there for seven-thirty, so soon,’ Jack said, as Nina realised exactly why Jack had been in no hurry to leave her place. They were the coldest, most distant people Nina had ever met. Everything she had read or seen had been an complete act. This was so not the all American family they portrayed.
They were dismissive way past the point of rudeness.
His mother came off the phone but made no attempt to speak with either Jack or Nina, just checked a few details with her husband. They might just as well have not been there, though Jack did make an effort.
He introduced Nina to his father.
Jack Senior just gave a vague nod in her direction.
‘Nina does a lot of work at the pro bono centre in Harlem.’
Anna wrinkled up her nose, but Jack pushed on. ‘Did you know Louis Cavel donates some time there?’
‘I’ve heard.’ Jack Senior nodded. ‘I did consider it, of course it would look good, but really …’ He shook his head and looked at Nina. ‘I suppose you’re always looking for donations.’
‘We prefer people’s time,’ Nina responded, but the thought of spending time with this man, knowing it was simply a matter of looking good, and she was more than happy to bend the rules for him. ‘Of course donations are always welcome.’
‘Louis puts a lot of hours in,’ Jack persisted. ‘He does scar reductions, resets noses, you really should see the work he does with victims of domestic violence. There’s an amazing body of people there …’
‘There’s a far simpler solution,’ Anna said. ‘If these women just left their husbands in the first place, they could save us a whole lot of trouble.’ Anna laughed at her own joke and her husband laughed too, and Nina realised why Jack had apologised in advance for them—it was truly painful to be there.
The maid came and announced that the car was ready for them and as they stood Anna asked a question. ‘What’s the dinner in aid of tonight?’ she asked.
‘The burns unit at Angel’s,’ Jack said, and his mother gave a little shudder.
‘God, I hope they don’t do a presentation.’
They were disgusting.
There was no other word for them and Nina was so glad they were travelling in separate cars and had some time alone with Jack before they arrived at the dinner. Nina, who would never usually speak in front of the driver, actually didn’t care tonight. He presumably knew the real Carters behind the sparkling façade.
‘Are they always like that?’
Jack didn’t look at her. He was acutely embarrassed. Nina was the first person he had brought home and his parents had actually been quite civil.
‘Believe me, that was nothing.’
‘Is that why you don’t bring anyone home?’ Nina asked. ‘Because you’re embarrassed that it might get out …?’
‘I couldn’t care less,’ Jack said. ‘There’s a strange unspoken rule that what happens at home stays at home but, really, that’s not why I’ve kept people away. I’ve dated more than a few women who would have happily joined in that conversation.’
‘Were they always like that?’
‘Always.’ Jack nodded. ‘Sorry to ruin your night.’
‘Thanks a lot.’ Nina smiled back.
As they walked into the function she watched his parents turn on the charm and work the room in glittering style, and yet she knew how twenty minutes in their company had made her feel.
Imagine growing up with that?
The place was beautifully decorated, the table gleaming with silverware and gorgeous little chocolate mice, which, Nina found out when she took a bite, were filled with the most amazing mousse. Everything was beautiful or rather, Nina now realised, everything appeared to be.
They sat and ate and chatted and laughed and Nina played her part. They were at a table for twelve and Anna was beguiling them all, and she turned her beams on Nina.
‘Stunning dress …’
‘Thank you.’
‘I can’t quite place it.’
‘Neither could the sales assistant,’ Nina answered. ‘The label had been ripped out.’ And she made it clear she had bought it at the retro store. Jack watched his mother’s face flush beneath her make-up, her eyes shooting angrily to Jack, but he just leant back in his chair, his arm draped loosely over the back of Nina’s chair as she carried on with her dinner. ‘I offered to get her a dress, but the thing is with Nina, she’d never spend that sort of money on fashion …’
‘Very commendable …’ Anna gave a vinegar smile.
And while Nina didn’t need his mother’s approval, his mother felt the need to assure Nina that she’d never have it, or at least to score a few points, because she needled away at Nina when Jack got up to make a speech.
‘Yet, for all your altruism, you’re happy to sit in your second-hand dress and eat the finest food and drink the best champagne …’
‘Very happy to.’ Nina met her cool glare. ‘It was nice of Jack to invite me and I’m very touched that he did. I work with a lot of families on the burns unit, and this fundraiser will help a lot.’
And she turned from what was unimportant to someone who was, and listened as Jack made his speech. It wasn’t a particularly emotional speech. It wasn’t designed to pull at the heartstrings but it was to the point and funny at times, and from the reaction of the room just what had been needed to make it a successful evening.
Jack watched the conversation taking place at his table, saw his mother attempting to smile for the room as Nina crushed her with a few words. He had been so right to bring her. Jack knew then that all the doubts of the past few days faded as he had met the one woman who could stand up to his family, because Nina truly did not care what they thought of her. She was the one woman he had met who really was not turned on by money, which meant, Jack realised as they danced a little later, she was turned on only by him.
‘Sorry about that,’ he said, and she pulled back her face and looked up at him.
‘You have nothing to apologise for,’ she said. ‘I might, though. I think I was a bit rude …’
‘She has a very thick skin,’ Jack assured her. ‘Can you do me a favour?’
‘Of course.’
‘Can you feign a headache?’
‘No feigning required.’
They weren’t actually leaving that early. People were already starting to drift off. His mother was grimly wringing the last out of the champagne bottle and rather than anger Jack felt an immense sadness as he wished his parents goodnight.
They simply had no idea what was real, and he was only just finding out.
They
