‘Rosalie’s offer,’ he says, focusing on the work, the business, and making my head spin at the change in focus. ‘Your brother called me—told me she’d been in touch to say you’d rejected her offer, that you’d decided on Waring—’
‘Yes, I decided, Dad! No one else. Christ, is that why you’re both here? To tell me what to do?’
‘Not tell you, just—’
‘Get out.’
‘Evangeline, take a breath...calm down.’
‘Don’t speak to me like I’m a child, Dad.’
‘I’m—’
‘Go.’
‘Look, sis...’ Nate tries.
‘Don’t you “sis” me.’ I round on him. ‘Until you can bring yourself to apologise to Lucas I don’t want to speak to you.’
‘Come off it—we’ve a family dinner tonight.’
I laugh over him. ‘Tell Mum I can’t make it.’
‘Eva—?’
Now it’s Dad who speaks.
‘What? You’d rather I came and explained the fat lip to her?’
They both flinch.
‘No, I didn’t think so... I could always lie, I suppose. It seems we’re awfully good at that. Did you really believe the tale Nate spun, Dad?’
They look at one another, their open shame enough of an answer.
‘How could you take away the only real family he ever knew?’
I shake my head. I still can’t understand it. I just know I need them gone.
‘I’ll tell Mum I’m sick.’
‘Eva—’
My dad reaches for me but I back away. The last thing I need is a hug right now—not from him. I need Lucas.
My rejection seems to do the trick and together they walk out. My brother is pulling the door closed when he stops.
‘What?’ I blurt.
‘For what it’s worth,’ he says, looking at his hand on the handle and then back to me, ‘I am sorry. I know I’ve done wrong, but I never wanted you caught in the middle like this.’
And then he’s gone.
A heavy silence descends and I’m immobilised. Then I start to shiver. Delayed shock, I suppose. I touch my lip and realise I need ice on it before it truly does balloon and I have to avoid both Mum and all meetings well into next year.
I lift my phone and call Clare. She doesn’t hesitate at my random request. My guess is that, having seen Nate, she has a fair idea what I want it for. She probably thinks I lamped him.
If only.