I steeled myself for the inquisition at the family dinner. We were seated around the dining room table – my parents, Nick and his wife Jaclyn, Steph and me – and were just about to tuck into our Atlantic salmon and asparagus salad when my father fixed me with his formidable gaze.
‘And you couldn’t put your holiday off for just a couple of hours to see your sister off at the airport?’
I could have, but Frankie and I wanted to get an early start in the morning – we had to make maximum use of the time we had. Anyway, I hate airport goodbyes – all the waiting around, everyone trying to better each other at travel disaster stories, and trying not to cry. But whatever I said would be inadequate.
‘You’re going away with Frankie, aren’t you?’ Steph asked.
My mother raised a well-manicured brow
