Who are Liam Payne's sisters? Trish in Looking Forward
After being apart for two days since becoming 'official' after Coachella (maybe since Maya turned 18..) Liam asks Maya a question.
This morning, though, something has changed. Can we talk about something? The worst sentence in the English language. Immediately, I’m wide awake. “What’s wrong?” I say, sitting up quickly. “Talk about what?” “So . . . there’s this thing I need to do,” says Oliver (Liam Payne). “I mean, we could do, but I don’t know if—” “Oh my God, Oliver, what is it? You’re scaring me.” “It is scary,” he says. “I want you to meet my family.” He laughs when he says it, but not with his eyes. “Of course, baby,” I say, relief flooding me. “I’d love to meet them. It’ll be great.” “We’ll see how you feel afterwards,” he says, smiling. At least this time, the smile is real.
Maya explains how much Liam had supported his family financially:
He bought his parents a house, and sometimes his family will call checking in or needing his help. I just overhear snippets of conversation. Okay, he always says. Yeah, sure. Whatever you need. I love you too.
Oliver (Liam Payne) comes from a regular family, that’s how it was portrayed on Star Power (X Factor) segments. From a working-class neighborhood in Manchester (Wolverhampton). His dad (Geoff Payne) a factory worker, his mom a teacher, his sister (in reality two elder sisters - Nicola Payne and Ruth Gibbins) training for a service industry future. Then Oliver was discovered. Now they have a nice house that Oliver bought, and his parents retired early. His sister dabbles in work, but Oliver pretty much takes care of them. It’s so nice, how you look out for them, I once said. It’s what you do, he responded. Family. In the press, he’s said a little more, talking about how his father supported and believed in him when nobody else did. But in private, he doesn’t say much about his dad. He’s proud of me, he’ll tell me, and leave it at that. There must be more to the story, I always thought. But since it made him uncomfortable, I never pushed.
As Liam and Maya approach the Payne house in Wolverhampton, Liam appears to be getting more distant.
Before my (Maya's) parents had real success, they lived more modest lives, in a regular neighborhood instead of the gated kind. A nice, simple house with a yard. The same kind of house the driver pulls up in front of. The house Oliver (Liam) bought them. His childhood one was much smaller, he explains. The neighborhood could be dangerous. “First big check I got and I bought this place,” he says as the driver pulls up to park. “They must be so grateful,” I say, squeezing his hand.
Here are Maya's observations of each family member:
Dad - Geoff Payne/Edgar:
Before we reach the front door, it swings open. Edgar (Geoff), his father, stands in the frame. He’s a big man, even imposing. Until he grins. “Here’s our kid,” he booms in his Northern English accent, so different from the tight-lipped, posh ones I’ve heard in London. A little gruffer and more authentic, it immediately puts me at ease. It’s like being back in Tennessee, I think. Just trade the Northern accent for the Southern drawl. “Hi Dad.” “Welcome back to the city, boy,” he says, pulling Oliver in for a hard hug. Seconds later, he spots me over Oliver’s shoulder and lets go. He looks me up and down, then chuckles. “Thanks for having me,” I say, keeping my smile firmly in place. “Sure, sure,” he says, then looks at Oliver. “Come on in now, son. Your mother’s been in a tizzy getting ready. The big star coming home, she’s been running around like crazy soon as she heard. Mad for it, right?” “Okay,” Oliver says, reaching for my hand. He leads me inside, holding tight.
Mom - Karen Payne/Leona:
The next half hour is overwhelming. Oliver’s mother is small and cute, the stress on her face melting away at seeing her son. “My darling,” she keeps saying, hugging him again and again. Touching his face, running his hands through his hair. “Just look at you.” She misses him, that is clear. And he smiles back at her with tenderness. He misses her too, obviously. I’m not sure why he doesn’t see them more often. When I’ve asked, he just waves me off. Too complicated, he says. Don’t have time for the drama. But seeing his mom and him together, it is hard to understand. He seems so at ease with her, suddenly looking like a twelve year-old boy reunited with his mother after a summer at camp. With me, she seems a little more quiet—nervous, maybe. She gives me a sheepish smile. “Thank you for coming, dear,” she says “You can call me Leona (Karen).” Instantly, she turns back to Oliver, the worshipful gaze returning. Nothing complicated, as far as I can see. Just an adoring mother and son.
