ones. We so often think we know each other, but actually there’s always something new we can learn. Rose, why don’t you go first? Tell us a little about yourself.’
Ha-ha. Take that Rose, I thought.
Rose gave a tight smile and, without looking at Fleur or me, began to speak. ‘My name’s Rose Edwards. I live in Highgate, London. I’m fifty-one years old. Two children. One husband. I work in publishing.’
‘Speak to Fleur and Dee, Rose.’
Rose turned in her seat. ‘What do you want to know?’ she asked through gritted teeth.
‘How do you feel about being here, Rose?’ asked Beverly.
The look Rose gave Beverly almost made me laugh. I knew it so well. Her ‘I won’t be bossed around and you watch your step missie’ face. Beverly reflected it right back. This could be fun, I thought as I settled in my chair as Rose continued. ‘I feel frustrated. I don’t want to be here. I have better things to do with my time.’
‘Good,’ said Beverly. If Rose was expecting an argument, she wasn’t going to get one. ‘Now you Daisy.’
I turned to look at Fleur and Rose. ‘Mum was the only one who called me Daisy. I’m Dee McDonald. Forty-nine. Divorced, presently single. One daughter, doing well, and thanks to both of you for asking about her. OK, we might have fallen out but she’s still your niece.’
‘Mum always let us know how she’s doing. Anyway, we’re in touch on Facebook,’ said Fleur.
‘You are?’ Ouch. That was news to me and hurt. Lucy hadn’t accepted me as her Facebook friend, but then ours had never been an easy relationship and we’d often been at war with each other when she was growing up. We weren’t close like Mum and I had been, though I hadn’t given up hope that one day we might be. Lucy was wilful and stubborn as a child, ran wild in her teenage years, and her opinions often clashed with mine. As soon as she left school at eighteen, she was out the door and went to get a job in London and live with her aunt, Andy’s sister. She’d lasted less than a year there, then went to live in Byron Bay in Australia, near her father, who she adored and who could do no wrong. We Skyped regularly, but letting me see her Facebook page was a no-no as far as she was concerned.
‘Yes. She often messages me,’ said Fleur. Turn the knife, why don’t you Fleur? I thought.
‘Let Dee speak,’ said Beverly. ‘How do you feel about being here Dee?’
‘I was feeling great, but now I feel insulted that my sister Rose feels she has better things to do with her time than be here with Fleur and me. I think the least we can do is try to approach things with a positive attitude.’ What I didn’t say was that I was gutted that Lucy and Fleur were friends on Facebook and I’d been left out. It felt too familiar, reminiscent of times with Fleur and Rose when I’d been excluded from their various groups of friends.
Rose rolled her eyes.
‘Good,’ said Beverly. Good? Is she mad? I wondered. You could cut the atmosphere in here with a knife. ‘And lastly, Fleur.’
‘Fleur Parker. Youngest. Married twice. Presently single. Nicest of the three.’ She grinned at Beverly.
‘Don’t hide your feelings behind jokes and charm, Fleur. How do you feel about being here?’
‘Actually I feel good,’ she replied, and turned to look at Rose and me. ‘I think the stupid standoff has gone on long enough and it’s time to make up. We’ve just lost our mother. It’s a time to be with family.’
If it’s not too late, I thought.
‘We were never close,’ said Rose.
‘Yes we were. We were. I remember loads of good times with both of you. You have a selective memory, Rose. I’ve missed you both.’
I was surprised to hear this. Fleur had always been so independent, and never appeared to need anyone, except in her thirties when she’d gone through a bad patch with alcohol. She used to call in the early hours of the morning when she’d been drinking to bemoan about some relationship or other, but mainly to berate me for not being there for her, as if she was the only one who ever had problems. Rose had had many years of the same phone calls, and both of us had grown weary of them and taken to putting the answering machine on after ten in the evening.
‘I do have a selective memory,’ said Rose. ‘And that is why we’re not close – because I remember what you can be like.’
Beverly nodded. ‘Fleur’s turn, Rose.’
‘People change,’ said Fleur, ‘conquer demons.’
‘Do they?’ Rose replied.
‘Not you apparently,’ said Fleur.
‘Meaning?’
‘You haven’t changed at all. Still judging, sitting on your high and mighty throne with no compassion.’
Ooh, that’s harsh, I thought, though had to agree. Rose could be heartless.
‘OK, good,’ said Beverly. ‘We’ve broken the ice a little. Now I want each of you to use three words to describe your sisters. Positive words. This time we’ll start with you, Fleur. Three words about Rose.’
Fleur looked at Rose then back at Beverly. ‘Three?’
Rose looked indignant at the insinuation that three positive words were going to be hard to find. I thought it was just Fleur trying to be funny and have a dig at the same time.
Beverly nodded. ‘Three.’
Fleur hesitated. ‘Can Dee go first?’
‘Can you, Dee?’ asked Beverly.
Rose sighed heavily, looked at her watch, crossed her arms and legs and the left foot began to twitch.
‘OK,’ I said, and looked at Rose. If I was to be honest, I’d say uptight, anal and patronizing for her, and self-obsessed, impatient and frivolous for Fleur, but I’d been in therapy and knew how to play the game. They get you to start positive then bring out the knives later. ‘OK. Rose. Hard-working. Conscientious. Focused.’
‘Conscientious and focused are almost the same, can you give us another word?’ asked Beverly.
I looked at Rose again. ‘Stylish. She always looks immaculate.’ Rose shifted in her seat but didn’t look displeased.
‘Good,’ said Beverly. ‘And for Fleur.’
‘Beautiful. Light-hearted. A free spirit,’ I said. Free spirit meaning she does exactly what she pleases, but Beverly wouldn’t know that and what I’d said seemed to have worked. The atmosphere had lightened a tad.
‘Fleur, your three words for Rose,’ said Beverly.
Fleur had a mischievous look. ‘Five foot three.’
I couldn’t help but laugh. Rose rolled her eyes again.
‘I
