The Sisters (33 page)

‘We do make mistakes,’ Lucinda said. ‘Anyway, it’s not all bad. Things are getting better, a lot better.’

‘Of course they are. I mean you’ve got two beautiful children and you’re making amazing music. Owen played me some. Sorry,’ Madeline said when she noticed the confused look on Lucinda’s face. ‘It’s really, really good and Owen likes it, which is saying something considering I’m positive that he deliberately broke my copy of your first album.’

Lucinda couldn’t stop the smile that was spreading across her face. ‘He’s told me more than once that he wasn’t our greatest fan.’

‘Owen’s musical repertoire stops and starts with football chants at White Hart Lane,’ Madeline said dryly.

‘Oh, he’s not that bad.’

‘You must really like him. He really likes you. I haven’t seen him this happy in a long time and I’ve never known him to take a night off from that restaurant of his. Imagine if you became my sister-in-law!’

‘Hold your horses, it’s only been a few months. We might go off each before the clocks go back.’

‘Nah,’ Madeline said with a glint in her eye. ‘I’ve got a good feeling about you two.’

When Madeline finally left, with a crying Joshua who wanted to spend the rest of the day with his new best friend, Reece, Lucinda allowed herself to fully absorb the changes that were happening in her life. She’d thought that Jessica telling her that she had nearly three million pounds waiting for her would have put her on cloud nine but she wasn’t an idiot. At least not anymore and she wasn’t placing her hopes on a large deposit into her account anytime soon, not when it had become a pawn in acrimonious divorce battle. As far as Lucinda was considered, her financial position had not changed and the only financial lifeline was the one she had to make herself.

Beatrice should have been happy to see Jessica looking so much better but she couldn’t dig into the happiness reserves. The anger had been building up within her for the past couple of weeks. That morning she’d snapped at Jake because he’d forgotten to turn the tumble dryer on the night before. Even the twins hadn’t escaped a verbal onslaught from their mother as they played with their breakfast cereal, building God knows what on the kitchen table.

‘I don’t understand why you’re not keeping my case,’ Jessica said as Beatrice sat folding a pile of clothes that she’d just taken out the dryer. Jake had seen the look on his wife’s face when she’d returned home from work and had piled the twins into the car and taken them to Pizza Express. He’d asked his wife to join them but she’d flatly refused.

‘Because it’s not right, Jessica. Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with Anoushka.’

‘I know that there’s nothing wrong with her but it has always been you. I don’t want anyone else. This is a family thing.’

‘Family. Please,’ Beatrice snorted. ‘It’s only family when it suits you.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Jessica asked.

‘I’m sick of being in the middle of your crap.’

‘Bea, I don’t understand.’

‘You’re just as bad as Lucinda with all of your secrets. Why didn’t you tell me that you were going to rehab? Why did I have to find out from my bloody trainee? Even Emma knew and I didn’t.’

‘Bea, I didn’t tell anyone that I was going to rehab. The only reason Emma knew was because Christopher told her. In fact he was the one who organised it. I didn’t tell mum or dad, or Emma. I don’t understand why you’d be angry about me going to rehab.’

‘I’m not angry that you went to rehab. I’m glad that you got help. You were turning into a person that I didn’t really want to know but it’s all about you Jess. You being here is just about you.’

‘You’re not making any sense.’

‘You’re selfish,’ Beatrice said firmly. ‘And you always put me in the middle of your bullshit and I’m sick of it. You came here and you didn’t apologise to me. You haven’t asked me how I am. It’s all about why aren’t you doing this for me.’

‘I didn’t think you’d feel so strongly about handling the divorce.’

‘Jessica this isn’t about your fucking divorce. You and Lucinda are exactly the same. She decides to come home and I’m supposed to drop everything and run to her aide. You get yourself into a fucking mess and good old Beatrice is there again. Charmaine decides that there’s more to life then supporting you two and low and behold what do you do, drag me into your bloody group.’

‘Hold on, you’re pissed about being in Euterpe? Is this about the money? The royalties.’

‘No, it’s not about the money. I couldn’t care less about the money. I’m pissed off about the fact that you two have never once asked me what I wanted. You’ve always taken from me and then expected me to ask how high when you say jump.’

‘That’s not true. I’ve never taken advantage of you and neither has Lou.’

