The Date

Chapter 9

Kate

Looking at myself in the spa changing room. I lightly tickle my fingers my damaged skin. Six large pink scars cross from my shoulder blades to my lower back. I feel a cold shiver making its way through my whole body at the memory of coming home that night late...

Bill and Tina wherein the front room, smoking and drinking themselves away like they always did every night. Bill didn't like me going to school he used to say 'it's a waste of good honest taxpayers' like me to pay teachers when kids could be taught from home'. Looking back on it I find it laughable how he called himself a 'good taxpayer' the man's most likely never paid tax in his life. He was angry that I was home later than normal and didn't believe that it had anything to do with school, I tried... I tried to tell him that I was behind in my work and the teacher was helping me but he wasn't having any of it. He said I was whoring around sleeping with the whole street, I was only thirteen I couldn't understand who he could think I would do such a thing. I remember pleading with him, trying to explain what happened, trying to not make him angry but I should have known better, there was never anything that I didn't do that made this man angry. He said I was being disrespectful and that I needed to be punished for my behaviour. I remember standing in the front room shaking. With tears running down my face. I knew that pain would soon fill my body and there was nothing I could do about it. Then there was Tina. Tina's punishments where cruel They were the ones that happened most often. She would hit me just like Bill but it was her words that a remember most. She would tell me every day I was nothing and nobody. She would tell me to repeat every word she said until they were fixed in my mind and I knew nothing else. She used to lock me out of the house a lot if I was a minute late from school. I had to sleep outside with no dinner and many nights in the rain. I remember having to go to school one morning after being locked outside in the rain all night. My clothes were damp and smelt so bad. I only stayed till second class. I couldn't stand the smell anymore.She would start rumours about me to the neighbours about taking drugs and selling myself to the boys at school. No one would speak to me. Sticks and stones may break my bones but words would always hurt me. The bruises would fade.Most of the beatings I got from Bill, I could hind. It's only at night when the nightmares start where I remember. Even thou Tina's punishment happened most often. It was Bill's that I ran from. When Tina shouted and screamed, Bill used this calm soft voice on me, teasing me, trying to be the nice guy before he started breaking my body... my soul. I remember how he walked up to me. He softly brought his hand through my hair and then around my neck. It tightened. Pain. Sharp pain. He pulled my head up, causing my feet to come off the floor and hanging from his hand around my neck. His hands... rubbing up and down my body... my face. Then he started asking me questions I didn't understand. "What do you do with those boys? Do you let them touch you... do you touch them? Show me what you do?" he asked. I could hear his voice in my head like he was standing right by me and my whole body stiffened. I remember every word, every tone and level of his voice in my ear. I can feel the tears still where they were pouring down my face like each tear left a burning scar. I could remember the tone and sadness to my voice as I begged him to let me go. I can feel my mouth dry and my throat closes up like it once did. The more I pleaded, the angrier he got as he took his belt off and pushed me over the table.I remember him pulling down my trousers... to just knickers and lifting my top high showing my bareback. That's when it started... the whipping, the screaming and his sick enjoyment. I could feel it. His... thing pressing into me through his trousers. He whipped me over and over and over again until my legs gave out and I slummed to the floor sobbing. It hurt. I remember how badly it hurt. I couldn't feel anything. Just a fire on my skin. I knew I was bleeding as I felt the warm liquid running down my back. I couldn't move. I was helpless and weak. He just laughed at me as I tried to move off the floor. I remember the pain. I remember not being able to feel my legs or straighten my back due to the pain. Just when I thought it was over he pulled me up again, grabbing the belt so the hock acted as the whip and he started whipping my lower back a few times more. It wasn't the case of thinking I was going to die at that point. I knew I was already in Hell and the devil himself had his hands along my bare legs