Sisters as an amalgamation - Nicola Payne and Ruth Gibbins/Trish:
Then his sister arrives, and I understand. She comes racing into the kitchen like a hurricane, taking over. She is a woman who seems to have a large personality, that’s clear— making jokes, has a cackling laugh, booming and extroverted —and she makes her presence known. Instantly, she is at Oliver’s side, shouting out comments and questions, tugging at his clothes and asking the designer, messing up his hair, pinching his cheeks. Why’d you stay away so long? Little brother has finally come back to see us! Look at this fancy shirt, how much this kind of thing cost? Give your sister a proper hug, now! What’s wrong with you, just standing there? Don’t even say hi. Oliver stands there, sighing through his smile, trying to answer his big sister’s firing squad of questions as quick as they come. She doesn’t seem to acknowledge me. Finally, he catches my gaze, shooting me an exhausted look. “Hey,” he says, finally stopping her stream of comments. “You haven’t even met Mal yet.” The sister goes quiet. After a beat, she turns slowly toward me, big smile planted on her face. I know that smile. It’s the kind you wear to hide what you really feel. “Hi, Mallory,” she says , the excitement has gone from her voice. “I’m Trish. Nice to meet you.” “Hi,” I say. I give her a nervous smile back. “Thanks for having me,” I say, oozing extra warmth to make up for the sudden chill running up my spine. “Sure,” Trish says and instantly turns away, attention focused on Oliver once more. “Hey,” she says, a tiny sneer rising. “Where are your bags? You were supposed to stay overnight.” “Yeah, I got to be in the studio tomorrow,” says Oliver. “So we gotta leave after dinner. Sorry, I wanted to stay longer, but . . .” He goes on, explaining how the session was last minute and therewas no choice, and I know it is a lie. There are no bags; we always intended to leave that night. Yet, as he offers excuses in an unfamiliar, sorrowful voice, I know what she is thinking: there’s only one reason her beloved brother would hightail it out of town so fast, abandoning the family that misses him so greatly. Only one person could be responsiblefor him making such a disappointing choice. Based on the side-eye that shoots my direction, I know exactly who they blame.
Liam's mom (Karen) is quiet, his dad (Geoff) being a dad, and his sister(s) thinking they are "too good for everyone else." Geoff tells off Karen for buying milk cake instead of Liam's favourite sticky toffee, and Maya tries to ease the tension by telling the entire family
“You know what?” I say brightly, the words just popping out of my mouth. “I love milk cake!” Without thinking, I take a huge forkful and hold it up. Everyone goes silent, staring at me. I shove the fork in my mouth, chew, and swallow. “Delicious,” I announce, smiling at Leona. “Seriously, this is so good.” A long pause, then Edgar gives a shrug and sigh. Just like that, I see the agitation dissipate. “Well, if the girl likes it, I suppose it’ll be fine,” he says. I keep eating, eyes on my plate, though I don’t have to look to know how the room is reacting. I know Edgar has forgotten already, finishing off a beer as he devours the cake he found repulsive only moments earlier.
After the situation, Maya finds the sister(s) glaring at her in a "Who does she think she is?" vibe while Liam's mom seems relieved. As the evening wraps up and it is time for Liam and Maya to leave, she makes a dash for the bathroom to find that the sister(s) waiting to accost her in the hallway.
