I cannot look at Jack. I cannot.
'You know … Ben Hur's a fine film,' Jack suddenly says in thoughtful tones. 'A very fine film.' He smiles at Mum. 'Don't you think?'
I am going to kill him.
'Er … yes!' says Mum, a bit confused. 'Yes, I've always liked Ben Hur.' She cuts Jack a huge chunk of quiche and adds a slice of tomato. 'So, Jack,' she says sympathetically as she hands him a paper plate. 'Are you getting by financially?'
'I'm doing OK,' Jack replies gravely.
Mum looks at him for a moment. Then she rummages in the picnic basket and produces another Sainsbury's quiche, still in its box.
'Take this,' she says, pressing it on him. 'And some tomatoes. They'll tide you over.'
'Oh no,' says Jack at once. 'Really, I couldn't—'
'I won't take no for an answer. I insist!'
'Well, that's truly kind.' Jack gives her a warm smile.
'You want some free career advice, Jack?' says Kerry, munching a piece of chicken.
My heart gives a nervous flip. Please, please don't try to get Jack to do the successful woman walk.
'Now, you want to listen to Kerry,' puts in Dad proudly. 'She's our star! She has her own company.'
'Is that so?' says Jack politely.
'My own travel agency,' says Kerry with a complacent smile. 'Started from scratch. Now we have forty staff and a turnover of just over two million. And you know what my secret is?'
'I … have no idea,' says Jack.
Kerry leans forward and fixes him with her blue eyes.
'Golf.'
'Golf!' echoes Jack.
'Business is all about networking,' says Kerry. 'It's all about contacts. I'm telling you, Jack, I've met most of the top businesspeople in the country on the golf course. Take any company. Take this company.' She spreads her arm around the scene. 'I know the top guy here. I could call him up tomorrow if I wanted to.'
I stare at her, frozen in horror.
'Really?' says Jack, sounding riveted. 'Is that so?'
'Oh yes.' She leans forward confidentially. 'And I mean, the top guy.'
'The top guy,' echoes Jack. 'I'm impressed.'
'Perhaps Kerry could put in a good word for you, Jack!' exclaims Mum in sudden inspiration. 'You'd do that, wouldn't you, Kerry love?'
I would burst into hysterical laughter. If it wasn't so completely and utterly hideous.
'I guess I'll have to take up golf without delay,' says Jack. 'Meet the right people.' He raises his eyebrows at me. 'What do you think, Emma?'
I can barely talk. I am beyond embarrassment. I just want to disappear into the rug and never be seen again.
'Mr Harper?' A voice interrupts and I breathe in relief. We all look up to see Cyril bending awkwardly down to Jack.
'I'm extremely sorry to interrupt, sir,' he says, glancing puzzledly around at my family as though trying to discern any reason at all why Jack Harper might be having a picnic with us. 'But Malcolm St John is here and would like a very brief word.'
'Of course,' says Jack, and smiles politely at Mum. 'If you could just excuse me a moment.'
As he carefully balances his glass on his plate and gets to his feet, the whole family exchanges confused glances.
'Giving him a second chance, then!' calls out Dad jocularly to Cyril.
'I'm sorry?' says Cyril, taking a couple of steps towards us.
'That chap Jack,' says Dad, gesturing to Jack, who's talking to a guy dressed in a navy blazer. 'You're thinking of taking him on again, are you?'
Cyril looks stiffly from Dad to me and back again.
'It's OK, Cyril!' I call lightly. 'Dad, shut up, OK?' I mutter. 'He owns the company.'
'What?' Everyone stares at me.
'He owns the company,' I say, my face hot. 'So just … don't make any jokes about him.'
'The man in the jester's suit owns the company?' says Mum, looking in surprise at Cyril.
'No! Jack does! Or at least, some great big chunk of it.' They're all still looking completely blank. 'Jack's one of the founders of the Panther Corporation!' I hiss in frustration. 'He was just trying to be modest.'
'Are you saying that guy is Jack Harper?' says Nev in disbelief.
'Yes!'
There's a flabbergasted silence. As I look around, I see that a piece of chicken drumstick has fallen out of Kerry's mouth.
'Jack Harper — the multimillionaire,' says Dad, just to make sure.
'Multimillionaire?' Mum looks totally confused. 'So … does he still want the quiche?'
'Of course he doesn't want the quiche!' says Dad testily. 'What would he want a quiche for? He can buy a million bloody quiches!'
Mum's eye starts flicking around the picnic rug in slight agitation.
'Quick!' she says suddenly. 'Put the crisps into a bowl. There's one in the hamper—'
'They're fine as they are …' I begin helplessly.
'Millionaires don't eat crisps from the packet!' she hisses. She plops the crisps in a plastic bowl and hastily starts straightening the rug. 'Brian! Crumbs on your beard!'
'So how the hell do you know Jack Harper?' says Nev.
'I … I just know him,' I colour slightly. 'We've worked together and stuff, and he's kind of become a … a friend. But listen, don't act any differently,' I say quickly, as Jack shakes the hand of the blazer guy, and starts coming back towards the picnic rug. 'Just act the way you were before …'
Oh God. Why am I even bothering? As Jack approaches, my entire family is sitting bolt upright, staring at him in awe-struck silence.
'Hi!' I say, as naturally as possible, then quickly glare around at them.
'So … Jack!' says Dad self-consciously. 'Have another drink! Is this wine all right for you? Because we can easily nip to the wine shop, get something with a proper vintage.'
'It's great, thanks,' says Jack, looking a little baffled.
'Jack, what else can I get you to eat?' says Mum, flustered. 'I've got some gourmet salmon rolls somewhere. Emma, give Jack your plate!' she snaps. 'He can't eat off paper.'