Life Or Something Like It (17 page)

Cat laughed. ‘Did I scare you back then?’

‘A bit,’ admitted Andrew, grimacing comically. ‘For one, I’ve only seen you cry once before and secondly, Cat Nightingale always knows what to do.’

Cat sighed. ‘Well it’s an evening of firsts.’ She sat in contemplative silence for a while before turning to Andrew. ‘What am I going to do?’

‘Well,’ he said. ‘Firstly, you’re going to come home with us and after I’ve settled the kids we’re going to open that bottle of whisky I’ve been saving and drink to your future.’

‘I admire your optimism.’

‘Thank you,’ said Andrew cheerfully. ‘In my limited experience, the world always seems better after a good drink, a good sleep – ’

‘And a good hangover?’

‘Precisely. Everything seems better after a good hangover.’

Cat laughed. ‘Thank you.’

‘For what?’

‘For being there.’

Andrew gave a small nod. ‘Always here for you, sis. Always have been, always will be.’

Cat smiled and stared out into the night, watching the world flash by, hoping that Andrew was right. Her future seemed anything but bright at the moment and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could nurture the belief that all would be well.

Chapter Eleven

Cat woke the next morning to a gentle tapping at the door, which mirrored the thudding sensation at her temples. For a moment she couldn’t recall where she was but as she took in the battered chest of drawers and faded pink polka dot curtains, she remembered with a shiver last night’s emotional outburst and consequent heart-to-heart with her brother, fuelled by too much whisky. She hauled herself to a sitting position, hugging her knees to her chest.

‘Come in,’ she croaked.

The door opened and Andrew appeared, a cheerful grin on his round face. ‘Morning!’ he cried. ‘I thought you might like some tea. Wow, you look like shit.’

Cat sighed. ‘Thank you. On both counts. How come you’re so chipper? Oh I forgot – you never get bloody hangovers, do you?’ she said, rubbing her head.

Andrew patted his chest. ‘Rock-iron constitution, me. I’ll get you some paracetamol, shall I?’

Cat nodded weakly. ‘Please. Sorry about my weeping and wailing last night.’

Andrew perched on the side of the bed. ‘I’m your brother. You should be able to talk to me.’

‘You know me. I don’t do that stuff.’

‘Well you obviously do now so seriously, don’t worry about it. Anyway, I’ve got a surprise for you.’ He looked pleased with himself – worryingly pleased.

‘Oh yes?’ said Cat suspiciously. ‘Is it a bacon sandwich-type surprise or the type of surprise that is going to make me hate you for the rest of your life?’

‘Hmmm, in light of your question, I have two surprises and you have guessed one of them correctly. I cannot vouch for the other one.’

‘Oh Gawd, what are you up to?’ cried Cat. ‘You know I hate surprises.’

‘You’ll like this one eventually,’ said Andrew with a grin. He stood up. ‘I’ll put the paracetamol out in the bathroom. Come down in about fifteen minutes. I’ll have your first surprise ready for you and then I’ll tell you what’s going on.’

‘Do I have a choice?’

‘Not really but remember, I’ve always got your best interests at heart.’

‘I seem to remember you saying that when you sent me on a blind date with your friend Stevo.’

Andrew smiled at the memory. ‘He was a great guy.’

‘He set fire to his own farts,’ Cat pointed out.

‘More considerate than setting fire to other people’s.’ Andrew grinned.

‘He gave me his toenail clippings in a box as a present on our first date.’

‘Some people might find that romantic.’

Cat shook her head. ‘You are weird and so was he.’

‘I still see him around. He’s a moderately successful comedy writer,’ observed Andrew.

‘That figures. I presume he’s still single?’

‘Yeah,’ admitted Andrew. He walked to the door. ‘Fifteen minutes, okay?’

As he disappeared, Cat flopped back onto the pillow. She loved her brother dearly but was worried. He was full of good intentions but Cat was used to being in charge of her own destiny. However, she was also having to face the fact that more and more of her life was slipping beyond her control. It might have been the hangover or yesterday’s events but she decided that for once she would let other people look after her for a change. The tempting smell of bacon wafted up the stairs. Cat slipped out of bed and went to the bathroom, quickly swallowing the painkillers that Andrew had left out for her. She carried her mug downstairs and into the dining room. Charlie and Ellie were already sitting quietly at the table. Ellie grinned up at her as she entered and even Charlie managed a half-smile. Something was very wrong.