‘Funny how you’re defending her now.’

‘I made a mistake with Lucinda. I’ve admitted that. I’ve apologised to her.’

‘Yep, you’ve apologised to her but what about me?’

Jessica didn’t say anything. This was not what she’d been expecting when she’d driven to Beatrice’s home after work. The news that someone else was handling her divorce was upsetting and she’d thought it was nothing other than office politics, not that her sister was angry with her.

‘I’m sorry, Beatrice.’

‘You’re only apologising because I’m shouting at you. If you didn’t want something from me, then you wouldn’t even be here now. I’m always the one running after you and I’ve had enough of it.’

‘Maybe I should go.’

‘There’s no maybe. You should go,’ Beatrice said as she turned her back.

‘I’M SORRY Lou,’ Sal said as he picked up his pint of beer and took a sip. Lucinda had worked out that she’d spent less than fifteen minutes in Sal’s office since she’d arrived in London. Every time she’d got off the train at Waterloo station and made the short walk to his office, Sal had spun her around and taken her to the nearest restaurant, cafe or on this occasion the Windmill pub.

‘I’m fed up with everyone apologising to me,’ Lucinda said as she picked up her cappuccino.

‘It should be against the law to drink hot beverages in a public house.’

‘It’s far too early to be drinking. It’s not even midday.’

‘It’s 11.42am and it’s roasting outside so that’s good enough for me. Anyway, this is a non-alcoholic beer, hardly the same thing. I’m sorry though, Lou. I know how much you wanted to play at Ronnie Scott’s but it’s just not possible. They’re fully booked until next year unless you want to do a matinee slot on a Wednesday afternoon. I’m sorry.’

‘Fine.’

‘Fine?’ Sal replied as he stared at Lucinda. ‘You’re not going to kick off are you because I’ve been doing my best, trying to pull in favours left right and centre. Pissing off my other clients.’

‘No, I’m not going to kick off. I’m grateful. I really am. Thank you for everything, Sal. I mean it, you’ve been amazing.’

‘Oh,’ Sal said, his face reddening from both embarrassment and pride. He couldn’t remember the last time that any of his clients had told him thank you. They were docile and co-operative in the beginning but as time went by and fame grew, they began to make demands, throw tantrums that would embarrass most three-year-olds and stop showing any appreciation.

‘Come on, Sal. I know that we have history. We go way back to the days of having to find a telephone box and twenty pence to make a phone call but you could have just told me no but you didn’t do that. So, I’m thanking you.’

‘You’re welcome. I don’t know what you’re talking about though. You know that I’d have done anything for you. So, onto plan B.’

Lucinda groaned. She knew what plan B meant. ‘Dougie Mills. I can leave it to you to sort out the details.’

‘Of course you can. I’ve got your dates and the band’s dates. Your website is nearly done, I’ll send you the links right now so you can see it for yourself but it looks great. You’ve got another session with Carter this week haven’t you?’

‘Yeah, tomorrow afternoon.’

‘Right, I’m sending Kelvin. He’s a photographer who fancies himself as the next Scorsese. You’ve also got the
Allure
interview coming up and I’m going to see if I can get you on the radio, see if I can call in a few favours with BBC London. It used to be so much easier back in the day.’

‘Oh yeah, that was great fun traipsing around every dodgy tower block in London looking for pirate radio stations.’

‘Remember that night at Loose FM on the top of those flats in the Stonebridge Estate? I’ve never run so fast in my life when that gang burst through the door.’

‘The only thing I remember is one of them taking off his balaclava, winking at Beatrice and telling her she was fit and to come back next week and he’ll take her out. What a joke.’

‘Happy days,’ Sal said nostalgically. ‘So, I’ll get on with Dougie Mills and take it from there.’

Lucinda left Sal shortly afterwards and made her way across Waterloo Bridge. It’d have been quicker to jump on a bus but as her dad always said, London isn’t that big and everything is next door to each other. Whilst she was with Sal, there had been a missed call from Jessica. Lucinda had texted her back and told her that she was in a meeting. Despite Jessica’s apology and their heart to heart she still wasn’t ready to resume her older sisterly duties. How Jessica had behaved towards her had hurt her more than she’d cared to admit and she was finding that forgiveness wasn’t that forthcoming. It was something she had to work through and the last thing she wanted was for the pain and resentment to eat away and dilute every bit of her life and consume her the way it had with Jessica

The receptionist looked up at the woman who looked remarkably similar to Beatrice. ‘You’re her sister?’

