Take a Breath(29)

He shakes his head. “Of course not. Your mother was completely wrong for him. I was quite shocked when I met her and couldn’t understand why he eventually moved her in, especially as I could see Matthew wasn’t too keen either. That is of course until I met you and it all clicked into place.”

I laughed at that one. “Mike, please. Surely you’re not saying that he moved my mother in just to be close to me?”

This time he nods. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. He’s not a predator and his intentions were always honourable towards you. I could only imagine he wanted just to be with you—protect you—even if it did torture him in the process.”

I opened my mouth in shock. “Mike, no you must be wrong. He loved my mother and wanted to marry her.”

He shook his head again. “That was a grave mistake on his part. I think he was trying to kid himself that he could make it work with her even though it was a lost cause. Sorry, I don’t want it to sound mean towards your mother, but they were not right for one another. I tried to talk to Jake about this and even suggested that he picked the wrong Sinclair, but he nearly ripped my head off.”

I was about to ask more when Alison walked in.

“There you are, Mike. I was looking for you. Ana, you look upset. Is everything ok?”

“Yes, sorry just boring Mike about my mother.”

She looked concerned. “Yes, that was a shock that she left. Have you heard from her?”

Well, if you count that sorry excuse for a letter as hearing from her, then yes.

“Only to say she was sorry, but other than that, nothing.”

She wanders over to Mike and he protectively places his hand on her shoulder.

“Well, you are her daughter. I’m sure she will be in touch at some point once she has sorted herself out.”

Mike lets go of my hand and nods to me in understanding. I nod back and he smiles.

“Let me get you a drink, my darling.”

Mike gets up and taps Alison on the bottom and she yelps. I burst out laughing and Alison is blushing.

“It’s lovely to see that,” I say looking at them both in awe.

“Married twenty-seven years and she still sets my heart alight.”

Alison looks dreamy into Mike’s eyes, heartened by his words as they lightly kiss each other. I’m caught up in quite a tender private moment between the two of them and have to excuse myself before everyone finds me a blubbering mess.

I nip to the toilet and also use my time to gather myself and check on my makeup. I come outside to find a few people have already left. I see Jake is there talking with James and Mike. He looks at me again and I feel weak at the knees. When am I ever going to be able to control myself around him?

I see in the corner of my eye that Mike is looking at Jake and then looking back at me. He winks and whispers something in Jake’s ear. Jake seems offended by whatever Mike says and shrugs him off.

“Just keeping it real, Jake. I better go find my lovely wife as it’s time to head on out.”

James completely oblivious, heads over to me and gives me a kiss on the cheek and with an impish grin he states, “Remember what I said, Ana. If you ever feel the need, just call me ok? I’ll be there waiting. You look delicious in that dress. I just want to—”

“I think you’ve said quite enough now, James.” He spins his head round to find Jake hovering over him.

“Ok sir, just telling Ana that she is always welcome for a night out with me,” he declares.

“Yes, I know exactly what you are up to, now scram.”

“Ok, ok, I’ll go. See you next week then.”

James heads out the door and I look up into Jake’s eyes.

“Are you always going to do the caveman act with me?”

The side of Jake’s mouth sneaks up. “The caveman act. You think I’m acting like a caveman?”

“Don’t you think you’re acting like a caveman, Jake?”

“Don’t pull the analysing crap on me. I’m just protecting you from the wolves. They descend quite rapidly when you’re around.”

I look into his eyes and smile. “So you’re protecting me now are you?” I bring a finger up to my lips, waiting for his answer.

“Stop doing that, Ana.”

“Doing what, Jake? What am I doing?”

“That thing with your lip.”

“What thing with my lip? Do you mean this?”

I gently wet my finger and stroke the bottom of my lip back and forth before opening my mouth and biting it.

“Fuck!” he hisses.

Jake storms off and I start laughing.

“So where’s Mr Grumpy going off to now?” Tony asks, walking up to me with Mike and Alison.