as he laughed at my pain. Then the laughter turned into groans. I didn't look at him. I didn't want to see what he was doing to himself. I knew tho. I know that my pain had got him off. I didn't need to see it.I managed to pull myself up. I can't remember much after that point. Everything is blurry and hollow as I couldn't feel a thing other than the fire on my back. He went to sit back on the sofa with his beer as nothing happened. I don't know how but I managed to run to my room, the pain... I remember the pain so easily I thought I must have died but I couldn't understand what I had done in life that brought me to this hell. The memory faded away as fast as it came across as I looked away from the scars. I couldn't let anyone see them or touch them, just the thought of someone touching me... anywhere freaked me out.When the spa lady came to make in I explained that I only wanted the top half of my back to be done which she didn't mind a toll. So other than the spa was amazing! Steam rooms, hot tubs, manicure, pedicures and I didn't even mind the waxing. It felt nice being pampered and treated so well, I can now see why so many people went to the spa. It's kind of cruel I guess that I've been offered the treatment knowing that I would never be able to afford it again, so I tried to enjoy it to the max. The last treatment was a trip to the salon and make-up studio that was attached to the spa, this place is amazing! Everybody was nice, asking questions about where I was going tonight and how I met Jay, I thought of it as a practice run before meeting his family tonight. When everything was done I felt like a new person, I felt lighter than before with my new haircut and colour. As I looked in the mirror I really couldn't recognise the person staring at me through the mirror. I still had mousy brown hair but it was just brighter and richer, it looked better against my skin making me look brighter and more alive. The cut was a little over my shoulders with a full fringe. My skin felt softer and bronzer where they added a light tan, it was the lowest shade can they had as I was so pale I'd look silly if I became too tanned. So my skin looked clearer and brighter, I didn't look like me atoll. I had transformed from a plain Jane to... well just Jane. Just Kate. I felt transformed. My hair, my nails, my skin... it all looked more alive with colour. The make-up artist matched powder to my face then taught me the best ways of putting on my make-up. I felt embarrassed that I didn't know, I've never had anyone to show me so I just learnt through reading fashion magazines but I never put hardly as much make-up on as I have now. I never know there to be so many different ways to paint your face. It was a little intimidating. "You look lovely Kate," Jay said causing me to go even redder. He could be nice when he wants to be. "Right, we have a dinner to attend" So I was ready. Wearing a pale yellow elegant dress I was ready for the first show. Pulling up to two large black gates in Jay's Bentley there was no backing out now. "Andrew, it's me Derek with Mr Minster," Jay's driver said to the little boxed machine outside the gates. "Right you are" a voice came out just as the gates opened. As we drove through I could now see what the hedges were hiding, there was a long driveway that was brought round to a larger Victorian styled house... no a mansion! It was beautiful! With a large black door at the front with a grade archway and wildflowers along the brick walls. "Jay my darling! How I've missed you?" A tall lady with short white-blonde hair, came up to Jay with her arms around his shoulders kissing him on both cheeks. This must be his mother, they looked similar... in different ways. "I've missed you too Mum" he replied, hugging her. "Jay" a voice came from the hallway where an elderly man came walking towards us. He was about the same height as Jay but a little more stocked, he must have been in his late fifties, early sixties maybe. "Dad" he greeted his Dad with a handshake, it wasn't the same warm greeting he showed with his Mum but I guess things are different between father and son... hell how would I know? "You look good," Jay said. "Ya Mother's got me on this stupid diet," Jay's Dad said in a thick Irish accent, rubbing his belly laughing, he seemed like a nice jolly guy, nowhere near as serious as Jay. "Who's this ya have here?" his Dad said pulling his arm around his wife, his grin took up his whole face. I imagine he who exactly who I was but wanted his son to introduce us properly. "Mum, Dad this is Kathryn... my girlfriend. Kathryn. This is my Mum, Sally and my Dad, Mark" Jay said putting his arm around my shoulders bringing me into a side hug. I bite hard