Bad Boy (Invertary 5)

“I don’t care if your tummy doesn’t like the soup. Your mouth is going to eat it all up. Are we clear?”

“Yes, Muma.” Katy sounded like she’d been given a life sentence. With heavy, slow movements, she picked up her spoon. “Jonathan doesn’t have to wait to eat chocolate. He gets chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner. His mum says chocolate is healthy and he’ll get sick if he doesn’t eat it all up.” She blinked with exaggerated innocence.

“I wonder if Jonathan has to sit on the naughty step for telling all those lies?” Abby said. “I think children who tell lies should definitely sit on the naughty step. What do you think, Katy?”

Katy lifted the spoon to her mouth and slurped up some soup. “My tummy says it’s changed its mind. This soup is yummy.”

Abby stroked her daughter’s hair. “Well, isn’t that convenient.”

Katy gave her a huge, heart-melting grin before she spotted the visitors. She looked up at her mum then stared back at them, practically buzzing with her need to know who they were.

“Katy, this is your aunt Victoria and her friend Mr Maynard.” She turned to her sister. “This is Katy, my daughter.”

Lawrence smiled widely at Katy. Victoria showed no emotion whatsoever. Katy let her jaw drop dramatically before bouncing with excitement.

“Really? You’re really my aunty? I never had one before. I always wanted one. Even when I was really little. Jonathan’s got about a million aunties and uncles. They always bring him presents when they visit.” She batted those eyelashes again.

Victoria seemed stunned by Katy’s blatant wheedling.

Lawrence barked a laugh. “Sorry, little one, we didn’t realise we were supposed to bring a gift.”

Katy’s whole body sagged with disappointment.

“Perhaps we could remedy the oversight later?” Lawrence said. “Maybe you could tell me what sort of gift an aunt usually brings and I’ll help Victoria arrange for one.”

Katy perked right up. “I can do that. But you have to remember I’m a girl. I don’t like the same presents as Jonathan. He got a pirate costume last time his aunty and uncle visited and it had no sparkles on it. It was a really yucky brown. If you get me a pirate costume it has to have sparkles.”

“I’ll make sure to remember.” Lawrence smiled widely.

Katy nodded, obviously pleased Lawrence could be trained. Abby looked at him cautiously. Surely if he were the bearer of bad news he wouldn’t be so nice to Katy. Surely this was a good sign. She wasn’t reassured.

“Please, sit.” Abby gestured to the table.

Lawrence didn’t hesitate. He pulled out a seat beside Katy and commented on how delicious her soup looked. Victoria sat as far away from Katy as was possible, yet still remain polite. Abby felt her chest squeeze. What happened to the woman who used to hug her when she was a child? Who laughed and played? Who twirled her around the nursery as they danced? With an aching sadness, she filled the kettle and prepared a tray with teacups.

The last time she’d heard from her family was when her father had suffered a heart attack. Charles, her older brother, had called and demanded she visit her father’s deathbed. Unfortunately, Abby was nursing her terminally ill husband and caring for her infant daughter at the time. It wasn’t possible to rush to the bed of a man who’d made it clear she was nothing more than an inconvenience and disappointment to him. A man who had disinherited her and hadn’t been interested enough to tell her himself. A man she’d still loved—more fool her.

She cleared her throat. “Is Mother well?” Her insides spasmed at the thought of losing another family member. Even one who didn’t want her.

“Quite well, thank you.” Victoria’s voice was emotionless.

Abby’s stomach unknotted. Slightly.

“What brings you to the Highlands?” She tried to sound casual, but there was a wobble in her voice. She cringed at the sound. Aware of the vulnerability it revealed.

“It’s best if we don’t speak of the reason for our visit in front of the child,” Victoria said.

Abby turned slowly. “Her name is Katy.”

Victoria’s eyes jerked away from Katy. “Yes,” was all she said.

Lawrence gave Abby a sympathetic smile. “Perhaps when Katy is finished her meal, she wouldn’t mind playing in another room for a while?”

“I want to stay here,” Katy complained straight away. If there was gossip, she didn’t want to miss it.

Abby pulled out the big guns. “How about you watch Peppa Pig in the living room?”

“Really?” Katy’s whole face lit up then she frowned. “Jonathan says only babies watch Peppa Pig.”