‘Yes, it tells me that we all have incredibly busy lives and we need to make more time for each other.’
‘Come on, Alice, it’s a bit weird.’
I grit my teeth and dig my nails into my thighs. The annoying thing is that Graham’s only saying out loud what I’ve been feeling for months. Why is Seth so resistant to meeting my family? Friends I can kind of understand – it might be a bit intimidating or whatever, but he hasn’t even met my parents. Seth and I went out to dinner with his mum and dad in London a couple of months ago, before he proposed. I guess that was Seth wanting to get his parents’ seal of approval before he popped the question. So if I could make the effort with his family, then why can’t he make the effort with mine?
Christine and Geoff seemed like lovely people. Both doctors, both understandably proud of their only son. And, thankfully, very warm towards me. They also expressed an interest in meeting my family. In fact ... that could be the way to get Seth down here to meet everyone – if I can get his parents down for a weekend, then he’ll have to come along too.
‘Look, Graham, I really appreciate you being worried about me, but I’m a grown woman. I can work things out for myself. I think it’s more important for you and Elizabeth to be getting along than for you to be worrying about me and Seth.’
‘Thanks, but I’ll always look out for you, Alice, you know that.’
‘Yes, but I don’t need you to.’
‘But—’
‘No. I mean it. Go home and fix things with my sister. I don’t want to be the reason you two are fighting.’
Knowing what Elizabeth thinks, I’m annoyed Graham has come here alone. When she hears about this visit, it will undoubtedly make matters ten time worse. Especially as I haven’t had a chance to talk to her yet, to put her mind at ease. And now I’m going to have to tell her Graham was here. Because if I don’t and it ends up coming out, then this will look like something it isn’t.
‘Does Elizabeth know you’ve come over tonight?’
He scratches the side of his head. ‘No, I didn’t want to bring it all up again. Thought it would be better if you and I smoothed things out between us. She doesn’t agree with me regarding Seth, but it would have been wrong of me not to let you know my worries.’
I couldn’t disagree with that last sentence more, but maybe he really is trying to be nice without an ulterior motive. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
‘Okay, well, thanks,’ I reply. ‘But I think you should tell Elizabeth you popped round. Tell her you borrowed a couple of books. Best not to have any secrets, eh?’
‘Oh ... well ... yes ... of course.’ His mouth is opening and closing like a fish.
Could Graham really still have feelings for me? I bloody hope not. He’s married to my sister. This is awful. I decide to be light-hearted and act as though this is all absolutely normal. ‘Thank you so much,’ I gush, standing up and handing him the paperbacks. ‘It’s really good to know that you and Elizabeth are looking out for me. Seth’s getting a job transfer to Southampton, so the long-distance thing won’t be an issue after the wedding.’
‘No, but it’s not just the long-distance thing. It’s more than that. You’re different since you met him.’
‘I’m in love,’ I say with a breezy laugh.
His face clouds over. ‘I just don’t want you making a mistake and regretting it, that’s all. I care about you, Alice.’
I refuse to be drawn into this conversation, and I especially don’t want him to make any embarrassing declaration that he might still have feelings for me. He needs to leave before he says something we both regret.
I fake a yawn. ‘Thanks so much again for coming over. I really feel like I have a brother now as well as a sister.’ If that doesn’t set things straight, then I don’t know what will.
He gets to his feet, his tea barely touched. ‘Okay, well, I just wanted to say my piece. Thanks for the books. I’ll let you know how I get on with them.’
‘Great. Say hi to Elizabeth from me.’
He nods and I let him walk ahead of me towards the front door.
‘Good luck with Ofsted,’ I say. ‘I’m sure it’ll go well.’
He raises a hand in acknowledgment and finally leaves. I close the door behind him with relief. I feel like I’ve escaped something. Graham is a good-hearted man and my sister adores him. I always thought he adored her too. But now I’m not so sure.
Chapter Twenty-Three
NOW
After days of dodging my parents’ calls and visits, I’ve finally given in to their summons and find myself at theirs for Sunday lunch. I’ve managed to avoid the previous two weekends, but I couldn’t get out of it any longer. My sister and Graham have been messaging me too. Sending their love and support. But I’d rather no one made a fuss. Maybe if they all acted normally around me, I wouldn’t feel like such a giant freak. That’s not fair. I know it’s only because they care.
Thankfully, Graham and Elizabeth couldn’t make it today as it’s Graham’s grandmother’s eightieth birthday party. I think it would have been too overwhelming with all four of them passing judgement and making ‘helpful’ suggestions.