on the inside of my mouth not letting the closeness affect me. I smiled. "Girlfriend hey, well how nice it is to meet ya... finally" Mark laughed pulling his hand towards me to shake. I felt my heart jump into my throat, my face boiling like a tomato. With my legs shaking like I was standing on the edge of a cliff. This was the moment where everything was on the line and I felt more nervous than I've ever felt in my life. Please don't see straight through me. Please. "Thank you, it's lovely to meet you too," I said to them as I stepped back to Jay's side, I took a quick glaze up at Jay and he smiled at me, I guess I was doing ok. Now we just have to get through dinner. "Right let's introduce you to the rest of the family Kathryn""Is everyone here then?" Jay asked."Everyone but Jake, God knows where that boy is. I tell you I phoned him near a thousand times to remind him about dinner and Anderson's birthday this weekend but that boy is hopeless" his Mother laughed cheerfully. Not annoyed with Jay's brother in the slightest. "Even Paul's here?" Jay was surprised. "Yes. Isn't that wonderful!" Sally replied excitedly as she walked into a large living room where the rest of the family sat. "Everyone Jay's here and he's brought a guest with him" "Hey guys" Jay greeted everyone in the room, breaking them from their conversations. When they all looked around at us entering the room and stood saying "Hey!" back. Jay took my hand in his giving it a little tug pulling me closer to the rest of the family. I was thankful for his tug, I was looking around the room like a child in a sweet shop, everything was so grand and big. "Kathryn, this is my family I told you about, this is Lilly my sister" the girl that was in front of my was Lilly Rose Minster, she was one of London's top models. The magazines love her, I've seen her in nearly all of them either modelling something or from where the press has followed her around like a celeb. "Nice to meet you," I said shaking her hand as she looked at me up and down smiling. She must have been about six foot tall, with long legs that came up near my head. She was really beautiful. I've seen her in magazines, people saying 'it would be easier to hate Lilly Rose for her beauty if she wasn't so god damn nice'. "You too, I love your outfit," she said. Having a comment like that from her... it felled me with this newfound confidence. "Thanks" I blushed moving my hands over my dress. "This is Connor Orden, a close family friend" Jay introduced me. This guy was huge; he wasn't as tall as Jay. I can't imagine many guys being as tall as Jay with his long legs but was very well built with large muscly arms. If it wasn't for the large smile planted on his face I would be scared."It's lovely to meet you Kathryn" he smiled taking my hand in a little shake. "Please call me Kate. It's lovely to meet you too" I smiled back."And I'm the good looking black sheep of the family Paul. It's magnificent to have the pleasure in meeting you" The last man in the room took my hand in his kissing it lightly with a cattish grin. He looked different. Was tall and muscly not as much as Connor but not as lean as Jay. He has stubble around his jaw and was much tanner. He looked wilder then the others, like the bad boy rock star look with skinny jeans and tattoos up and down his arms. I remembered then Jay said his youngest brother travelled a lot and now after seeing him in the flesh I could see how much... wilder he looked and acted to everyone else. "Shut up Casanova" Connor hit the back of his head making everyone laugh, everyone but Jay. "Hello," I said. This family was very big and loud. I only just met them and I've already worked that out. It made me a little more nervous as I wasn't much of a talker and I didn't get loud and playful like these guys were, I don't think I would know how to act like that. To be that loosened up. "Everyone this is my girlfriend Kate," Jay said. "It's lovely to meet you all, Jay has told me about you all" I tried to sound sweet, I wanted them to like me if I had to be with them for the next week and to make Jay happy. "Don't believe a word of it?" Lilly said just as Connor replied with "No do!" making us laugh but he just got a hit in the arm from Lilly. "Mrs Minster, dinner is served" an elder lady walked through the large wooden doors that opened into the living room. "Thank you, Manny. Shall we" Sally said as we all walked into the brightly lit dining room where there was a large oak dining table filled with food. "Never thought I'd see the day Jay got himself a girl," Paul said as he walked over to the table with the rest of us. "Yes Kate, I do believe you're the only girl Jay's ever brought to meet our family" Sally, Jay's