Page 62 of The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright

He shakes his head and says, ‘I’m not a big red fan. More a white guy.’

‘That’s a big fat lie,’ Malcolm says, and Ellie says, ‘You shouldn’t talk with your mouth full, Malco.’

Everyone laughs.

Mid-meal, Shayne runs out to his car to fetch a box of Christmas crackers. Ellie pulls every single one, taking it in turns to pull with me, Malcolm and Shayne. At one stage she has seven paper hats, in the colours of the rainbow, on her head at once.

‘You didn’t have to come, you know,’ Malcolm says out of nowhere. ‘I manage just fine on my own three hundred and sixty-four days a year. Christmas is no different.’

Shayne ignores Malcolm’s grumbles and pulls the final cracker with Ellie. The snap is loud. Dramatically so, but I’m grateful for the sound that cuts through the suddenly tense air.

‘So, why are you here?’ Malcolm goes on. ‘I can take care of myself. I keep telling you, Shayne.’

‘I know.’

‘I bet your father had plenty to say when you upped and left.’

Shayne places the final hat on Ellie’s head. ‘Pink is your colour,’ he says, deflecting. Ellie smiles and, thankfully, the tension seems to wash over her.

‘I bet his new wife loved that.’ Malcolm drags it back, and I can’t understand where this sudden anger is coming from.

‘They’re married fourteen years, Grandad. She’s hardly his new wife.’

‘She’s a gold-digger.’ Malcolm huffs. ‘That’s what she is.’

Shayne sighs and I get the feeling they’ve had this conversation before.

‘She’s every bit as bad as that blond girl you’re hooked up with. She’s not with you for your looks or charming personality, I’ll tell you that.’

Something flashes across Shayne’s face but it’s gone before I can make out what it is. Hurt, or anger. Maybe a little bit of both.

There is nothing wrong with Shayne’s appearance; in fact, I’m surprised I didn’t notice his good looks before now – not Hollywood handsome, with chiselled jaw and big muscles, but his blue eyes are the colour of the sea after a storm and his brown hair is giving nineties boy-band chic. He’s not particularly tall or short, and his go-to look seems to be jeans and a hoodie. And, although I don’t know much about him besides, he works in tech and has a Dublin–New York twangy accent, he seems to be a pretty decent guy.

‘Lisa and I split up,’ Shayne says. And I realise the look on his face was heartbreak. Heartbreak he’s buried so deep that it only shows for a split second when his guard drops. I get it.

Malcolm’s lips round into an O shape. ‘Well, I can’t say I’m disappointed.’

‘You could say that, actually, Grandad. You know, just to make me feel better.’

‘But it wouldn’t be true. I never liked that girl. I said it, didn’t I? Right from the start. And now you’ve wasted years on her and look where it got you.’ Malcolm glances around his kitchen as if Shayne’s being here is some sort of failing.

Shayne pushes his plate away from him as if the sight of food is turning his stomach. ‘Maybe, for once, you could try to keep your thoughts to yourself?’

‘Don’t tell me what to do in my own home.’ Malcolm raises his voice and Ellie jumps. She hurries over to me and tucks her head against my arm.

There is still food on all our plates, but I wonder if Ellie and I should leave. I hate to pull her away from a good meal and a warm house, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to be here right now.

‘We should go,’ I say, draping my arm over Ellie to tuck her closer to me.

‘No. Don’t,’ Malcolm and Shayne say together, so in time it almost sounds like one voice.

‘Stay, please?’ Shayne adds.

I look at Malcolm. It’s his house and I really think the invite to continue on should come from him. I watch him take a measured breath as he looks back at me. But he doesn’t say another word, and I suspect he won’t. His knitted brows and sad eyes tell me he doesn’t want an empty house. Today of all days.

‘Sleeping Beautyis starting soon,’ I say. ‘Maybe we could all watch it together?’

A sense of calm follows and it’s as if Disney can fix anything. I bite my tongue before I break into a chorus of ‘Once Upon a Dream’.Damn wine!

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