Page 74 of Lie For Me

‘Here we are,’ Jack said, stopping at a table and waving a name card at her.

Lucy peered at the people they were with.

‘As I suspected,’ she said. ‘We’re with Heather and Mark and the kids and….’ She read another name card, ‘Nanna.’

She started swapping some name cards around.

‘What are you doing?’ Jack asked.

‘I’m putting the kids and Mark between me and Heather,’ she said, as she hurried about the table.

‘Surely you two will be okay today?’

‘I don’t want to sit next to her,’ Lucy said, as she placed the cards. ‘This is supposed to be a happy day—or as happy as is possible in this family—and I’d rather not sit next to all that negative Heather energy.’

‘Hey,’ Jack said, and took her by the shoulders. ‘That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? To support you.’ He squeezed her arms. ‘That and to tell you when you’ve got lipstick on your teeth.’

‘Oh god. I’ve got lipstick on my teeth?’ Lucy’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Where is it?’ she whispered to Jack through her fingers. ‘Is it right at the front?’ She rubbed her teeth. ‘Is it bad? Has it gone?’

‘I didn’t say you do have lipstick on your teeth,’ Jack said, grinning. ‘I said that was one of the functions I can fulfil—’

‘You fucker….’

‘––in the event that it happens.’

Lucy was rooting in her bag for a mirror.

‘I don’t trust you now,’ she said, peering at her teeth in the tiny compact.

‘Which it hasn’t.’ Jack pulled out his chair and took a seat. ‘Yet.’

Lucy plumped down in the chair next to him and kicked her shoes off under the table.

Heather, Mark and the kids arrived. Mark kissed Lucy on the cheek, ‘Looking lovely,’ he said warmly, and shook Jack’s hand. ‘Good to see you again.’

‘Hi, Aunty Lucy,’ the boys chorused shyly, and covered her with hot, sticky arms.

Lucy laughed and kissed the tops of their heads. ‘Hello, darlings. Are you having a good day?’

‘Yes,’ Thomas said, all expected politeness.

‘No,’ Peter said, in a sullen tone, bottom lip as far out as he could stick it.

He had his shirt on again. Mark laughed and coaxed them to their places.

‘Hello Lucy,’ Heather said, coolly air kissing her about a foot away from her face.

‘Hello,’ Lucy said. Then, to make an effort, she added, ‘Nice dress.’

It wasn’t Lucy’s taste at all, being a rather formal cut with a stiff collar, but it was an easy way to offer an olive branch.

‘Thank you,’ Heather acknowledged stiffly. ‘It’s a Susan San Pierre.’

Lucy had no idea what that meant, but the information offered meant Heather was thawing slightly, so Lucy said, ‘oooh’ and poured them both some wine.

‘You did that reading beautifully,’ Lucy said, sipping her wine. ‘Jack thought so too, didn’t you?’

She kicked him under the table and he nodded.

---