Mum said sitting at the top of the table as Mark sat at the other bottom. "Well, Kate's special," Jay said pulling out my chair for me like a proper gentleman. "So how did ya young love birds meet?" Mark asked as he found his seat. "Richard from my work is dating Kate's friend Tess, we met about three months ago when we all met up for drinks. Ever since then... well it's all history""How did he woo you, Kate? With his amazing law talk?" Lilly said in a jokey tone. "Hey! I can be charming when I want to be" Jay said not sounding offended. "You are a little boring Jay," Lilly said in a mocking tone. "Lilly stops teasing your brother," Sally said. "I was only joking, he knows that. Kate, what was he like? Was it love at first sight?" she smiled excited to hear the tale. I felt guilty lying to Jay's family about us as I looked at all the faces looking my way but this is what I was getting paid for. I couldn't back out even if I wanted to. "He was very witty when we met; he made me laugh and was a gentleman. I think that's a very important thing in a relationship to make each other laugh" I said to them all. I always thought that was a way to someone's heart. It made people comfortable and relaxed; I think you can tell a lot about a person by the way they smile. You can tell when it's real if it meets their eyes. "I agree" Mark smiled then started filling up his plate. "How old are you Kate?" Sally asked looking at me curiously."I'm twenty" I answered a little worried she'd think me too young to date her son. "Cradle snatcher" Paul mumbled from across the table. "Paul!" Mark yelled at his son who just laughed. I never really thought that would be a problem with his family, maybe I should have lied. "I turn twenty-one in September," I said looking around at everyone feeling nervous again that I messed things up. "There are only eight years between us but age shouldn't be so important. Not when you're in love" Jay said, gaining a smile from his mother. Does he not feel guilty lying to his Mum like that, she wasn't even my Mum and I felt bad. "Oh..." his Mum let out a little cry. "Yes, dear. If your happy and in love... Oh I'm so happy for you" Was she crying? Jay looked uncomfortable. I took his hand in mine which caught the eye of everyone at the table. "Come now, Sally. You're embarrassing them. Let's eat" Mark smiled digging into his meal. We were all starting to dig in when a voice came from the hallway into the dining room. "Hey, guys" the voice made me jump. A tall well-built man walked into the dining room. As he came close into view I felt the room get smaller and smaller. I thought he must be Jay's other brother, Jake. He looked just like the rest of his family, gorgeous but there was something different about him. Something more about him... More of everything. He was taller than the others, even taller than Jay but there was nothing lanky about this man. With larger well-built shoulders and mussels that could most likely bend steel. It's then that I remembered Jay saying his brother was a rugby player, now seeing him I can see why. He looked so strong and tuff, even his face... when my eyes finally left his body and moved up I could see how handsome this man was. "Jake, darling!" Sally yelled across the room. "Sorry I'm late Mum," he said rushing over and gave his Mum a kiss of the cheek. Then Lily and shock his Father's hand before sitting down. "I'd say traffic was busy or training went on late but I'd be lying. I left the apartment late" with a deep Irish accent. He seemed to be more Irish than the rest of his family which was strange, maybe it was just how low and strong his voice was. Everyone started greeting him as made himself a drink and took his seat. He hadn't noticed me yet. I'd never noticed a man like I'd noticed him before. He wasn't beautiful like Jay. I wouldn't class him as beautiful, his face was too strong and manly to be classed as beautiful. Not clean-cut and not wild like Paul. Yet he was perfect. With dark brown hair, it looked like it could look good in every style. His jaw was straight and strong with a light stubble but not as untamed like Paul's. His nose looked like it had been broken a few times but neither narrow or wide. His lips... looked so full. He looked... perfect in a non-perfect way. He was just... just intoxicating. He had one of those faces that women would stop to look at in the street and find it hard to look away from. He was like some kind of warrior with large strong shoulders, muscly arms and a hard-looking chest that any woman would want to embrace in. By just looking at him I could feel my heart attacking my throat by how high it was jumping. I had to remind myself to breathe. His size scared me a