sure even Sally’s wiles will get him to shift until he’s had some of that with a cuppa.’
‘That’s saying something.’
‘You know your mum’s cooking.’
‘I do.’ I prodded my tummy for emphasis.
‘Ah, there’s nothing there.’
‘There’s plenty there.’
‘You’ll walk it off. You’ve only just eaten.’
I made a noise that could have been dismissal, denial, or acceptance. Dad seemed to accept it as the last.
‘You all right?’
I let out a long sigh and watched my hot breath cloud in front of me. ‘Yeah. I just… Do you think this is stupid?’
‘What?’
‘The fact that I did that saying yes thing last year and now I’m saying no.’
‘Nope. You needed a change. Something to shake things up a bit and take your mind off stuff. It’s good to challenge ourselves sometimes, and that’s what you’re doing. That’s never stupid. Sally’s just annoyed because she’s not used to you saying no to her.’
‘Sally’s not used to anyone saying no to her, apart from you and mum.’
‘There you go. She’s got a bit of a shock, that’s all. She’ll calm down.’
‘Honestly? I hate arguing with her, but I don’t really care if she calms down or not right at the moment. She called me stupid in front of a total stranger and laughed at me. Then she makes a big thing about family!’ I could feel myself getting wound up again and the tears began burning against my cold face.
‘If that Oliver’s as clever as he thinks he is, he’ll work it out for himself. If he gets to stick around that long. You know what Sally’s like. Besides, it doesn’t matter what he thinks. You have to do what you want to do. Did you really not enjoy doing that book thing for Sally?’
‘No! I hated it. The women just completely ignored me the whole time, talked about their cosmetic surgeons, luncheon appointments and then gushed about books I couldn’t see the point of! It was horrible. I know Sally’s a pain in the arse sometimes, but she’s not like that. Not really. I don’t know why she even spends time with them!’
‘We can’t choose other people’s friends. Why didn’t you say something before?’
‘Because I knew Sally would go off on one about it. Like she did today. But it’s true that now I have Humphrey I hate shutting him in the kitchen if I go there. I get that she isn’t really a dog person, and that’s fine. But he doesn’t understand and thinks he’s done something wrong. It’s not fair on him.’
‘And it’s not fair on you to ask you to do something you don’t want to.’
‘Actually asking me would have been a step up. Telling me, more like.’
Dad conceded that with a nod of his head. ‘Either way, you have to stand up for yourself, even to Sally. You can’t do stuff to make people happy if it’s making you unhappy.’
I leant my head on his broad shoulder. ‘Thanks, Dad.’
He put his arm around me and gave me a squeeze, just as Humphrey appeared at our feet, now eager to get in on the action.
‘Come on. Let’s get back inside and warm up with a nice cuppa.’ He stood and I tucked my arm in the crook of his and we wandered back up the garden, Humphrey trotting in front of us, turning occasionally to make sure we were still there.
As we entered the kitchen, still warm and filled with the fuggy scent of roast and baking, Mum appeared from the living room.
‘Just in time for tea.’
‘I can do that,’ I said, heading towards the kettle as I shed my coat, but Mum laid a hand on my arm.
‘That’s fine, love. I’ll do this. You go through and warm up by the fire.’
My eyes darted in the direction of the room.
‘Sally and Oliver are in there. Go and sit down and we’ll be through in a minute.’
The last thing I wanted to do right now was go and sit with my sister and her trophy boyfriend, but I knew a veiled instruction when I heard one.
‘OK.’
Sally’s eyes flicked up when I entered before she adjusted herself on the sofa, long legs resting to the side elegantly like the Duchess of Cambridge. I plopped down on a squishy armchair and tucked my feet up so that I was a little ball. Humphrey hopped up and burrowed in beside me.
‘Chilly out there?’ Oliver piped up, breaking the silence.
‘Yes. It is a bit. Nice though,’ I replied, the words sounding banal.
‘Good. Good.’
Silence fell again. I chewed