Page 128 of The Life-Changing Magic of Falling in Love

I try to turn my head to look opposite to the house where Jasmine will have her wedding reception later. The house where Sarah grew up. The house that up until last year I’d treated as an extension to the one I’m standing in front of now.

I can’t look. Not yet. So, I risk a look at George. He doesn’t look intimidated at all as he claps a hand on my brother’s back like he’s known him years. But I should have told him more about the wedding. Should have properly explained.

The moment we cross the threshold, I say, ‘There’s something I need to tell you in private?—’

‘Sit and have some food first,’ my mother says.

‘Food?’ I forgot about her bat-like hearing capabilities. In my peripheral I notice the good chinaware set out. ‘But there’ll be food at the wedding.’

‘Sit and have a drink first,’ she amends.

‘And some food,’ my father adds, with a “make your mother happy” look at me. ‘It’s not often we get the brood under the same roof again for a weekend.’

My hand trembles as I set down the cake box. ‘Everyone’s staying? But where’s George going to sleep?’

‘You think an add-on built itself while you were away?’ my brother, Joey, asks, ignoring the food set out to lift the lid on the box from Oscars. Automatically helping himself to the biggest pastry, he adds, ‘He’s sleeping in your old room. With you!’

Before I can fully process this, George sits down at the table like one of the family. My sister, CeCe, stares at him and then aims a “Well isn’t this interesting?” face at me.

With a sigh I too sit down, telling Joey, ‘The pastries are from my friends’ bakery, and leave some for the rest of us why don’t you?’

‘Swanky,’ he mumbles around the cream cone.

‘So, Ashleigh mentioned you were a friend?’ my mother tells George as she grabs a plate, puts a pastry onto it for him, and then, as he’s about to take hold of the offering, keeps a steady grip on it.

Beginning her interrogation before he has a full belly? Attacking while he’s weak from hunger? Classic trap.

I look under my lashes at George. Poor fool. He doesn’t even hesitate and answers, ‘Close friend,’ while delivering a warm smile to CeCe, who I swear swoons.

‘And how did you meet?’ my mother asks.

Please don’t tell her I’m your cleaner and confirm every legitimate concern she’s had that I’ve sometimes pretended to have lots of friends who have only, in fact, been people I clean for.

‘We met through our shared love of crosswords,’ George says.

Wow. Way better than I would have come up with. I’m allowed all of ten seconds to bask in the feeling before Joey snorts, ‘Crosswords? Very, um, stimulating.’

‘Oh, you have no idea.’ George laughs like we share this special sexy crossword deal and okay, I do find our shared passion for them sort of sexy but does my brother need to know that?

‘Well, I’m glad Ashleigh brought a date for today however you know each other,’ my mother comments and I can’t tell if she thinks we’re real friends or not. It occurs to me I could never make someone like George up. I’d have never come up with someone so perfect for me.

‘Me too,’ George says. ‘I mean, we all know she could have come on her own, even if it would, understandably, be hard for her.’

Understandably hard for me?

What the what, now?

‘Your daughter’s very strong,’ he says looking my mother straight in the eye, holding his hand out for the plate, and adding, ‘but I’m sure you know that.’

‘Oh, I do, George,’ she replies, with a delighted smile as she relinquishes the plate. ‘I do.’

I shake my head to check my hearing.

The statement is bold. Simple.

But the words don’t sound simple to me at all. I’m starting to feel like this could all get away from me. I don’t have any control over the conversation and I don’t like the feeling.

‘She only brought me with her today,’ George explains, ‘because she didn’t want to leave me on my own.’

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