little. Bill was a big guy but most of him were fat, this guy looked all mussel! And that scared me, Bill was strong due to his size but this guy... Jake. I couldn't help but imagine how much worse... the damage he could do to a person... like me. Calm down, Kate! I told myself. Not everyone is like Bill, I tried to convince myself, this guy isn't going to hurt you, he has no reason to hurt you... but neither did Bill, a scared little childlike voice said in my head. With that last thought, I heard Jay say my name. "Jake this is Kathryn, my girlfriend. Kate this is my elder brother Jake" Jay introduced us. It took me a second... I looked up at him, it would be rude not to, he's not that scary. As I looked into his eyes I felt my heart jump in my throat and my stomach turned in knots, his eyes whereas dark as his hair, they didn't look soft and kind like they did with his family. He looked at me like he was looking into my soul and trying to rip it out of me. I knew that was melodramatic but the tension I felt in his stare affected me in a way I couldn't name other than fear. "Hello" I managed a small week sound like a church mouse I was like as a child. I cursed in my mind at this man. It has been four years since I left my foster parents and I never wanted to have to sound like that again, a scared helpless little girl but that's how he made me feel with just one look. Fear raised in my throat, how could you have taken a sudden disliking to me, he doesn't even know me. Maybe I'm just reading too much into that one stare ... "Thanks, Manny," he said as the lady brought him a plate. I'm just being paranoid I thought but he doesn't even say hi back or anything he just started eating the food."So Kelly..." he looks at me with those intense eyes again."Kate" Jay corrected him."How did you meet my brother here?" he asks, I know I've already done this with the rest of his family but I'm finding it harder to talk to this man. His very intimidating I don't feel comfortable near him. "Mutual friends of ours," Jay says for me after a moment of silence. "I asked 'Kate' Jay. So what friends are these, Kate?" he questioned again directing at me. "Richard from Jay's work is dating my friend Tess" I lied. I tried so hard to tell the story that Jay printed into my head, I just needed to remember it all."I don't recall you having a friend called Richard at your work before Jay, you never mentioned him," Jake asked his brother in a sarcastic tone, what was wrong with this guy. He seemed unfriendly and angry about everything we were saying. "I'm sure there are friends of yours I'm not aware of Jake. Richard is new to the office. We went out for a drink one night and that's when I met Tess and Kate. The rest is history" Jay stood to get another drink. "Interesting, when was all this then?" Jake interrogated. What was this guy, Sherlock?"About three months ago," I said softly trying to regain my voice and confidence. "And we're only meeting you now. Why wouldn't you tell us about her sooner Jay? Embarrassed by your family? Or..." he joked... I think. "Of course not!" Jay sat back down. "It was early days then and Kate's a shy person. I wanted to take it slow" he moved his hand round my back to giving my shoulder a rub. I knew we were pretending to be together and touching like that comes under normal relationship things but I still couldn't help from jumping a little the moment his hand came in contact with my back.I hated people touching me, it just brought back bad memories but I kept breathing and tried to keep calm. I couldn't let Jay down; there was too much riding on this and me putting on a good act. "So you two are serious then?" Jakes's eyes were glaring at Jay's. Yet he still managed a smile. This guy scared me. I didn't understand what his problem was. Wasn't he meant to be happy for his brother? Not like I would know how a normal family were meant to act but I can't seeing this to be it. "God Jake, what's with the questioning over there?" Paul yelled from across the table."Nothing, just very interested in our new extended family member is all" Jake grinned at me and it didn't fill me with kindness..."Well, we're all interested in Jay's guest but let's just tuck in this great meal shall we," Mark says. "Jake when do you go back to training?"They started talking about the Rugby season and Jake talked about his career. I was too busy trying to breathe to listen. "Kate?" Paul called from across the table. "Would you like some colcannon?" Paul past down a mashed potato looking dish with green crushed together, it looked... well not very appealing. "What is it?" I asked. With this everyone stopped eating and looked at me like I had three heads. "What? You've never heard