep breath.
‘I have something to tell you first.’ Simon threw back half his drink.
Jess released the breath she was still holding. Shit, if she didn’t say this quickly, she was going to chicken out. ‘Okay.’
‘I kissed Kate.’
She stared at him. He’d kissed Kate? She hadn’t seen that coming.
