Page 69 of Merrily Ever After
‘Everything OK at work?’ Tina arranged the flowers in a vase on the table and took a seat beside her.
‘School’s fine,’ she said with a weak smile. ‘Everyone’s counting down to the end of term. Even the kids are too knackered to play up.’
‘And Ray?’ Tina probed. ‘Settling in OK?’
‘Dad is …’ She took a deep breath. ‘Definitely more relaxed than he was in his own flat. He’s been talking about the past quite a bit.’
‘Oh yes?’ Tina looked at her warily. ‘Which part of the past?’
‘That’s all we chuffing need,’ Ian muttered, setting mugs down on the table.
Emily picked up her coffee and blew on the surface, grateful for something to do with her hands.
‘It started with that photograph. The one you told me wasn’t of me and …’ Her mouth had gone dry with nerves, and she took a small sip of the hot liquid and swallowed.
‘So that’s what this is about.’ Tina’s shoulders sank. ‘I was hoping I’d heard the last of it, but I suppose you’ve found out more.’
Emily’s heart thudded against her ribs. She was about to ruin Tina’s evening – probably a lot more than just one evening – and guilt flooded through her. ‘I have.’
Ian joined them at the table and laid a hand over Tina’s.
‘Listen, Em,’ he said smoothly. ‘Tina told me about the photo. Ray has been vague about his life for the best part of forty years. I don’t wish ill on the man, but whatever he claims, you’ve got to take with a pinch of salt. Especially now his mind’s going. Sorry, Emily, no offence meant.’
‘None taken,’ she replied. ‘I know this is a difficult subject. For all of us.’
‘Ian, I know you’re just trying to protect me. But Emily’s my daughter, if there’s something on her mind, I want to listen. Emily, whatever it is, just tell me.’
She sucked in a breath. ‘OK. Mum. There’s no easy way to say this, but Dad says that he’s got another daughter. The baby in the photograph.’
‘That other little girl was his?’ Tina pressed a hand to her chest, her dark eyes, so different to Emily’s, wide in shock.
‘I haven’t got any proof,’ Emily added, swallowing the lump in her throat. ‘Other than his word, but I think I believe him.’
She thought back to Ray’s words the other night, how he’d mistaken her for Tina and how full of remorse he was for the way he’d behaved. The stories he’d told her had been too full of emotion for them to be false.
‘What’s her name?’ Tina asked in a croaky voice. ‘Did he keep in touch with her? Where is she now, and the mother?’ She started to cry, and Emily leapt to her side and hugged her tightly.
‘Her name is—’ she began, but she was interrupted by Ian.
‘Don’t torture yourself, Tina,’ he said, his jaw tense. ‘Emily, is this necessary? Of course, you’re entitled to a relationship with your dad, but he didn’t make your mum happy, and it was a long time ago. Let her move on.’
Emily bit her lip; he had a point. She looked around for some tissue for her mum’s tears and passed her some kitchen paper. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘It’s all right, I want to know,’ said Tina, drying her eyes. She pushed her coffee away. ‘There’s a bottle of wine in the fridge. Could you pour me a glass please? I’d get it myself but I’m not sure my legs will hold me up.’
Ian got to his feet with a sigh and poured Tina a generous glass of wine. ‘Emily?’
Emily declined; she’d have to drive later.
‘Ian, why don’t you go and find some sport to watch on the television and leave us girls to chat?’ Tina squeezed his hand and the two of them exchanged fond looks.
He left the bottle on the table, patted Emily’s shoulder and left them to it.
‘Dad didn’t want you to know any of this,’ Emily began once Ian had shut the door. ‘Because he doesn’t want to hurt you.’
Tina smiled, shaking her head. She glanced furtively at the door to make sure she wasn’t being overheard. ‘Your dad was my first love even if he was a hopeless case. And I think perhaps Ian has always felt like second best, that he doesn’t measure up. But he does, Ian has nothing to worry about. And nothing you can say about your father will change a thing. The only person I care about in this is you.’
Emily breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thanks, Mum. Do you mind if I talk about it all?’