of... Well," he said putting his knife and fork down dramatically. "Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream? With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream," Paul started singing a merry tune which made the table laugh and sing along. "Did you ever make a hole on top to hold the melting flake. Of the creamy, flavoured butter that your Mother used to make?" I couldn't help but laugh along with the whole table singing some song about the mash that was in front of me. I never had a family before so I didn't know what normal was other than what I saw on the TV or families that came in the café. I imagined what it would be like... all sitting around a large table, laughing, singing, and smiling at each other with such love and compassion. No fear or hate, no crusted words or lashed threats, having nothing nor no one wishing harm on the other. I could feel tears in my eyes and managed to shake them away before they fell. I told myself that maybe one day that life would happen and if it didn't... well I'll just live this moment with this family again and again in my mind. "Yes you did, so you did, so did he and so did I. And the more I think about it sure the nearer I'm to cry" They sang together around the room. Jake wasn't joining in like the others, he was just staring at me with them dark angry eyes again making me want to run and hide in a corner. "Oh, wasn't it the happy days when troubles we had not, And our mothers made Colcannon in the little skillet pot." They finished singing and started eating again like them all bursting into song was normal at the dinner table. "Its cabbage and potato," Jake said reach over to take the boll from me and filled his plant up hardly leaving any. "God Jake you don't wanna get fat" Lilly teased from the end of the table. Jake laughed for the first time he came into the room. God even his laugh sounded strong and powerful."Me? Get fat, not with my job little sister but you might want to think about this hunk over here" Jake said pointing at Connor. "I'm very fit I'll have you know. Thank you. I ran every morning" Connor responded. "You mean you leave Lilly alone from time to time, shocking" Paul said"He's not always watching over me! Just at events and sometimes during the day" Lilly said. A little annoyed at her brother. I wondered why Connor watches over her, are they a couple? I remember Jay saying something about them but I must have forgotten, maybe it was something about him being her bodyguard or something, he's big enough to be. "And when you're at home and when you go shopping," Jake said "Do you even really need a bodyguard?" Jay said"Yes," Lily and Connor both snapped back. Things went a little quiet at her serious tone I just kept my head down but I could see from the corner of my eye that everyone had narrow eyes towards Lilly. "Well... Why honey?" her Mum said a little worried. "She just does. Until the press leaves her alone for a bit. I don't mind" Connor said smiling at everyone. "Well you better be paying the poor bastard" Paul smirked. "Paul! Language" Sally hit him over the head lightly. "So Katie, what do you do?" Lilly asked smiling warmly at me, nothing like her eldest brother. "I work in hospitality, in events" I answered proudly of myself so far remembering everything! Go Me. Jay made it clear that he didn't want them knowing anything about what I do so we made up that I work in the hospitality front of house at some events around London that way if anyone recognises me, we could say it was from a party. "That's very exciting! Do you plan them?" Sally asked."Oh no. I just work the floor... just servicing the drinks and make sure everything's running well" I think that's what I was meant to say... oh god I forgot. "Well... that still sounds exciting. You must enjoy it? Is there something that you're working towards" Sally asked and I didn't know the answer. Was I meant to be wanting anything else? Oh god! Everyone was looking at me and I didn't know what to say, I turned to Jay and he gave me a look that said 'I can't answer that for you'. It would look silly if he remembers what I wanted out of life but I just couldn't remember. "Not really," I said slowly "I would like to go back to college to study Bakery" I could see Jay's lips tighten together out of anger. He didn't want me telling them anything that could be passed back on the real me but telling them I wanted to bake couldn't be bad... right. "Bakery?" Lilly smiled."Like that guy from that show.," Paul said we a full month of... what was it called... Colcannon! "Jake?""Paul Hollywood" Jake responded in the middle of eating. My eyes snapped to his. YES. Like Paul Hollywood. I was amazed he knew how he was. "Jake