Cecelia Ahern - The Time of My Life

‘Lucy is outside greeting him now, sir,’ I could hear Edith saying breathlessly as she tried to catch up with him.

‘Fine. Let’s just get this nonsense over and done with, shall we,’ he said.

We both heard him.

‘I’m sorry about this morning,’ I said, genuinely meaning every word of it.

Don studied me, to see if I genuinely meant every word of it.

‘I told you I was messed up. Not that that makes it any better, but I am. I don’t know what I want. I thought I did. But Life has shown me that I don’t. I don’t have a clue what I’m doing and I need to figure it out. I’m trying to figure it out.’

He nodded, studied me some more. ‘Are you still in love with your ex?’

‘I think so. But I don’t know .’

He was quiet for a moment. ‘Your life told me he might have a new girlfriend.’

‘My life has one?’

‘No, Blake. He told me when you were in the shower.’

‘That’s a very strong possibility.’

He looked around the estate, then back at me. ‘I don’t love you, Lucy.’ He paused. ‘But I do know that I like you. A lot.’

I put my hand on my heart. ‘That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.’

‘I don’t want to be used in some experiment in your life.’

‘You’re not being used.’

‘And I don’t want to be second best.’

‘You’d never be. I just feel like I need to tie up a few loose ends in my life, that’s all.’

He seemed satisfied with that. There was nothing more I could think of to say.

He looked around at the house. ‘Are you nervous about this?’

‘Completely. I haven’t been in a relationship for three years, I’m making every single mistake I could possibly make.’

He smiled. ‘No, I mean, about your life meeting them?’

‘Oh. No. I don’t feel nervous at all. Just physically ill.’

‘It’ll be fine, he’ll do all the talking.’

‘He’s not here and I don’t think he’s coming. I lost my job today and Life isn’t talking to me.’ I swallowed then, realising how deep I was in it.

His eyes widened. ‘Anything I can do to help?’

Everybody was sitting around the table when I poked my head inside the room. Father wasn’t at the head of the table, which surprised me, instead it had been left free for my life.

‘Everybody, I’m very sorry for delaying you; Father, I know you have an important phone call not long from now, we won’t keep you from that but I’d like to introduce you to …’ I opened the door wider and pulled Don inside.

‘This is my family. My family,’ I looked at Don, ‘this is my life.’

He smiled and his dimples took over his face. Then he laughed and I thought there was no way on earth he was going to be able to do this.

‘I’m sorry.’ He stopped laughing. ‘I’m just so honoured to meet you all.’

He held his hand out to Jemima. ‘Hello there.’

‘Jemima,’ she said shyly, taking his hand.

‘Nice to meet you, Jemima.’

Don moved on and my mum hopped up out of her seat. My grandmother didn’t budge, just held her hand out limply.

‘Victoria,’ she said.

‘Lucy’s life,’ he said.

‘Yes.’ She looked him up and down and pulled her hand away.

‘I’m Riley.’ Riley stood up and gave him a firm handshake. ‘I have a jacket just like that.’

‘That’s a co-inky-dinky,’ I said, ushering Don on to my mum.

‘Yes, I left it just out …’ Riley looked out to the closed door in the direction of the hallway. While Don and my mum shook hands, Riley pulled the curtains open. He looked out the window, saw Don’s van and gave me a warning look. I gave one right back and he just looked from Don to me and shook his head and took his seat. Everybody was so busy watching Don, and greeting Don, that they missed our exchange.

‘This is Lucy’s father, Mr Silchester,’ Mum said to Don.

Don looked at me while he made his way to my father. I pursed my lips and tried not to laugh, nervously, while he did the same. Then he took his seat at the head of the table.

‘You have a lovely home,’ he said, looking around. ‘Is this oak?’

‘Yes,’ my mum said, excitedly, ‘We call it the Oak Room.’

‘We’re a creative bunch,’ I said and Don laughed.

‘So tell us, how are you and Lucy getting along?’ Mum asked, hands clasped together.

‘Lucy and I,’ Don looked at me, and my heart quickened, ‘are getting along just famously, thank you. She’s incredibly energetic,’ he said and Riley slid down in his chair slightly. ‘So it takes a lot to keep up with her but I’m just crazy about her,’ he said without taking his eyes off me.

I couldn’t stop looking at him.

‘Isn’t that lovely,’ Mum whispered, not wanting to break the spell. ‘To be in love with life, I can see it on her face. Isn’t that something?’

I snapped out of it then when I realised Mum was staring at me.

‘Yes, well …’ I cleared my throat while I felt all eyes on me and my cheeks blazed. ‘Why don’t we tell him a little something about us?’

‘Well, Mr Silchester and I are renewing our vows,’ Mum said, all excited, ‘Isn’t that right, Samuel?’

My father said a long, lazy and unenthusiastic yes. Don quite understandably assumed it to be a joke and laughed, but as it wasn’t his laugh was misguided and misplaced.

Mum said, a little embarrassed, ‘It’s our thirty-fifth anniversary this year and we thought it would be a nice way to celebrate.’

‘Congratulations,’ Don said politely.

‘Thank you. I’ve asked Lucy to be my bridesmaid. I do hope you will come.’

Don looked at me with amusement. ‘I’m sure Lucy is very excited about that.’

‘Pardon my ignorance on this matter, but how long do you plan on staying around for?’ Mum asked.

‘I’d like to stay around for quite a while,’ Don said and I felt his eyes on me again. ‘But that’s up to Lucy.’

I quickly looked at Riley, who winked at me, and despite my plans to get back with Blake, I couldn’t help but smile.

Edith entered with a trolley of bowls and a giant tureen of soup. She handed out the bowls and began ladling. ‘Courgette and pea,’ she said to Don, then fired me a warning look to let me know she wanted no part of this.

‘Mmm,’ I said, exaggerating. ‘My favourite. Thanks, Edith.’

She ignored me, serving up the soup and leaving me until last.

The intercom buzzed again.

‘That will be the carpet cleaner,’ Mum said and looked to Edith. ‘Edith?’

‘I’ll show him in to the drawing room,’ Edith said, giving me an alarmed look.

I was slightly concerned. If Life had indeed decided to show up, he would not be happy being led into a room with a dirty carpet to clean or with the fact that I’d told a majestic lie. I’d really done it now. But it couldn’t be him, he had deserted me, had left me alone to deal with my family; he would be a lazy foolish Life to back out of that enormous lesson. Unless he sensed a lie, of course, which would mean it was the perfect time for him to arrive, so that I would learn an even greater lesson.

‘Have you been to Lucy’s workplace?’ Philip asked and my heart sank.

‘Yes,’ I interrupted, ‘and actually, funny you should mention that, but I have some news.’ I tried to make it sound positive; gift-wrapping bad news. I needed to say it all in case Life stormed in trying to get me back for this gigantic lie.

‘You got a promotion,’ Mum anticipated excitedly, her voice almost a screech.

‘Actually, no.’ I looked at Don nervously for moral support, then back to my mother. ‘As of today, I no longer work at Mantic.’

She made an oh shape with her mouth.