‘Here we go,’ cried Andrew cheerfully as he brought in sandwiches for the children. ‘I’ll just fetch ours. There’s coffee on the go.’

‘Thank you,’ said Cat. She was immediately suspicious. Everything seemed too perfect somehow.

He returned shortly afterwards and placed the plates on the table. ‘Sit, sit,’ he said. Cat did as she was told. The children were already tucking in, making appreciative noises.

‘Could you pass the ketchup, please, Cat?’ asked Charlie. Cat couldn’t remember him ever addressing her with such politeness. She handed over the bottle. ‘Thank you,’ he said. She noticed Ellie was bouncing up and down in her chair, darting glances at Cat and Andrew as she ate. She also noticed Andrew give his daughter a raised-eyebrow look in a bid to calm the excited six-year-old.

‘Are you all right, Ellie?’ asked Cat. Ellie had already finished her sandwich and she glanced at her father before clamping her lips together tightly. Cat looked at Andrew who was smiling at her, a look of innocence on his face. Cat knew this look only too well. ‘What’s going on?’ she said.

Ellie couldn’t hold back any longer. ‘We’re going on holiday to the cottage Daddy booked before Mummy went away and Daddy told us to be good so that you’ll agree to take us and Finn and Daisy are coming too!’ cried Ellie, her words hitting Cat’s ears in rapid succession so that it took her a moment to register exactly what her niece had just said.

Cat turned to Andrew, who was staring down at his plate not daring to meet his sister’s gaze, like a small boy who had been found out. ‘I need a coffee,’ she said, rising to her feet and heading into the kitchen.

Andrew followed closely on her heels, his hands held out in front of him defensively. ‘Now, Cat, don’t get mad. Let me explain.’

She plonked the mug she was holding onto the work surface and spun round to face him. ‘What do you think you’re playing at, Andrew? I said I would look after your children. Isn’t that enough for you? What possessed you to cook up this little scheme?’

‘Okay, okay,’ said Andrew, ‘I’m sorry. I’ve been a bit hasty. I should have talked to you first, before I told the kids.’

‘Do you think?’ cried Cat, turning back to fill her mug with coffee. Andrew reached into the fridge and handed her the milk. ‘Thank you,’ she said, sploshing it into the mug before handing it back to him and taking a gulp. ‘You’ve put me in an impossible position, haven’t you? And as for asking Finn – ’

‘Actually, I haven’t asked him yet. That was Ellie’s idea but to be honest I think it’s a good one.’

‘Oh really,’ said Cat. ‘How is sending me to – ’

‘Suffolk,’ finished Andrew.

‘Right yes, how is sending me to bloody Suffolk with know-it-all Finn going to help?’

‘Well I thought it would be an extra pair of hands and he’s really good with the kids.’

‘Oh you don’t have to tell me how good Finn “uncle of the year” Thomas is with the kids.’

‘Are you jealous?’ asked Andrew amused.

‘Pfff, don’t be ridiculous. I’m not jealous of him,’ replied Cat a little too quickly. Andrew raised his eyebrows quizzically. Cat hit him on the arm. ‘We’re getting off the point here. You should have talked to me first.’

Andrew nodded and cleared his throat to show that he was taking his sister seriously. ‘I know. You’re right. I’m sorry. But listen, I thought it would be good for you to get away and we booked it before Mel’s dad got sick so we’d lose the deposit and it would be a shame for it to go to waste.’ He gave her that small-boy-lost look, which made her hate him even more because she couldn’t resist it. ‘It’s a very nice cottage, you know, in a great location – beautiful beach and there’s even a brewery in the town.’ Cat rolled her eyes in exasperation. ‘I’ll show you the pictures online and then it’s entirely up to you. No pressure.’

Cat glanced at the doorway. Ellie was doing a very bad job of trying to hide behind the doorframe as she eavesdropped. ‘Come in, Ellie,’ said Cat. Ellie took a step back out of sight. ‘I know you’re there,’ she continued.

There was a five-second pause before Ellie stepped into the room, a picture of innocence. ‘Oh hi, Daddy, Auntie Cat. I was just bringing out my plate – to be helpful.’ She beamed with saintly pride.

‘She’s learnt that from you,’ observed Cat.

‘What?’ chorused Andrew and Ellie, wide-eyed with feigned ignorance.

Cat shook her head and refilled her coffee mug. ‘I am going to have a shower. And then you can show me this cottage.’ She ignored Andrew and Ellie’s high five. ‘But I haven’t agreed to anything yet,’ she called over her shoulder as she made her way upstairs. Cat could hear her mobile ringing in the spare room. She darted through the door and felt her stomach drop as she spotted the caller ID.