knows him" Paul explained. Of course, he did. I tried not to show an interest but I was losing it a little inside. "Well, that's great? What made you want to do that?" Sally asked smiling at me as I smiled back."Well, Milly taught me everything that I know about baking at sixteen. She was the one that made me see how much I loved it" I said smiling at the thought of Milly, if it wasn't for her I'd have never known about baking. I turned to Jay and saw the anger in his eyes... then I realised what I just said. I slipped up! Damn it! I was doing so well. I wasn't meant to tell them anything true about myself! Bugger!"Who's Milly?" Jake asked looking at me intensely like he's been doing all night. "She's... mmm she's the lady that brought me up" it wasn't a lie. Milly brought me up more in two years than my parents or foster parents ever did. "What about your parents?" Mark asked. I told Jay that my parents gave me up when I was young and a foster family took me in, I didn't tell him everything I just said that they weren't nice people and I needed to get away so I run away to London. He thought it was best to lie about my parents as well, so we came up with the idea that we would just say my parents died. I didn't mind, to me they were dead. "They died years ago" I explained. "Oh, dear. I'm so sorry" Sally said. I felt bad for not being honest."It's ok I was young. I never really knew them" "Do you have any other family?" Lilly asked "No, just me""Dessert Mrs Minsters" a waiter came into the dining room ending the silence. "How about we take our dessert in the living room?" Mark, Jay's Dad getting up from the table with his cake in hand as the others followed. "Jay I'm so sorry I wasn't thinking" I whispered as everyone else walked into the living room with their cakes. "No, you weren't! Jesus Kate! The one thing you had to do was keep your life a secret by not letting anything slip. God knows what you're going to let slip next!" he said whispered back angrily at me. I hated conflict of any kind. I was kind of prophetic in that way. As soon as someone got angry around me I just thought they would lash out on me, as everyone else in my life before did. I took a step back out of fear of him doing just that... even thou I know he wouldn't hit me. Jay's not like that from want I know of him so far he was just a stressed, confused guy that cared a lot for his family but I wasn't taking any chances. "I'm sorry" I whispered. I think Jay could tell that I was scared because is body language changed as he calmed down. "Just don't let it happen again or I'll be cutting your pay," he said. "Ok," I nodded. "Let's get the rest of this dinner over with" he walked ahead as I followed him through the house to a large cabin looking room with alive fireplace on the wall with cosy looking white sofas where Sally, Paul and Lilly where sitting. Connor and Mark were standing near the minibar and Jake was leaning on the fireplace looking like some royal lord out of one of them Historic romance novels"Jake, who are you taking with you this weekend?" Lilly asked."No one. Why who are you taking?" Jake responded in a teasing tone to her. Why would Jay feel the need to have me come along if his brother was going solo too?"No one I just thought you always take someone with you to these kinds of things""Can't be asked with that this time" he replied drinking his whiskey. "I heard Chris's taking that model you don't like Lil. What's her face?" Connor said looking her way just as her face turned sourer. "Jessica Anderson! I hate that girl!" she said looking angry. "Oh yeah. That's right he's dating old man Anderson's Granddaughter" Mark said. "Oh, that won't last" Sally laughed to herself."Why's that Mother?" Jake laughed at his Mums comment. "Sarah wouldn't allow her son to be with that girl for long. Mark my words" she smiled nodding her head confidently. "Mother, we're a bit old to allow our Mum's to run our relationships" Paul laughed. "Rubbish!" she laughed to herself. "I know any of you couldn't be with someone your Mother disapproves of," Sally said looking around at her child thankfully missing my gaze. I couldn't work out if she liked me or not. "I know. I could never be with anyone my mother didn't like like they say blood is thicker than water" Jake said staring straight towards me making me feel hot and bothered again having them dark angrily eyes my way."Right. We'll just go than right Kate" Connor said laughing."You are family Connor" Sally stood kissing him on the cheek "You're like a son to me""The son she never had" Paul grinning as Jake hit him on the back of the head. I swear that's happened more than once tonight it's going to give him head damage if he's not careful.