Chapter 182

“Well, there has to be a reason he’s not here.”

“I told you he couldn’t—”

“Make it. Yes. All last minute.” Their mother puckered her lips, glancing into her wine glass as if a secret lay hidden. “If you ask me, a last minute alteration in your plans screams of a relationship,” she made the word sound crass, “in trouble.”

“We’re—”

“Doomed.” Eleanor Reid cut off her daughter.

“Thanks a bunch.”

“You can’t argue there’s a pattern of behaviour with you.”

Jay wished for more wine but had no way to top up without making it obvious. Even his father had stopped eating. The three men sat in silence, watching the tennis match of abuse.

“Pattern?”

“Failed relationships.”

“Everyone—”

“Goodness knows how many now.” His mother’s return serve sped up.

“Not—”

“I don’t want to think how many you’ve slept with.

“Mother!”

“You’re not as young as you were.”

“God’s sake.”

“Women may have children when older now, but I want to see my grandchildren grow.”