Chapter 43
The next morning Fiona’s phone pinged with a task reminder: Contact female gambling support group ready for Monday 13th meeting with Rob. It gave her a surge of positivity. She was learning that to safeguard her mental health and satisfy her craving for purpose, external projects were essential. She was discovering the joy in friends and family, even ‘by proxy’ family, but she would always need something outside of that to continue functioning happily as Fiona Ormeroyd.
A quick search on the internet brought up the charity’s website and a range of ‘contact us’ options. Fiona glanced at her watch: it was only 7.30 a.m. and the chances of anyone picking up the phone were slim. She composed an email outlining what she and Rob were trying to achieve via their proposed talks, how they’d also like to campaign and raise funds for a female-only support group in their local area, and how grateful they’d be to receive any advice on the way forward.
After pressing ‘send’ she heard the floorboards creak into life in Adele’s bedroom above the kitchen. Then there were footsteps on the stairs before a crumpled Adele came into the kitchen and picked up the kettle. “Miracles do happen! She only woke me once during the night and I managed to get her straight back down after feeding and changing her. It feels like I’ve had the best, deepest sleep ever.” She paused while water pounded from the tap into the kettle. “And twelve months ago, I never thought I would say that after waking up just before eight a.m.”
Fiona passed her mug when Adele indicated she was offering tea. “You’ve done brilliantly,” she said, and then realised they hadn’t yet broached the subject of Adele’s half-finished degree, student loans, accommodation and all the other baggage that comes with abandoning a degree course. She watched Adele swirl teabags and add milk to mugs. “Talking about uni . . . And I’m not trying to throw you out by mentioning this,” Fiona added hurriedly. “But what happens next?”
Adele gave a rueful smile and pointed to the ceiling with an upside-down teaspoon. “The earliest I could go back is the autumn term. There is an onsite crèche and I could get a flat. But all that needs money. If I don’t finish my degree, I’m potentially ruining our futures. So . . . I’ve found a couple of bursaries to apply for and I’m investigating whether I qualify for an increased student loan or even a grant. Depending on childcare here, I might be able to get a casual job for a couple of months before September. If I can raise the finances, I’m going back in September, with Natalie, to retake my second year and then do the final year.”
Fiona was impressed. “I can help with childcare on a casual, ad hoc basis,” she said slowly. She wanted to help but she didn’t want to commit vast amounts of time to something that would only fulfil a small part of her current needs.
Adele finished her mug of tea and ate a bowl of cereal before the squawks started from above. She took care to rinse her bowl out before going upstairs to her daughter. Fiona turned back to her laptop; there was already a reply from the gambling support group inviting her and Rob to visit them to find out more. A research visit — again she experienced a ripple of excitement. She had a purpose, and someone to share that purpose. And the new Rob was surprisingly easy to be with. She’d expected him to bring out the negativity within her but the opposite was happening. Plus, there was Meeko and the wedding to come, and the unspoken but mutual attraction between them. And the big risk attached to that.