‘So, what would you be doing if Dec was still here?’
‘That’s part of the problem. I think if I’d had a firm plan – you know, something I really wanted to do – it would have been easier to let Dad down. But I didn’t. And Dad so wanted to pass the mantle to one of his kids… There was only one set of shoulders left to take it on.’
‘One set of Torrington shoulders,’ I corrected her. ‘There are probably tens of millions of people in the world who could successfully lead your company. You’re not that special.’
She laughed softly and shrugged.
‘Maybe. But Dad doesn’t see it that way.’
‘You can’t live your whole life pleasing your father.’
‘It seems to be working okay so far.’
‘Is it?’ I asked again, but this time I saw the way her brow wrinkled and her eyes narrowed. I’d clearly stepped way over a line with that comment, so I held up my palms towards her in surrender. ‘Sorry, I know it’s none of my business.’
‘I made it your business by talking about it,’ she muttered. The waiter brought our meals and I looked down at the pork fillet I’d ordered and realised I was going to have to take my sling off to cut it. As I started shifting my arm around to wiggle out of the sling, Molly leant forward.
‘I can cut that if you like.’
‘No! But, thanks.’ I winced. ‘I can cut my own food, it’s fine.’ I struggled out of the sling and cut the entire meal methodically, then glanced at her as I slipped my arm back into the sling. She was watching me, a half-smile on her face.
‘That’s funny?’ I said, raising my eyebrows at her.
‘That stubborn independent streak is funny. It’s such a man thing to do. You obviously caused yourself pain while you cut the food just to avoid accepting help that would have been easy for me to give you.’
‘It’s about dignity.’
‘It’s about stupid male pride and ego,’ Molly muttered in response, and I set down my fork to stare at her. ‘Did I upset you when I asked you about working for your dad?’
Molly surprised me. She paused and frowned, but then she laughed suddenly and nodded. ‘I suppose you did; given I’ve automatically flipped over into insult mode. I’m really sorry, that was completely uncalled for, especially after how kind you’ve been to me today. What can I say – I can be a defensive bitch sometimes. You didn’t deserve that.’
Something about the flooding smile she offered disarmed the bristle that she’d caused and the tension dissipated in an instant because I couldn’t help but smile back.
‘As long as you don’t literally shoot me I think I can handle it,’ I said, and we laughed quietly together before Molly went back to her food.
‘There’s one thing I don’t understand,’ she said quietly.
‘Only one thing?’
‘Okay, there are dozens of things, but one thing in particular that you might be able to explain,’ she said wryly. ‘Why did you stay friends with Declan? My father was a complete arse to you, wasn’t he?’
‘Yeah.’ That was something of an understatement. Laith had made me feel decidedly unwelcome from the first visit I made to the Torrington mansion, right up until the times I’d seen him at industry functions in more recent years. Even a decade after we last spoke, he still made a habit of boring holes in me with his death-stare whenever we were in the same room.
‘And Dec?’ Molly added. ‘From what you’ve told me today, he was hard work as a friend.’ She smiled at me but there was so much sadness in her eyes. I set down my fork and leant in a little as I said quietly, ‘You know, Molly, that question is exactly why I told you this morning to focus on the good things you know about him. The human side to your brother was remarkable. He was one of the most generous, genuine people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.’
‘Tell me about that side to him then,’ she prompted. ‘I mean – he was a great brother, but I’m not sure I’d ever have thought of him as generous – and genuine? How does that work given what you told me today? It sounds like he was living a lie for most of his adult life.’