Page 25 of The Fallback

‘What are they doing out there?’ Rosie asked, pointing out into the garden.

Chris turned his head following her gaze. ‘Joe is studying bugs at school so he’s taken Mum out there to show off his knowledge.’

Rosie nodded sagely. ‘I’ll go say hello,’ she said. ‘You never know, I might learn something. Do you want to come Rory?’

Rory turned his large brown eyes on her and shook his head. ‘I promised Mummy I would help.’ Rosie looked over his head to Jasmine who pretended to shudder, grinned at Rosie and turned back to the stove.

‘Hey, Mum,’ Rosie said, stepping out into the garden.

‘Hello, darling,’ Susan said, straightening up with some degree of difficulty. Rosie noticed this and held her hand out to help her up.

Susan swatted her away. ‘I’m quite capable,’ she said shortly.

‘Yes, Mother.’ Rosie grinned. ‘Happy Birthday!’ She gave Susan a hug. ‘I hear Joe is giving you a bug lesson?’

Joe cast a scornful look in her direction. ‘It’s natural history, yeah?’ Rosie could already hear the teenage intonation in the seven-year-old’s voice.

‘Yes, quite right, darling,’ Susan said putting an arm around her eldest grandson. ‘And you seem to know an awful lot about it, but perhaps you’d like to tell your aunt now because really I should go and see if I can help your mum and dad with lunch.’ She flashed a wicked grin at Rosie as Rosie reluctantly felt herself pulled down to grass level. Susan’s aging joints suddenly seemed extremely youthful as she made a fast getaway across the lawn towards the house.

Rosie sat patiently while her precocious nephew lectured her on the life cycle of a ladybird. Every so often she would glance imploringly at the house where the rest of her family were studiously ignoring her. She was regretting coming outside at all. Much as she enjoyed spending time with Joe, she would rather have been inside being offered a glass of wine. She looked on jealously as she saw through the window Chris handing Susan a flute of something sparkling. Just as she was about to lose the will to live, she was rewarded by a shout from Chris.

‘Lunch is ready!’ he called. ‘Joe, you need to wash your hands.’

Joe was about to launch into everything he had ever learned about photosynthesis and Rosie exhaled a secret sigh of relief. She was happy to indulge him, up to a point.

‘Can I help?’ she asked as she stepped back into the house and headed straight to the sink to wash her hands.

‘You can check on Rory’s attempts to lay the table,’ Chris shouted over the clatter of pans and dishes.

‘OK,’ she called back. ‘Joe! Hands!’ she yelled, spotting Joe heading straight towards the cake box with his muddy hands outstretched in front of him. He scowled at her, all brownie points for being the interested auntie immediately vanishing. What a waste.

‘Yes, please wash your hands. You, too, Rory,’ Jasmine ordered as she lifted the steaming pot from the hob and carried it over to the table.

‘And this is very hot. VERY HOT,’ she yelled loudly and pointed at her two sons after she had put it down. ‘Which means do not touch it.’ She swatted Joe’s now-almost-clean hand away. ‘It does not mean, let’s touch it to find out just how hot it is.’

Chris pushed past Rosie carrying another delicious-smelling dish and gestured with his elbow. ‘You’re over there, Rosie, between Joe and Rory.’

Rosie fixed him with a glare.

‘Why am I always on the kids’ side?’ she muttered.

Chris looked at her in surprise. ‘They asked for you there?’ he said in bafflement. ‘Like they always do. And anyway,’ he said putting the dish down, ‘you act as a buffer, stops them fighting.’ He grinned at Rosie.

Joe took his seat and patted the chair next to him. Rosie smiled at him and tried to ignore the fact that as the childless sibling she wasalwaysput with the kids. She wondered how the dynamics would change when –if, she corrected herself – she ever had kids.

‘I wanted you next to me,’ said Jasmine, as if she sensed Rosie’s thoughts, and she leaned over to put a delicious-smelling basket of bread on the table, ‘but the boys insisted.’

Chastened, Rosie smiled at Joe and reached to squeeze the hand of Rory on her other side. She really didn’t know what had got into her, she normally loved being at Jasmine and Chris’s but today she just felt irritated and out of sorts with everyone. And mainly with herself.

Deciding that food would help, she put a finger to her lips and quickly snuck three rolls out of the bread basket dividing them up between her, Joe and Rory. The boys grinned at her; they would never have got away with this if Auntie Rosie hadn’t been there. The aroma of the fresh bread calmed her thoughts and she aggressively smothered Rory’s roll in butter, trying to concentrate on the here and now. Not on future events that may or may not involve Mitch.

Lunch was delicious as she knew it would be. The basil in the cannelloni had been tempered with the creamy tomato sauce, and the salad Chris had made had citrusy flavours in it, which cut through the richness of the pasta. Beside her Joe was eagerly mopping up his plate with yet another roll. Rosie watched him eat, while on her other side Rory was being told off for attempting to lick his plate.

‘But you normally let me!’ he implored of his parents who were shaking their heads sternly. ‘Just because Granny is here,’ he said grumpily, folding his arms across his tiny chest.

‘Oh, don’t mind me,’ said Susan chirpily. ‘It’s my birthday, so I give you special dispensation to lick your plate clean.’ She winked at Rory as he lifted the plate to his face, Jasmine rolled her eyes in frustration. Rosie smirked to herself; sometimes it was fun to witness the tension between other family members. Especially when she was not involved.

‘Are you two finished?’ Rosie asked of Joe and Rory. ‘Because I need your help.’

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