Just a Family Affair by Veronica Henry Read Free Book Online Page A

piece of her mind, when Caroline diffused the situation by bursting into noisy sobs.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she wailed. ‘They just look so happy. I can remember feeling like that once . . .’
    ‘Mummy,’ said Georgina firmly. ‘I think I should take Caroline upstairs to my room for a lie down. She needs a rest.’
     
    Ten minutes later, Georgina collared Lucy in the pantry.
    ‘Mum, what’s the matter with Caroline? She looks really awful and she’s behaving like a spoilt child. And James is being a pig.’
    ‘She does give him a hard time.’
    ‘But he doesn’t do anything to help.’
    ‘James is old-fashioned.’
    ‘What sort of an excuse is that?’ Georgina looked outraged. ‘You don’t believe that lets him off the hook, surely?’
    Actually, Caroline did look dreadful. Overweight, pale, spotty. Bloated. Her hair was lank and dull. Lucy remembered the voluptuous, flame-haired, feisty creature James had fallen in love with: karaoke queen, fearless horsewoman, career girl.
    ‘She’s got her hands full with the children.’ Lucy tried to reassure Georgie, who hated dissension of any kind. ‘It’ll get easier.’>
    It was just a phase. And it would pass soon enough. Lucy remembered desperately trying to dry baby clothes on the Aga, getting up to feed Georgina in the cold of the night, then hoping to snatch some sleep before Sophie woke up at the crack of dawn. She remembered always feeling as if she had left her brain in another room, a permanent state of empty headedness. But before you knew it they were sleeping through, walking and talking, going to school, leaving home . . .
    She knew that would be no comfort to Caroline. And Georgie wouldn’t understand either. Dear Georgie. So matter-of-fact and positive. Everything to her was black and white. She had no real clue about what lay ahead of her, the grey areas, the dilemmas, the compromises.
    Lucy decided she’d have to talk to James, if it was so obvious even to Georgie that things were badly wrong. Lucy carefully unwrapped the Brie from its waxed paper and prodded it experimentally. Perfect. Runny, but not actually running away. Just how everyone liked it.
     
    She managed to corner James half an hour later, just as he was coming out of the loo that led into the back hallway. She blocked his way, arms crossed.
    ‘James. I’m sorry, I’ve got to say it, but your behaviour towards Caroline is unforgivable. Can’t you see she’s struggling? Give the poor girl a break.’
    James stared back at her, his eyes cold.
    ‘I never wanted three children. Two was enough for me. She’s made her own bloody bed.’
    Lucy took in a sharp breath of disbelief. ‘You don’t mean that.’
    ‘I do. We don’t have the room. I don’t earn enough money. It’s bloody selfish.’
    ‘You’re not telling me you don’t love Percy.’
    James looked irritated. ‘Of course I love Percy,’ he snapped. ‘But I don’t like being cornered. I didn’t get the choice. Percy was a fait accompli. I don’t feel good about resenting him, I can assure you. But the bottom line, Lucy, is we can’t afford three kids. Caroline isn’t going to be back at work for at least another four years at this rate.’
    ‘Hang on,’ said Lucy. ‘You’re the one who keeps an Aston Martin in the garage.’
    ‘Why the fuck should I give that up?’ James exploded. ‘I love that car.’
    ‘James . . .’ Lucy wasn’t quite sure how to get through to him. ‘Being married and having kids is all about compromise. And making sacrifices.’
    ‘Do you really think you’re fit to preach to me?’ James sneered. ‘If my memory serves me correctly, your marriage doesn’t exactly stand up to scrutiny.’
    Lucy voice was low as she answered. ‘If my marriage wasn’t perfect, it’s because you Liddiards have no idea about anyone but yourselves.’
    She glared at him as he raised a supercilious eyebrow. How could she ever have thought herself in love with him, even for a moment? She