Page 32 of The Best Friend
I don’t even look at Darcy. If I do, I’m afraid she’ll see how much all this has upset me. I’m also mindful that Jared’s new business is dependent on her and Mike’s goodwill but I have to do this for my son.
‘Mummy.’
I turn to see my son behind me. He takes my hand and pulls me away from Darcy.
‘What is it?’ I say.
‘Are you sure it’s my party, too? No one else got me a present, apart from Lucas.’
‘Of course it’s your party,’ I say with a big smile. ‘There was just a bit of a mix-up. But the lady has gone to get you a special birthday rosette so everyone will know, okay?’
‘Tyler got all those.’ He points to a table piled high with brightly coloured wrapped presents.
‘Yes, but you’re going to be getting one great big present, instead of all those silly little ones.’
His eyes grow wide. ‘Really?’
‘Really.’
‘What is it?’
‘Well, I can’t tell you that, can I. It’s a surprise.’
‘Wow!’
I bend down to kiss his round cheek. I have no idea what the big present will be, but I’m sure Jared and I will think of something fun and non-expensive.
‘Is Joe okay?’ Darcy calls out.
I don’t turn around. ‘Yes, absolutely fine,’ I say, biting back several retorts. I decide to let it go. There’s already a bitter knot of resentment hardening in my stomach, and I don’t want Joe to see how upset I really am.
A fierce protectiveness of my family sweeps over me – I want to leave this excessive party with its self-satisfied adults and spoilt children, and escape back to our little house, away from all this showy crap. At this moment in time, I’d give anything to have Joe back in his old school, and throw hima normal party with his old school friends,without all this extravagance. To have Jared back in his old job, and me with my column – my little piece of self-esteem.
Yet there’s no going back. I realise that, for good or bad, this is the course Jared and I have set ourselves on, and I’m going to have to accept it and deal with it.
In the car on the way home Joe is high on excitement and birthday cake, chattering non-stop about the game and the coach and how everyone played. He’s had a great day, thank goodness. He scored two goals and won lots of praise from the Bournemouth players. Now he’s finally silent. I nudge Jared to look at him in the rearview mirror. Joe has fallen asleep in the back seat. His eyes closed, mouth open. Jared and I share a smile.
‘Great day, wasn’t it, Lou. Joe played so well. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got scouted.’
‘Yeah,’ I reply. But my mind is instantly dragged back to whether or not Darcy has been playing subtle games. To use a child’s party to score points is…
‘I had a really great chat with Mike, too,’ Jared says, interrupting my thoughts.
‘Cool. What did you talk about?’
‘Everything really. Business, football, kids, you know. I’m going to pick up the lease contract tomorrow.’ He rests his hand on my leg for a moment before changing gear.
My stomach lurches. ‘Do you think it’s a good idea?’ I say.
‘Do I think what’s a good idea?’
‘You know. This whole free for a year thing. I thought you always said it wasn’t a good idea to go into business with friends.’
‘We’re not really going into business. I’m just leasing a property from him. And anyway, they’re not proper friends. We only just met them.’
‘I just think… It could get awkward, with Joe and Tyler at the same school. If something goes wrong…’
‘What can go wrong? It’s free for a year and then I start paying rent, by which time we’ll be raking it in, anyway.’