‘Yes I am,’ Lucinda said.

‘But you haven’t got an appointment.’

‘Now, do I really need an appointment to take my sister out for lunch?’

‘Well, no but I can’t just let you through and anyway, she’s got a “do not disturb” sign on.’

‘Oh for the love of God. Can you just send her a message and let her know that I’m here please? Just email her and tell her that Lucinda is at reception.’

The receptionist shook her head and tapped away at the keyboard.

‘Thank you,’ Lucinda said as she sat down on the bright red chair in the waiting area and turned her attention to the wide screen TV that was currently showing BBC News.

‘Lou, what are you doing here?’ Beatrice said as she appeared at Lucinda’s side. ‘Has something happened with dad?’

‘No, of course not,’ Lucinda said as she stood up and kissed Beatrice on the cheek. ‘I was in the area and I thought it’d be nice if I took you out for lunch.’

‘Just like that?’ Beatrice replied as she took off her glasses and brushed the strands of her fringe out of her eyes.

‘Yes, just like that. We haven’t really spent that much time together since I got back.’

‘Has Jessica said something to you?’

‘About what?’

‘Never mind. Ok, give me a minute and I’ll get my bag.’

‘I’m sorry I haven’t been a better sister to you since I got back. I had you running around all over London sorting stuff out for me and I’ve hardly spent any time with you. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own stuff that I forgot about you. I’m sorry about that, Bea,’ Lucinda said as she poured a glass of sparkling water for herself and Beatrice.

‘Is this why you’re taking me out to lunch, because you feel guilty?’

‘No, it’s because I’ve realised that I owe you an explanation. Since I called you and told you I was coming home, I’ve never explained to you why.’

‘It’s not really any of my business.’

‘Oh come on Bea. We’re sisters, of course it’s your business.’

‘Are you sure that you haven’t spoken to Jessica?’

‘The last time I saw Jessica was when she came to my house a couple of weeks ago.’

‘She said that she apologised to you.’

‘She did.’

‘And now you’re apologising to me.’

‘Yes, I am.’

‘I kind of snapped at Jess. I probably went a bit too far,’ Beatrice said as she indicated for the waiter that she was ready to order. She hadn’t had any breakfast and had thought that the least Lucinda could do was to buy her an overpriced burger and chips.

‘Is that why you have a face like thunder? Because to be honest I’ve been waiting for you to snap at me too.’ Lucinda said as she picked up the menu.

‘You’re lucky. If you’d come round yesterday to take me out to lunch I’d have told you where to stick it.’

‘Wow.’

‘Yeah, wow. I just felt like the middle sister being pushed around by you and Jess.’

‘You’re not really the middle sister, if anything Jessica is the middle sister. Then again there are four of us.’

‘Don’t interrupt me.’

‘Sorry.’

‘You’re right. You called me out of the blue, told me that you’re coming home and then assumed that I’d run around like your glorified assistant. I sorted out your house, schools for the twins, picked you up from the airport, even organised your bloody food shopping.’

‘I know.’

‘And not once did you stop and say thank you Bea. How are things with you, Bea? Is there anything that I can do to help you? I mean when you did come by it wasn’t because you wanted to see me. I wasn’t the first thought in your mind. You haven’t even invited my family and me to your house for dinner. It was just like when we were younger. You and Jess would happily ignore me until you both realised that you might actually need me.’

‘I didn’t know that you felt like that. You should have said something.’

‘Would you have heard me if I did?’

Lucinda thought about this for a few seconds. ‘Probably not. My head wasn’t exactly in the right place when I came back. I’m sorry for making you feel like that. I’m your big sister. I’m supposed to look after you, not make you feel like you’re nothing. You’re the most amazing person I know. I couldn’t be prouder of you.’

‘Look, don’t get me wrong, I should have said something to you both sooner instead of letting it all build up. God, I’ve been a bitch. Even Theo turned around to me last night and told me that I wasn’t a very nice mummy. Can you imagine hearing that from a five-year-old?’ Lucinda leaned over and brushed away the tear that fell from Beatrice’s eye and ran down her cheek.