Matt Whyman - The Savages

As for Sasha, this foolish adventure with fruit and vegetables that Jack had encouraged her to undertake couldn’t end soon enough. It had put Angelica in an awkward position. Keeping it a secret from Titus wasn’t something she found easy. Then again, she couldn’t afford for him to find out. Not now they were due to meet Sasha’s boyfriend for themselves. It was bad enough that he was a vegetarian. If Titus knew that he had invited their eldest daughter to cross over, even for a week let alone a month, he would skin the boy alive.

Based on what he had heard since planting the bug, Vernon English was sure of one thing: food was important to the Savages.

Parked down the road, within range of the device, he had sat and listened in to all kind of conversations about cooking. Angelica was in charge of the kitchen, so it seemed, but everyone showed an interest in whatever was on the hob, under the grill or in the oven. A feast was planned, he had learned, which was an unusual term for anyone to be using in this day and age. Still, it was hardly evidence that Titus was involved in the death of Lulabelle Hart.

After several days trailing the man home from work and then plugging in his earpiece, Vernon was beginning to think that Titus Savage’s worst crime was a weak spot for pickled walnuts straight from the jar. The joke about each one looking like a shrunken brain wasn’t funny the first time he had heard it, and yet Titus continued to trot it out. Vernon recorded everything, unaware that it would one day be released to a public hungry for an insight into the family. Just then, the private investigator was half listening to a chat between Angelica and her daughter, Sasha. The pair were preparing tea and cupcakes or some such, he wasn’t sure what. Still, he knew it was worth keeping the channel open because Titus was also in the house. To keep himself occupied, and break the boredom, Vernon was munching on a packet of sea salt and malt vinegar flavoured crisps. Having missed what could’ve been a vital lead, all for the sake of a bucket of chicken nuggets, he wasn’t going to let himself go hungry on the job again. Vernon balled the empty packet in one hand and tossed it into the passenger floor well. It landed in among all the other discarded packets, not just for crisps but biscuits and sweets. He eyed them for a moment, wishing he had the willpower to pick up some raisins or bananas instead of the snacks.

‘You should watch what you eat,’ he told himself, and looked down at his waistline. As a younger man, he’d have described himself as whippet thin. He hadn’t grown fat as such. It’s just his gut looked more like a loaf of bread that had failed to rise properly in the oven. He put this down to years of cooking for one after the divorce, which had involved a lot of ready meals. ‘We’ll bring something next time,’ he added, as if to reassure his stomach that he hadn’t given up on getting the washboard back.

Vernon surfaced from what was frankly a pipe dream by the sound of a car passing, and then pulling up outside the Savage residence. He sat up in his seat, reaching for his notebook at the same time so that he could take down the registration plate. The young man who climbed out of the driver’s side looked strikingly confident to Vernon. He was one of those youths who dressed smartly to counter a carefully waxed and sculpted mop of hair. It was meant to look wind-blown, as if the guy had been brooding on a craggy tor. Vernon disliked him straight away, whoever he turned out to be.

Sasha had worked hard in the kitchen to prepare for Jack’s visit. She’d managed to persuade her parents that a supper was just too much. It risked idle chat turning into an investigation. Asking Jack to drop round for a cup of tea, before they headed off for an evening out, was surely more than enough to satisfy their curiosity.

‘We’re only being responsible parents,’ Angelica had said, when she found Sasha decorating a batch of cupcakes fresh from the oven.

‘I know that,’ said Sasha. ‘It’s the opportunity to embarrass me that I could really do without.’

‘Would I do that?’

‘It isn’t you I’m worried about.’

Angelica didn’t need to ask if she was referring to her father.

‘These look lovely,’ she said after a moment, and inspected the cakes a little closer. It was clear that Sasha had gone to great lengths here, but when she picked one up it left a lot of crumbs behind. Angelica didn’t like to criticise, but took a moment too long to reach for a compliment. ‘I’m sure Jack will appreciate the effort you’ve made,’ she said eventually.

Sasha finished by sprinkling a pinch of especially-sourced hundreds and thousands over her creations, and figured her mother might as well know.

‘It’s a vegan recipe,’ she told her. ‘No eggs or butter.’

All of a sudden, Sasha felt her mother’s gaze turn upon her.

‘Jack is a vegetarian, no? Eggs and butter won’t kill him.’

‘He’s thinking of cutting out dairy. I just thought this would give him a taste of what’s in store. I used soya milk and vegetable oil as a substitute, but I’m sure they’ll taste OK.’

Angelica struggled not to pull a face.

‘Listen to you,’ she said. ‘You’re a Savage, Sasha. Savages don’t go vegetarian, let alone vegan. Exactly what is it about this boy that’s turned your head?’

Sasha took the cupcakes across to the table, where she’d already laid out plates, cups and saucers.

‘This isn’t about Jack,’ she said, without making eye contact with her mother. ‘He’s just switched me onto the possibilities when it comes to food.’

‘Well, you can eat well and get on with your life,’ muttered Angelica, ‘or you can put your figure before your happiness.’

‘Mum, I promise you this isn’t about how I look.’ Sasha turned to face her. ‘It’s about how I feel on the inside.’

Angelica was taken aback by her daughter’s force of opinion. Facing her, she looked directly into her eyes and didn’t let up as she appealed to her.

‘Please don’t go vegan. It would be a step to far for your father and me.’

‘And for me,’ said Sasha, smiling now. ‘I was just keen to see how they turned out. It’s good to experiment with food!’

‘At last, we agree on something,’ said Angelica, and some warmth came into her expression. ‘Just don’t tell your father what’s in them.’

‘You mean what’s not in them,’ said Sasha.

It was an exchange that served to further soften the mood between them. For the next few minutes, Sasha and Angelica worked together to clear the kitchen. By the time Ivan joined them, everything was ready for Jack’s arrival.

‘Mmm, cakes!’ the boy declared, and grabbed one from the plate. He moved so quickly that it didn’t disintegrate until it had reached his mouth.

‘Leave that!’ snapped Sasha, but it was too late. ‘Mum, tell him!’

Angelica was used to intervening in squabbles between the pair. On this occasion, watching Ivan’s gleeful expression begin to pinch into distaste, she figured he had just learned not to take food without asking.

‘Eww,’ he said, having struggled to swallow it down. ‘Can I get a drink of water? What’s in this?’

‘Serves you right,’ grumbled Sasha, and set about rearranging the plate of cupcakes.

‘We have a visitor,’ Angelica said, as Ivan hurried to the tap. ‘He’s picky about what he eats.’

Having filled a cup and taken a swig, Ivan switched his gaze to Sasha.

‘The vegetarian is coming here now?’

‘Will everyone stop calling him that?’ demanded Sasha. ‘His name is Jack.’

A trace of a smile crossed Ivan’s face.

‘I hope he likes cupcakes,’ the boy said, as Titus could be heard making his way down the stairs. ‘Especially ones that taste like chalk.’