Page 102 of Fix Them Up
Lydia stood. ‘You won’t stay. You never do.’
Ren flinched but recovered quickly, replacing it with a smirk. ‘I am staying. For good.’
‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’
‘Well, I’ll have to prove it to you, won’t I? I’ve done it before. Remember the fifteen hundred metres at school? I won that fair and square.’
Lydia’s eyes narrowed. ‘And I won it the following year, remember?’
Ren’s eyes flickered down Lydia’s frame and then back up. ‘I remember.’
Lydia’s chair scraped back, and she muttered something about fresh air before leaving the room. Ten seconds later, Ren followed, his fists clenched.
‘What is that about?’ I muttered to Liam.
‘I have no idea, but it’s probably Ren’s fault. He was always the troublemaker. Lydia always tried to smooth over his mistakes when we were kids.’
I knew one thing – Lydia was in for a grilling later.
*
Three hours later, napkins were scrunched on the table, and rings of red wine stained the tablecloth. Ren shared stories about his travels, his eyes wild and captivating. Lydia didn’t return to the table but texted me some bullshit excuse about an early start. I was tempted to call her out, but Lydia always had so much patience for everyone, so if she needed time, I would give it to her.
I stood up, running my hand across Liam’s back. He had been laughing with his brother and dad for hours. I loved seeing the matching laugh lines around their eyes.
Liam glanced up at me, his hand moving over mine. ‘You okay, Red?’
‘Yeah, just going out for some fresh air.’
The sound of Fleetwood Mac and the smell of Sunday lunch permeated the room, and I was overstimulated. It wasn’t a bad case, but I knew fresh air always set me right.
Liam frowned. ‘Are you sure?’
‘You worry too much.’
‘We can go when you’re ready.’
I kissed the top of his head and dipped outside. The fresh air hit my face. Hints of spring had begun setting in Brian and Sandra’s garden, and the smell of magnolia and freshly mown grass hung in the air. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths.
‘Alright, Kat?’ Brian popped his head out of the patio doors.
‘Yeah.’ I smiled. ‘All good. Just admiring your magnolia tree.’
Brian stood next to me; the tree had begun budding pink and white flowers.
‘That is Sandra’s favourite. I planted it here the first summer we moved into this house, almost thirty years ago.’ He smiled at the memory. ‘It was a right pain. We’d had a cold winter, so the soil was hard as stone. I spent hours making sure the hole was dug deep enough and that it was in the best spot. I bought her a table and chairs so she could sit underneath it. She’d mentioned it was her favourite tree, but we’d been living in a terrace house with no garden. So once we bought this house, I went straight to the garden centre.’ Brian laughed. ‘She was pregnant with Lydia and burst into tears when she saw it.’
‘Never took you for a romantic, Uncle Brian.’
Brian shrugged. ‘I’d do anything for her. I’d plant a million more magnolia trees if it made her happy.’
‘So, that’s the secret to a long, happy marriage, then? Gardening.’
Brian glanced at me, and his expression grew serious. ‘It’s being willing to make the other person as happy as you feel just to be around them.’
Liam’s face popped into my head. Hadn’t he done that for me?
He’d refused to charge me for the renovation. He’d wrangled Willa onto a train and paid for her tickets because I’d mentioned it once. He kept cooking for me, and I knew he was keeping a note of my favourite ones on his notes app because I’d snuck a look on his phone.
