the thought was a terrible bore.
Yeah, we’ve barely emerged from caves back in England … God! Melissa was such a snob! Clearly her son had not got his easygoing nature from her.
Cory was about to reply when she went on, ‘Oh, Liberty, you work in a restaurant. Maybe we should go there?’
‘Liberty is only waitressing while she tries to get acting roles – not that there is anything wrong with being a waitress.’ Cory looked mutinous. ‘And, no, I don’t think we should go there. Isn’t Italian food out because of your wheat allergy?’
‘Yes, you’re right, Cory, my nutritionist wouldn’t be very happy with me. So where is it to be?’ She glanced at Liberty. ‘And obviously dinner will be on us, since we’ve hijacked your evening.’
And because you know perfectly well I couldn’t afford to pay my way in the kind of restaurant you want to go to , Liberty thought.
‘Apparently there’s a very good fish restaurant in the Laines.’ Jacob finally spoke up. ‘Perhaps we could all go there? I’ll phone them and book a table. Cory tells us that you’ve just landed a major modelling contract, Liberty, and that does sound like something to celebrate.’
‘Thank you, yes, I’m really pleased,’ Liberty smiled at him. Jacob was sweet, and nothing like his scary wife.
Melissa sighed and twisted the diamond bracelet on her wrist. ‘Of course, modelling is even more precarious than acting, so entirely dependent on your looks – not that acting isn’t.’
‘I don’t think Liberty has got anything to worry about on that score,’ Jacob replied, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
‘And it must be even harder now you’re a mother?’
Oh, so she knew about Brooke too. Liberty could just imagine how she felt about that .
‘Well, it is hard sometimes, but luckily my mum helps out as much as she can.’
‘And your father?’
‘My parents are divorced and my dad lives in Manchester. I don’t see him very often.’
Disapproval seemed to be coming off Melissa in waves. Liberty could feel the beginnings of a headache. She looked over at Cory, hoping he would come up with something supportive, but he just rolled his eyes as if to say, That’s my mom . And over dinner things only got worse.
Cory seemed completely different from his usual confident, extrovert self. He was monosyllabic and subdued, hardly saying a word as Melissa continued to interrogate Liberty. It was as if her sexy, twenty-one-year-old lover had morphed into a moody adolescent, more interested in knocking back the wine than supporting his girlfriend.
And so Liberty had to face the constant stream of questions without Cory’s help. She imagined Melissa must be a force to be reckoned with in court. What did her mother do? Her father? How old was her daughter? Where was Brooke’s father? Was she in touch with him? What did he do? With every question Liberty felt as if Melissa was further confirming her worst suspicions: that this was a feckless single mother who was never going to amount to anything. And, worst of all, that Cory was way out of her league and Liberty had no right getting involved with him in the first place.
‘I’d love to meet your daughter,’ Melissa finally said. ‘Perhaps you have time tomorrow?’
‘Er, sure,’ Liberty replied, looking over at Cory and hoping that he would come up with an excuse, but he just shrugged.
‘I adore babies and toddlers,’ Melissa continued. ‘Cory was the most gorgeous baby, and so good, always smiling and happy, and so advanced for his age.’
‘I’m surprised you can remember, you were always working,’ he commented. ‘I saw more of the nanny than I did of you.’
Melissa looked hurt and Liberty almost felt sorry for her until she said, ‘Well, I wanted to be able to give you and your brother and sister the best possible start in life, the best education, the best opportunities, so I had to work.’ She glanced at Liberty. ‘I’m sure you feel exactly the
Yeah, we’ve barely emerged from caves back in England … God! Melissa was such a snob! Clearly her son had not got his easygoing nature from her.
Cory was about to reply when she went on, ‘Oh, Liberty, you work in a restaurant. Maybe we should go there?’
‘Liberty is only waitressing while she tries to get acting roles – not that there is anything wrong with being a waitress.’ Cory looked mutinous. ‘And, no, I don’t think we should go there. Isn’t Italian food out because of your wheat allergy?’
‘Yes, you’re right, Cory, my nutritionist wouldn’t be very happy with me. So where is it to be?’ She glanced at Liberty. ‘And obviously dinner will be on us, since we’ve hijacked your evening.’
And because you know perfectly well I couldn’t afford to pay my way in the kind of restaurant you want to go to , Liberty thought.
‘Apparently there’s a very good fish restaurant in the Laines.’ Jacob finally spoke up. ‘Perhaps we could all go there? I’ll phone them and book a table. Cory tells us that you’ve just landed a major modelling contract, Liberty, and that does sound like something to celebrate.’
‘Thank you, yes, I’m really pleased,’ Liberty smiled at him. Jacob was sweet, and nothing like his scary wife.
Melissa sighed and twisted the diamond bracelet on her wrist. ‘Of course, modelling is even more precarious than acting, so entirely dependent on your looks – not that acting isn’t.’
‘I don’t think Liberty has got anything to worry about on that score,’ Jacob replied, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
‘And it must be even harder now you’re a mother?’
Oh, so she knew about Brooke too. Liberty could just imagine how she felt about that .
‘Well, it is hard sometimes, but luckily my mum helps out as much as she can.’
‘And your father?’
‘My parents are divorced and my dad lives in Manchester. I don’t see him very often.’
Disapproval seemed to be coming off Melissa in waves. Liberty could feel the beginnings of a headache. She looked over at Cory, hoping he would come up with something supportive, but he just rolled his eyes as if to say, That’s my mom . And over dinner things only got worse.
Cory seemed completely different from his usual confident, extrovert self. He was monosyllabic and subdued, hardly saying a word as Melissa continued to interrogate Liberty. It was as if her sexy, twenty-one-year-old lover had morphed into a moody adolescent, more interested in knocking back the wine than supporting his girlfriend.
And so Liberty had to face the constant stream of questions without Cory’s help. She imagined Melissa must be a force to be reckoned with in court. What did her mother do? Her father? How old was her daughter? Where was Brooke’s father? Was she in touch with him? What did he do? With every question Liberty felt as if Melissa was further confirming her worst suspicions: that this was a feckless single mother who was never going to amount to anything. And, worst of all, that Cory was way out of her league and Liberty had no right getting involved with him in the first place.
‘I’d love to meet your daughter,’ Melissa finally said. ‘Perhaps you have time tomorrow?’
‘Er, sure,’ Liberty replied, looking over at Cory and hoping that he would come up with an excuse, but he just shrugged.
‘I adore babies and toddlers,’ Melissa continued. ‘Cory was the most gorgeous baby, and so good, always smiling and happy, and so advanced for his age.’
‘I’m surprised you can remember, you were always working,’ he commented. ‘I saw more of the nanny than I did of you.’
Melissa looked hurt and Liberty almost felt sorry for her until she said, ‘Well, I wanted to be able to give you and your brother and sister the best possible start in life, the best education, the best opportunities, so I had to work.’ She glanced at Liberty. ‘I’m sure you feel exactly the
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