Page 48 of Be More Lucy

‘Yes.’ Jack sounded distracted.

‘I think it might need a few amendments.’

Now that all the furnishings had gone, the house looked much worse than Em remembered. She could see dark outlines on the wallpaper where pictures used to hang, and the carpet had more threadbare spots than she’d noticed before.

‘We’ll be ok. We wanted to strip it right back anyway.’ Something about Jack’s tone gave Em the impression that he was saying that to reassure himself as well as her. ‘Houses always look forlorn when they’re bare.’

‘Do they? I’ve never seen any of the homes I’ve lived in when they’re empty.’

‘My house felt sad and abandoned when all the furniture was on the removal van. But I’m sure it feels like a home again for whoever lives there now. And this house will be the same. It’s not the bricks and mortar and plaster that make a home. It’s all the love and laughter and memories you create living there.’

‘That’s very poetic.’

‘It’s true. I’m looking forward to making lots of wonderful memories with you here.’ He gave her another kiss.

‘I think you better put me down. If you put your back out now, we are totally screwed.’

28

Em and Jack were spending Friday evening at his mother’s for a pre-birthday dinner for Jack.

‘How’s your new house?’ Olivia asked.

‘It’s going to keep us busy for a couple of months at least.’ Jack said, putting his cutlery down on his empty dinner plate.

‘But we’ve made a start on the decorating already.’ Em added.

‘Can’t you get a professional in?’ Olivia asked.

‘Nancy’s got the local decorator fully booked for weeks on her cottage makeovers.’ Jack said. ‘I did try to get some other quotes, but no one came back to me. They’re all busy. So it’s either do it ourselves or wait until the new year.’

‘I can’t wait to have a look around. I’ve obviously seen the photos Jack sent me, but it’s not the same as being there in person.’

‘No, you don’t get the full effect of the mothballs,’ Jack said, laughing.

‘The smell’s improving now we’ve ripped the carpets out.’ Em said. ‘When are you next in Dashford, Olivia?’

‘Not until your engagement party. Talking of which, are you inviting Caroline?’

Em looked puzzled. ‘Who’s Caroline?’

‘My niece, Jack’s cousin. I take it as you don’t know her, she’s not on the guest list.’

‘No,’ Jack said cautiously. ‘Mark will be there. I thought it might be awkward inviting Caroline as well.’

‘Surely that’s not a problem. That was all years ago.’ Olivia turned to Em. ‘Caroline had the hots for Mark when they were teenagers, but he didn’t feel the same way about her. But she’s a grown woman now. She won’t be following him around like a lost puppy.’

’Not like a puppy, no.’ Jack didn’t sound convinced. ‘More like a fully grown rottweiler on heat based on the last time they met.’

Olivia frowned. ‘Mark will be there with Hannah, won’t he? Caroline won’t bother him if he’s got a partner. If you could be a darling and invite her that would solve a problem. Your Aunt Verity will struggle to get to Dashford on her own now she’s given up driving.’

‘Given up?’ said Jack. ‘Nancy said it was a two-year ban.’

‘What for?’ asked Em. Jack had described his mother’s sister as the black sheep of the family, but given he came from a long line of overachievers, she assumed that probably meant Verity had scraped a 2:1 degree.

‘Driving whilst under the influence of drugs.’ Jack said.

Olivia looked embarrassed. ‘It was purely for medicinal purposes.’

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