Bob.
Bob looks around as though to check we’re not being overheard and sips his instant coffee with three sugars. (We have a filter machine, but he prefers instant.)
“Here’s the thing,” he says apologetically. “Your mother’s always had a soft spot for Jake. No one’s perfect, and that’s her foible, and she knows it. She says, ‘Oh, Bob, I shouldn’t,’ but she can’t help herself. She’s bailed him out plenty over the years. I did wonder if you girls knew,” he adds, reaching for a rich tea biscuit. “But I reckon you’re all in the business now, so to speak.”
She’s bailed him out? She’s bailed out Jake?
As I stare at Bob, my head is whirling. I feel a bit weak. All this time, I’ve felt mortified because I was the one who used Mum’s money. I was the one who failed. Jake made me feel guilty and inferior because he’d done everything on his own, with no help, like the business star that he was.
Only he hadn’t, had he? It was all lies.
Or at least…I draw myself up short, thinking furiously, trying to remember. Did anyone ever actually lie to me? Or did I simply assume?
I’m waiting to feel a surge of fury with Mum, but it doesn’t come. I can’t blame her. It’s her money. I can’t even feel angry with Jake. I just feel kind of rueful. Because how much of my life have I spent comparing myself to Jake? And how utterly pointless was that?
“As for your uncle Ned, I reckon Jake pulled the wool over his eyes,” says Bob thoughtfully. “I should think Jake threw his big words around and they drank their gins and Ned didn’t ask any questions. But here’s the thing: If you’re responsible for someone’s money, you’ve got to be able to ask questions. Doesn’t matter if you sound stupid.” His face breaks into a rare smile. “I’m never afraid of sounding stupid. Just ask, is what I say. Can’t hurt to ask.”
“You’re never stupid, Bob,” I say warmly. “You’re a star.”
“Ah well,” says Bob, looking mortified. “That’s going a bit far. Just do the job, is what I do.”
“OK, well, Fixie, you’re right,” says Nicole, putting the printouts down. “As usual.” She shoots me a little grin, and I grin back and decide I won’t mention that she left the kitchen in a total tip this morning.
* * *
—
By the following afternoon we’re all set—and at six o’clock we’re waiting on the steps of Grosvenor Heights, all three of us: Leila, Nicole, and me. We’re standing in a row, under the lights of the smart entrance porch, and I’m shivering slightly with cold. Nerves too. Jake’s texted Leila to say he’s on his way home; he shouldn’t be long now. I glance at the others, and Nicole’s jaw is tense. Leila looks, frankly, terrified. But at least she’s going through with it. She’s tougher than she seems, Leila.
And then suddenly there he is, walking toward the building, looking at his phone, and we all stiffen. As he notices us, his face jerks with shock, and his pace speeds up.
“What’s going on?” he demands as he gets near. “Why are you all here? Is it Mum?”
“No,” says Nicole. “It’s you.”
“What?” Jake stares from face to face, his phone dangling from his hand. “What are you talking about?”
Nicole and I glance at Leila and she steps forward, her face trembling but brave. “Jakey, we’re moving out. We’re letting the flat. We can’t afford to live here anymore. We’ll get a good price.”
Jake’s eyes darken. “You have to be kidding. She’s kidding.” He looks at Nicole and me. “She’s gone nuts, right?”
“My dad and I put a new TV on the wall,” Leila presses on resolutely. “A cheap one. It looks OK. The agent’s bringing a professional couple round in an hour. Three more tomorrow. He thinks if we price it right, it’ll go quickly.”
Jake’s face has gone almost rubbery with shock. He stares blankly at Leila, then makes a visible effort to pull himself together.
“This is bollocks,” he says, pushing past her. “Excuse me, could I please get through to my own home?”
“I’ve changed the locks,” Leila calls after him, and Jake slowly wheels round.
“You’ve what?” he says ominously.
“I’ve changed the locks. Just to…to make things clear.”
“You’ve locked me out of my own home? You can’t do that!” he bellows, erupting, and Leila looks like she might collapse.
“Well, she did it,” I say, putting an arm around Leila. “Jake, you can’t go