Wild Rendezvous by Victoria Blisse Read Free Book Online

table and Lucy’s blackcurrant juice spills everywhere.
    â€˜Oh no!’ I gasp. ‘Your trousers.’
    â€˜Damn it, damn it,’ Joe mutters. I grab a wet cloth and try to dab the strain away while Joe grabs tea towels to clear up the mess on the table.
    â€˜It’s not coming out; I’m going to have to soak them.’
    â€˜Great.’ Joe thrusts Lucy into my arms. ‘Brilliant. I’m going to have to go to my interview looking like a tramp.’ He strips off his trousers and passes them to me.
    â€˜Thank you once again, Mother, for ruining my life. You’re a selfish old thing and I do not want to see you here in my house when I get home.’
    Beverly starts to speak but barely gets a syllable out before Joe interrupts.
    â€˜No, I don’t care where you go. You will get out of my house and my life and I will never see you ever, ever again. My family and I will live a happy, fulfilled life without you. Now I’m going to get some clean, mis-matched trousers so I can get to my interview. Just because you’re trying your damnedest to make my life a living hell I’m doing all I can to make it work. And I need to get a job to support my gorgeous wife-to-be and my Lucy. Goodbye, Mother.’
    I sit Lucy down in her high chair and gave her some rice cakes to keep her occupied while I fill the sink and place his trousers in the cold water to soak.
    â€˜You heard him,’ I say, my back turned to Beverly, ‘you better get your things together and go.’ My voice is cold and level. I’m worried about Joe. I think that a boss will see past something as simple as a not quite matching suit but I am no authority in such matters. I’ve never heard Joe so angry before. I want to go after him, to soothe him but I know that wouldn’t be wise. I’m lost in my own thoughts and worries, the least of which turns out to be the stubborn blackcurrant stain in part of the wedding suit when I hear sobbing from behind me.
    It’s not Lucy. I look round and Beverly has her hands up to her face and she’s crying. Really crying. I sigh, shake my head and put the kettle on. I’m so British, it’s untrue.
    â€˜Go, sit in the living room, Beverly, I’ll bring you a cup of tea.’
    She doesn’t move. She cries all the harder.
    â€˜You brought this on yourself,’ I continue, determined not to crumble even though I hate to see a person so upset. Even a person who just accused me and my husband-to-be of being terrible parents. The phone rings, so I pick up Lucy and rush to answer it. I’m not leaving her alone in the same room with that woman, especially when she’s sobbing fit to burst.
    â€˜Hiya, love. Are you all right? It’s ten and I thought you were coming over for ten.’
    â€˜Oh Mum, I’m sorry, we’re running a bit behind. We’ve had a bit of a situation and now Joe’s suit pants are soaking in the sink, he’s wearing mis-matched trousers and my future mother-in-law is sobbing her eyes out in my kitchen.’
    â€˜Oh, right. I’ll be round in ten minutes. I’ll take Lucy. You sort out the in-law.’
    â€˜Thanks, Mum.’
    I thank God once more for a mother who knows instinctively what’s the best thing to do. I rub a little more sun cream on to Lucy and put her sun hat on. I sit her down in front of the telly and some brightly coloured cartoon that captures her attention and go to check on Beverly. She’s still sobbing.
    I put a hand on her arm and manoeuvre her over to the table. I pour out the drinks, wondering if I should crack open the brandy. I sure could do with a shot in my tea but it’s not even lunch time so I decide against it. I put the brew in front of my sniffling in-law and race through the house to open the front door when the doorbell rings.
    â€˜Oh Mum, I love you,’ I blurt when I open the door.
    â€˜I love you too, you daft sod.’ She