Free The Sisters by Nadine Matheson

as she walked out of the office and went to speak to Angelique, a statuesque blonde who nodded efficiently at what Jessica had to say before grabbing her bag and leaving the office.
    ‘It’s so bloody hot in here,’ Jessica said as she turned off the malfunctioning air conditioning unit and opened the window. ‘I hate the summer. It’s as if the heat turns everyone mad. Right, I’m here. What were you saying?’
    ‘If you’d been listening to me I was saying that Wendy is going to be on annual leave for the next two weeks from Wednesday, and then Anthony, Michelle and Natalie have got leave scheduled.’
    ‘I wouldn’t have authorised for them to have leave all at the same time.’
    ‘Well, you have, and our diary is absolutely manic – and that’s not even taking into account the inevitable last minute crisis that always lands at our door.’
    ‘How was I supposed to know that bloody Sebastian was going to go on a mini drug run? Where is Wendy anyway?’ Christopher picked up his iPad and opened his calendar. He was a good looking man and Jessica wondered why he was still single.
    ‘Wendy is currently swanning around Westfield for the launch of that X-Box football game and then she has a meeting with the directors of that eco-design company who I swear are only about 12-years-old.’
    ‘I thought that you were doing the X-box thing,’ Jessica said, as she took out a bottle of water from the mini cooler behind her desk.
    ‘No Jess,’ Christopher said, clearly exasperated. ‘We had a meeting last Monday and talked about all of this stuff. Your mind is clearly elsewhere. What’s happening? Is everything alright at home?’
    ‘Of course everything is alright at home,’ Jessica said rather too quickly and forcefully.
    ‘Well something is going on. This isn’t like you. Talk to me,’ Christopher said softly.
    ‘It’s dad. He’s…well he’s not well again and the signs aren’t good, Chris.’
    ‘Oh fuck, Jess, I’m so sorry. If there’s anything that I can do.’
    Jessica waved her hand at Christopher and indicated for him to sit back down as he tried to get up and reach her. The irony wasn’t lost on her that she was telling her ex husband about her father’s condition whilst her current husband still remained clueless.
    ‘And Lucinda is back in town.’
    ‘Ah,’ Christopher said as he leaned back in his chair.
    ‘I’m surprised that Lena hasn’t told you considering she worships the ground that woman walks on.’
    ‘Lena hasn’t told me anything, other than that she wants me to pay for her to go on a film course in New York in July.’
    Jessica rolled her eyes. ‘I’ve already told her that’s out of the question. She’s too young.’
    ‘So did Lulu come back because of your dad?’ Jessica stiffened with the ease and familiarity of Christopher saying her name.
    ‘When has she ever done anything for other people? It’s just good timing on her part. Who knows what she’s up to but I’ll tell you one thing, she definitely didn’t come back for dad.’
    ‘How long is she here for?’
    ‘According to Bea she’s back for good.’
    ‘Wow. Lulu is back in town. It’d be good to see her. It will be good for you to see her too. Just make sure there aren’t any sharp objects around.’
    ‘You’re not funny Christopher.’
    He laughed as he got up from the chair. ‘Lulu is back in town,’ Christopher repeated as he walked out of the office. If Jessica didn’t know better she could have sworn that there was a spring in his step.
     
    ‘Maybe grandma has gone out,’ Katelyn said without lifting her eyes from her mobile phone.
    ‘No, she’s in,’ Lucinda said as she lifted up the brass knocker but stopped as the front door jolted open.
    ‘Grandma,’ Katelyn screamed as she ducked under her own mother’s arm and straight into Felicia’s arms.
    ‘Bon Jé,’ Felicia said. Lucinda couldn’t help but smile as she saw how much her mother’s face lit up when she saw her