“So,” she say, crossing her arms and gazing at me. “Mallory (Maya).” I wait. Nothing. “Yes,” I finally say, just to break the tension. “Trish (Nicola or/and Ruth).” “I guess my brother’s pretty serious about you, right?” She’s standing too close to me, so close I can smell her hairspray and the wine on her breath. She’s got her arms crossed, her eyes in a squint. “You’d have to ask him,” I say. “Yeah, well,” she sneers. “You aren’t the first, you know that, right? I mean, he and Lizabeth (Cheryl Cole) were together a long time, and those feelings don’t just go away, do they?” She gives me a smile. “It’s only fair you know where you stand.” Wow, I think. If this evening was already bad, it just got even worse. What do I do? Right then, I know the answer. Handle this woman like the master would. The master, of course, being my mom (Azteca Henry/Crawford).
I glance at my phone. “Wow. It’s really late! Well, the driver is probably on his way, so I better—” Instantly, she steps forward, and she’s in my face. It happens so quickly, I don’t have time to dodge. She’s got me cornered in the hallway. Focus, Mal. Where is Oliver (Liam)? Take a breath, Mal. Take control. “It’s just that people try to take advantage, Mallory,” she remarks. “Of my brother’s generosity.” “I suppose that’s true,” I say, calmly as possible. “By the way, I have my own money. I don’t need your brother’s money if that’s what you are getting at.” “Great talk,” I throw my jacket over my shoulder. “Let’s do it again.”
Back in the car, Liam tells Maya that she was the first person he bought home aside from Cheryl Cole, and "Now you see why. You don't pick your family."
Liam susses out that Maya had a situation with his sister(s), and explains:
“Fuck,” he says, suddenly upright. “What did Trish (Nicola or Ruth) say to you?” “She didn’t say—“ “Mal, I know her. Tell me.” “That you and Lizabeth (Cheryl Cole) probably still have feelings for each other, so I should . . . I don’t know.” Next to me, his hand clenches. “Yeah,” he hisses. “She would say that.” He tells me the rest, keeping his voice calm. Still, I can hear the anger beneath every word. He tells me that Lizabeth (Cheryl) grew up a lot like he did. Same family upbringing, barely scraped by. “It was a big accomplishment that she became an actress (pop singer), and a successful one. So my sister liked her.” He looks at me. “And there’s the fact she was on her favorite show (I think she liked the group Girls Aloud).” I raise my eyebrows. “Seriously?” “Yeah. Truth is, Lizabeth tolerated her. But Trish loved her. I mean, a couple of times we broke up and she . . . I don’t know. Convinced me to give it another try. Said I’d never find a girl as real as her since the only people I know are rich and snobby and fancy.” “Like me,” I say quietly. “That’s what they think.”
After reading this, Trish appears to be the big asshole in the Payne household (the 'Payne in the ass'). Which Payne sister - Nicola Payne or Ruth Gibbins - worships Girls Aloud? Were both sisters mean to Maya? It's difficult to find out but here are some clues..
Nicola Payne is the elder sister born May 1988. She has a daughter, Ffion, born 22 Jun 2020, with her partner Nick Farnell.
Ruth Gibbons , aka. Roo, is the younger sister born Nov 1990. She got married to childhood sweetheart Thomas Gibbins on 11 Jun 2016. They share a son, Ashton, born 11 Oct 2017.
From what I've seen, I feel that Ruth Gibbins is closer to Trish.
1- The fact that she wrote in her tribute that "I don't feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you…" The world was good enough to get Liam a good voice and join one of the most successful boy bands ever called One Direction. He just had his life success too quickly and had difficulty beating his addictions.
2- There was an old tweet about Ruth fangirling about Kimberly Walsh from Girls Aloud. It's not hard to imagine that she was the one who worshipped Cheryl, while Cheryl just 'tolerated' her.
we would be best friends i know it http://t.co/SVsOiTcTf6 pic.twitter.com/p3fKrEMkcs
— Roo Gibbins (@RuthPayne0990) October 24, 2014
It looks like Kate Cassidy follows both sisters though. Maybe although American like Maya, the sister(s) thought Kate was closer in background? Even in the fact that Kate definitely took advantage of Liam's generosity, much like his sister(s). Maybe Maya had also done the obligatory follow while dating/engaged to Liam. Nevertheless, the Payne family lost a brother and a son, so let's send them our best wishes.