Page 92 of The Truth About You and Me
I hesitate.
Mum walks around the desk, leans against it, her hand is cold on my cheek. ‘Maggie is lovely. Really, she is, and I know you like her… But, darling, and I say this with nothing but love for you, might you be rushing into a relationship that takes you away rather than immerses you?’
‘HHHHHHIIIIIYYYYAAAAAAA!!’ George’s voice interrupts the conversation as does the loud bang of the closing door.
Mum wipes down her trousers. ‘We’ll talk about it more once you’ve finished your time with Dr Levin, hmmm?’
I try to speak, to defend my relationship with Maggie, but no words come out.
40
MAGGIE
I climb the stairs, follow the hallway until I find the room with the pink door and push it open. I wonder if downstairs, they’re all imagining me dousing myself in antibac.
There is a small step down into the room. It’s chaotic, paints and canvases, an easel by the window, bright clothes scattered over the bed and floor. It smells of Charlotte’s perfume, something floral with an undertone of patchouli. I close the door behind me and lean against it, heart jackhammering in my chest.
I tread towards her vanity unit and sit down. I’m pale; my hair is a disaster. I try and fail to untangle it.
Behind me, there are yet more family photos on the walls. I get up and lean into them, smiling at a younger Jack, at the three siblings with arms around each other. There are a few photos of the shiners, of a younger Charl, surrounded by friends, tongues sticking out, raising shots.
I move along to a recent photo of her blowing out birthday candles. I lean closer. Jack is in the background, arm around a shoulder.
I know who she is from the few details Jack has shared with me.
She’s tall. Almost as tall as him, long gleaming blonde hair, the glint of an engagement ring on her finger. She has a slim frame like she might have been a ballet dancer or a Gwyneth Paltrow lookalike: Vicky. I take another deep breath thinking of her being welcomed into the family the same way as I have. Did Charl want to hug her because she looked huggable?
There are a few more family photos of this time, Vicky in three of them, her lying on Jack’s lap on the beach, peering over her sunglasses. The next one is here, outside on the patio. Charl is the focus of the photo again, red hair blowing in the wind, but behind her, Jack and Vicky. He has his arms around her, and they look like they’re about to kiss. My finger reaches out and outlines his profile. I’ve seen the way Jack is looking at her, because it’s the same way he looks at me.
My phone vibrates in my pocket.
Tess
So how’s it going? What are they like?
What are they like? Wonderful, welcoming, too good to be true.
Maggie
Lovely. But a LOT.
Tess
Nipped off for a quickie in the downstairs loo yet?
I shake my head. Not only is Tessthrilledthat I’ve finally slept with Jack but she seems insistent on suggesting places to shag before the excitement flags.
I can’t ever imagine not being excited to touch him.
Maggie
Get your mind out of the gutter.
Tess
Never… You OK?
Maggie
