‘I can’t thank you enough for this,’ Lauren said earnestly.

‘It’s not entirely altruistic. A break won’t do me any harm either.’ Zak slid the car into gear and pulled out into the traffic.

‘This is going to be great,’ Lauren said with a happy sigh. ‘I can’t wait.’

And neither of them saw Jude standing on the other side of the road, watching them.

Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Greg drives me to Chelsea’s house in Woburn. Or country pile, should I say. The tyres of our knacky old car crunch on the gravel – my sister probably has a man in to rake it every day – heralding our arrival.

I’m still struggling out of the car with my crutches when Chelsea appears at the front door. Her hanging baskets are blooming effusively and, unlike me, she clearly doesn’t forget to water hers. Chelsea, as a person, exudes perfection and her home is merely an extension of that. I do wonder every single time I see her how we came to be related. Why couldn’t Lauren and I have inherited the loveliness gene too?

Greg decides to stay in the car. He doesn’t really like either of my sisters that much – Lauren for one set of reasons, Chelsea for another. My husband, as you may have gathered, is far more comfortable with relationships with fish rather than people.

‘I can’t stay long,’ I say as I hop towards Chelsea. ‘Greg’s got to get back.’

She knows that this is sister-speak for, ‘My husband is being an anti-social bastard again.’

‘I have some clothes sorted out for you. There’s not much,’ she says apologetically. ‘There was a Designer Rail Sale event at the Swan Restaurant recently which I was involved in and I had a major clear-out then.’

I’m grateful for anything. This Sunday morning, I’m planning to do a car-boot sale. A hideous thought. But needs must.

Then when I’ve hopped through to her vast hall and I’ve stopped focusing on simply staying upright, I look up at Chelsea. ‘Oh.’ I’m taken aback that there are dark shadows under her eyes. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘Fine, fine.’ My sister waves away my concerns.

My nephew and niece barrel out of the kitchen and into my legs with the cry of, ‘Aunty Annie!’

‘Mind you don’t knock me off my crutches, you two!’ That would be all I need, two broken legs as well. That would well and truly put paid to my Andean adventure. I kiss them both. ‘How’s my favourite nephew and niece?’

‘I passed my ballet exam yesterday,’ Sophia tells me, giving me an exemplary twirl.

‘Good girl. That’s lovely.’

‘I want to dance for the Ballet Rambert when I grow up.’

And, if my sister has anything to do with it, then I’m sure she will.

‘And I want to be Harry Potter,’ Henry announces.