Page 37 of Stepbrothers

The rest of the afternoon went by quickly. The usual commuter rush keeping Clarice busy, but in a nice way as Beryl helped and they chatted about nothing and everything. It was a blessing not to have Derek snapping at her like an angry crocodile.

When she arrived at Pizza Express, her two best friends already had a table and a plate of cheesy garlic bread that they were washing down with a pitcher of Pimms.

“Hi.” She sat heavily, glad to take the weight from her feet.

“Hey, you, good day?” Sharon grinned. She had long, fluttery, fake black lashes and bright-red lipstick. Today her golden hair was scraped back into a high ponytail, not a strand out of place, and dangling neon-green earrings in the shape of shamrocks hung halfway down her elegant neck.

“Not bad actually.” Clarice kissed her cheek then did the same to Wendy.

“What? You finally hired a hit man to take out your asshole boss?” Wendy munched on a slice of bread, sending garlicy crumbs scattering. “That’s the only day you’d have a good day at Grind ‘n’ Go.”

“Still saving up for that one.” Clarice laughed. “But he had a day off sick which gave me a break.”

“Hope he’s eaten something really bad,” Wendy said. “You know, suffering from both ends.” She giggled.

“That’s too good for him.” Clarice stopped a passing waiter and asked for another glass. “So how have your days been?”

“I’ve been with clients,” Wendy said, “hence the power dress.” She gestured down at the short-sleeved mauve dress that had, for Wendy, a very modest neckline. Usually she had her puppies on display. Her makeup had also been toned down. Pink gloss instead of deep-ruby lipstick, and no thick black eyeliner.

“Go well?” Clarice asked.

“Yeah, I got the deal done. Doubled my bonus.”

“Cheers to that.” Sharon grinned and held up her glass.

“But enough about me, how’d the wedding go?” Wendy asked.

“Yeah, it went.” Clarice thanked the waiter for her glass, poured Pimms, then took a sip. “My mother is an experienced bride.”

“This one seems the real deal, though, right?” Sharon asked.

“Let’s hope so.” Clarice paused. “Benjamin is nice, actually, better than the last one. And he seems sickeningly smitten with her.”

“And is she in love with him?”

Clarice hesitated, then, “Yes, I think she is, or at least she thinks she is. She’s a package woman, though, it’s not just him it’s how he looks on her arm, his money, house, cars, the lifestyle he can give her.”

“You’re a bit harsh on your mother.” Wendy raised her eyebrows.

“Just realistic.” Clarice shrugged. “It’s not that I don’t love her and want her to be happy, I’ve just been watching this husband merry-go-round since I was a kid.”

“That must be hard,” Sharon said with a sympathetic smile.

“Ah well, it’s my life.” Clarice picked up a menu. “What are you both having to eat?” She didn’t want to talk about her mother’s husbands. The stepfathers who had come and gone—gone in the dead of the night on one occasion. Some had been nicer, more genuine than others, but she hadn’t kept in touch with any of them. She, the daughter, had just been baggage in a relationship that had gone wrong. And now she was lost luggage.

“So has he got family? You inherited any siblings?” Sharon asked.

A sudden image of Parker and Hugh filled her mind. Standing side by side in the church, tall, brooding, and handsome in their morning suits. They’d kept glancing at her during the ceremony, their expressions so serious she wasn’t sure if they’d been enjoying the service or were pissed off at the entire thing. “Yes, actually. Three stepbrothers.”

“How old?” Wendy asked.

“I’m not sure. Late twenties perhaps. One I haven’t met, he’s in the military, he couldn’t get leave for the wedding.”

“That’s a shame. I’m always up for a sexy soldier.” Sharon laughed, her earrings jiggling.

“But you met the other two,” Wendy said. “At the wedding.”

“Yes, I did. I’ve seen them a few times actually.”

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