‘Ava. I am so sorry,’ she cried as she answered.

‘I’m hoping that you’re waking up alongside Ryan Gosling,’ purred her friend. ‘Otherwise I can’t imagine why you would be breaking our brunch date.’

‘Well I did have an eventful Saturday evening but not in the way you’re thinking.’

‘Care to spill?’

Cat took a deep breath. ‘I bumped into Jesse at a concert. Let’s just say I think my PR career may have fallen off the tracks.’

She could hear Ava exhale in a way that suggested she already knew this to be the case. ‘I’m sorry, honey. Donald plays hardball sometimes but he usually comes round in the end.’

‘Thanks and sorry again for missing our date.’

‘Hey, don’t sweat it. How about next Sunday? Your treat.’

‘I would love to and I definitely owe you but actually, I think I’m going away.’

‘Oh? You don’t sound very sure. That’s not like the Cat Nightingale I know and love.’

‘Believe me, it was a big surprise for me too. My brother has organised a little impromptu holiday.’

‘Sounds like a great idea. What’s the catch?’

‘I’m not going alone.’

‘Sheesh, are you off to build sandcastles with the ankle-biters?’

Cat laughed. ‘I’m afraid so.’

‘Well, you know, you might enjoy it,’ said Ava in a consoling voice.

‘Really?’

‘I only said “might”. I take it your brother isn’t going.’

‘No, but he’s suggesting that we ask this guy Finn and his niece Daisy along.’

‘A guy? Sounds promising.’

‘Trust me, it’s never going to happen.’

‘Oh sweetie, never say never.’

‘This is the exception to that particular rule.’

‘Whatever you say, sugar. Well I wish you all the luck in the world.’

‘Thanks,’ said Cat weakly. ‘I’ll call you with a progress report.’

‘You do that,’ said Ava.

After she had hung up, Cat wandered onto the landing just as Charlie darted from his room looking upset. He had his back to her as he ran to the bathroom and shut the door swiftly behind him before she had a chance to call his name. His bedroom door was open and Cat hesitated before sneaking in. She could see his iPad open on the desk. She glanced behind her before making her way over and peering at the screen. Cat could see that Charlie had been sending and receiving messages from Tom, the boy from the park. The exchange had begun with a shy ‘Hi Tom’ from Charlie, which had been met with, ‘’sup Loser?’ from the boy. Ben had joined in a little later and the conversation had quickly degenerated.

Tom

‘Been practising football? cos u need 2.’

Charlie

‘A bit.’

Ben

‘Do u still like Liverpool?’

Charlie

‘Yeah.’

Tom

‘You sad muppet. Every1 knows they r shit.’

Ben

‘Sterling is a baby.’

Tom

‘So is Charlie. And they’ve both got crap hair.’

Ben

‘And no friends.’

Tom

‘LOL. Charlie and Raheem are gay.’

Ben

‘LOL.’

Charlie has left the conversation.

Cat heard the toilet flush and quickly exited the room. She met Charlie on the landing. He was frowning and she could tell from his eyes that he had been crying. Cat wanted to ask him about what she’d read but knew he’d be furious if he found out she’d been prying.

‘Everything okay?’ she asked.

He mumbled something incomprehensible and disappeared back into his room, closing the door firmly behind him. Cat felt a pang of sympathy before something clicked in her brain – a moment of recognition confirming what she needed to do. She went downstairs to find Andrew. He was sitting at the dining room table, nursing a mug of coffee. His laptop was open and Cat could see images of a very pretty cottage. Ellie sat opposite him, staring up at her aunt, her face filled with expectation and hope. Cat folded her arms and cleared her throat. ‘Ellie, can I give you a piece of advice?’

Ellie looked uncertain. ‘O-kay.’

Cat’s face was serious. ‘If your brother ever tells you that he’s doing something for your own good…’

Ellie was hanging on her every word, ‘Yes?’

Cat stared at Andrew. ‘Punch him on the nose and run in the opposite direction as quickly as you can.’

Ellie giggled. ‘What does that mean?’

‘It means we’re going on holiday to Suffolk,’ said Cat with a sigh.

‘Yay!’ cried Ellie, leaping to her feet. ‘With Finn and Daisy?’

Cat shrugged. ‘Why not?’ She could think of lots of reasons why not but they seemed irrelevant now.