Page 61 of Lie For Me

She laughed, but it seemed a bit strained.

‘Of course! I’m just tired and,’ she rubbed her eyes, ‘thinking about today and…’ She seemed to drift off for a moment, losing her train of thought. Then she added, ‘And who in my family can I argue with today,’ she joked and grinned.

They fell into an easy silence, and Jack decided that this was as good a time as any to tell Lucy about the sale and the move abroad. They might not get another quiet moment together, and he had barely forty-eight hours before the contract needed to be signed.

‘Listen, Luce, there is actually something I need to talk to you about.’

He cleared his throat. Lucy looked over at him, surprised by the sudden serious tone. Her eyes were studying his face, searching for clues.

‘Is this about….’

‘It’s not about last night,’ he said, with a half-smile.

She looked relieved and waited, her eyes pressing him to speak.

‘You know I’ve been talking about selling the business,’ he said, watching her face.

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Has it fallen through or something?’

‘No,’ he replied. ‘It’s looking like it’s going ahead. In fact,’ he cleared his throat, ‘I’ve got the papers for the sale, and the deadline to sign and return them is,’ he hesitated, ‘is Monday.’

‘Oh my god,’ Lucy’s hands flew to her face. ‘Jack, that’s amazing! Congratulations, I’m so happy for you.’

She launched herself across the table and wrapped her arms around him. He held her close, and for a moment buried his nose in her neck and breathed in the smell of her, all sun cream and vanilla and fragrant shampoo. Then she pulled back abruptly and moved back across the table. She looked awkward, as if she regretted the hug. Jack felt a pang, worried that the kiss had tainted their easy friendship, making every gesture seem loaded.

Lucy, his greatest champion, said, ‘You’ve worked so hard to build the company, and I know this is a real coup for you. And now you can work on your app!’

Her eyes were shining.

He nodded, touched as always by her heartfelt support of him.

‘Yes, it’s great. It really is.’ He took a sip of coffee. ‘But there’s one other thing—’

‘Oi oi, my lovers!’ came a shout from down the terrace.

Ollie was walking towards them. He looked fresh and tanned, dapper in his crew T-shirt, shorts and sandals, sunglasses perched on his shower-damp hair. He strode towards them and gave Lucy a big kiss on the cheek and shook her by the shoulders.

‘I’m getting married today, sis!’ he said. ‘Can you believe it? Ha ha!’

He pulled up a chair. ‘So, where did you two disappear to last night?’

Lucy and Jack exchanged glances and Jack saw a flicker of uncertainty cross Lucy’s face. Her eyes were on his as she opened her mouth to answer.

But before she could utter a word, Ollie said, in low tones, ‘Have you seen Dave? He looks like death warmed up.’ He grinned and shook his head. ‘I hope he pulls it together before Mum sees him. Greg is going to take him back to his room to try to sort him out. Maybe a cold shower will help.’

Ollie didn’t look like he held out too much hope.

As if summoned, Valerie appeared on the terrace, elegantly clad in linen trousers and a peach blouse with a Peter Pan collar. She sashayed up to them and squeezed her soon-to-be-wed son by the shoulders.

‘Gosh, mum,’ Lucy said, peering up at her mother through her fingers. ‘Are you dressed for the wedding already? It’s early.’

‘Good morning, Lucy. And no, darling,’ Valerie said, a weary note in her voice as she cast her eyes over Lucy’s tousled hair, crumpled sundress and flip-flops. ‘This is what I am wearing for breakfast. It’s hardly,’ she laughed, ‘hardly what I am wearing as mother of the groom for the day. Just as you won’t be wearing…that.’

Lucy folded her dress over her knees and made an ‘uh oh’ face out of her mother’s sight.

‘Good morning, Jack,’ Valerie said, all charm and warmth. ‘I hope you slept well.’

Jack thought of his night spent jack-knifed on the chaise but nodded, politely.

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