I understood why everyone wanted me and Mike to smooth things over – but they didn’t know what he had done. They would be devastated when they found out, and this was one time that I wouldn’t enjoy saying ‘I told you so’. An image came to me, of Mike standing at Amy’s funeral, his arms around the kids, a solitary tear rolling down his cheek.
That bastard.
The fury was bubbling and rising inside me like a vat of boiling oil. I took a deep breath and visualised a giant pot on a stove. I turned down the heat, the flames flickering smaller and smaller, and I carefully put a lid on. I instantly felt better.
I was so busy concentrating on my visualisation that I hadn’t noticed a figure waiting on Amy’s doorstep.
‘Jake! Fancy seeing you here!’ Adam exclaimed, giving Rachel a theatrical nudge and wink.
They fell about giggling and Jake blushed, looking bashfully at his shoes before glancing up at me. I gave him a weak smile and wondered if he knew he had been invited to make sure I behaved myself.
‘Uncle Adam!’ Lucas squealed as he answered the door, wrapping his arms around Adam’s waist.
Uncle? I glanced at Rachel, who shrugged her shoulders.
Adam hadn’t even made it into the hall before Betsy hurled herself on him too, and even Hannah was uncharacteristically affectionate, greeting him with a tender hug. He revelled in his hero’s welcome, inching his way towards the kitchen with all three children draped from him and jostling for attention. The three of us followed, trudging down the hallway after them.
‘You’re popular…’ I said to Adam, muttering as we shuffled into the kitchen.
He turned and raised an eyebrow.
‘Just because Auntie Izzy won’t take my calls doesn’t mean I’m not regularly checking in on my tribe.’
Everyone crowded around the table. Mike started busying himself with drinks for the newcomers, looking thankful to have something useful to do. He fidgeted with cutlery and napkins, making only fleeting eye contact with me and Rachel as he handed us our glasses. I forced myself to smile at him. It left a bitter taste on my lips.
Mum was resplendent in a matching kaftan and turban, and I wondered who she had dressed to impress – Adam or Jake? Auntie Sue was cooking at the stove with Lucas by her side, and I could tell from the angle of her head that she was keeping one eye on dinner and one ear on the room. She had spoken to Mike and smoothed things over – I just hoped he didn’t think it was necessary to talk everything out. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to say sorry, it was that I would sound so wholly unconvincing he would suss me out right away.
Nor did I want to hear his apologies – he could keep all of that, for all I cared. I would keep my cards close to my chest until I had an answer from Jennifer and could work out my next step.
Jake fit in seamlessly, and I watched as he chatted comfortably with Mum and Auntie Sue. I wondered if Amy would have approved of his boyfriend potential. Not that anything was going to happen. Not until all of this was over, at least.
‘What’s on the menu tonight, Jamie Oliver?’ Adam leaned over Lucas’s shoulder to see what he was stirring.
‘Ham and mushroom risotto,’ said Lucas with a wide smile.
‘Well that sounds straightforward enough…’ Rachel mumbled to me and Jake.
‘Only, instead of rice, we’re using porridge oats.’
The three of us gave a collective wince and Auntie Sue offered an apologetic shrug.
Adam, on the other hand, loved the idea. ‘You’re a genius, my boy, a genius! Is that one going in the book?’
Lucas nodded excitedly.
‘What book is this?’ I said, taking a sip of water, trying to sound casual.
Lucas shook his head and looked down, hiding a shy smile.
‘Lucas is writing a recipe book,’ said Adam. ‘Amazing Amy’s Adventures in Alimentation. Working title, anyway. It’s going to be a tribute to his mum, with all of her inspired inventions and her twists on the classics.’
He winked at Lucas, who was beaming.
‘That’s such a lovely idea, I…’ I choked back a sob that came out of nowhere, the emotion cutting my vocal cords. My eyes met Rachel’s, then Auntie Sue’s – we were all filling up.
‘I’ve been working on it since Mum died,’ said Lucas. ‘Every time I’m cooking. I try to remember how Mum made something, and when I get it right, I write everything down. Adam says I could be a chef when I grow up!’
How had I not known he was working on this? I kicked myself – I should have been encouraging him, helping him. That’s what a good aunt would do. Adam had only known Lucas for a matter of weeks and he’d given him more guidance and spiritual direction than I had managed to in his whole life time.
‘A chef, eh?’ Mike ruffled his son’s hair. ‘Your mother would be proud.’
Mike’s mention of Amy sent a shudder through me, but nobody noticed. Adam was too busy enjoying the surprise on our faces.
‘Maybe if you ask her nicely, MySelfHan can promote your book on her IG.’ Adam winked at Lucas.
‘What’s IG? And who’s MySelfHan? Am I missing something?’ Auntie Sue was bemused.
‘Instagram, Auntie Sue!’ Adam laughed. ‘Hannah here has gained quite the following. Who knows, we might make a social media influencer of her yet.’
‘What?’ I looked at Rachel and Mike, but the shock on their faces told me they knew no more than I did. ‘You’re posting what on Instagram? To who?’
Alarm bells were ringing – this was a serious oversight on my part. I was still mastering the basics of childcare and hadn’t even thought about how to keep them safe online. Hannah could have been exposed to all kinds of dangers, and I had been too preoccupied to notice.
‘Calm down, dear,’ said Adam as he
