Chapter 36
CHAPTER 36
D inner was bleak. Lexi didn’t speak, Matthew didn’t speak. The bland pasta didn’t help. Angus talked a lot about the kids in his class whose parents had divorced. He was still very much of the opinion divorce was great because of the higher lolly count. I retreated outside to watch the sunset.
‘Mum, Nanna’s on the phone,’ Angus said, when he found me surrounded by chocolate wrappers. She must have rung the landline when I wouldn’t answer my mobile.
‘Tell her I’ll call her back, Gussy.’ My mouth was full of mini Mars bars.
‘She says she needs to talk to you right now. I think she’s crying. Can I have one of those?’
I took the phone and handed Angus two chocolates. ‘Give one to your sister,’ I called as he skipped into the house. ‘Hello?’
‘Katie, this can’t go on.’
‘What—’
‘I know about the conversation with Dad. The wedding… I’m not a child. Your dad’s the only man I’ve ever loved. Will ever love. Don’t interfere. It’s none of your business.’
‘It is my business. I’m your daughter. ’
‘Yes, you are, and I’m telling you to back off. You don’t see me interfering in your home life. I keep my thoughts to myself.’ Mum stopped talking and I heard nose blowing. ‘Don’t you see? I’m trying to right the past. Make up for all the wrongs?—’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Katie, you’re young. You have your whole life ahead of you. Me? I’m old and want to enjoy my remaining years with Bob. I need my husband back and I am going to marry him whether you approve or not.’
‘Dad asked for my opinion, and I told him,’ I said, defending myself.
‘Butt out! We’re getting married. If you don’t like it, don’t come.’
It was after eight thirty by the time Angus was settled in bed. I turned on The Mapmaker Chronicles – book two, Prisoner of the Black Hawk – and lay beside him. Though I tried to concentrate on the story, I kept thinking about Mum. I thought she was happy with her life, at least she was, until Dad waltzed back into it. Now, she couldn’t live without him.
And as if I had my whole life ahead of me .
Twenty minutes later when I checked on Lexi, she was propped up in bed, Cleo beside her and laptop open, seemingly doing homework.
‘Want to talk?’
She shook her head. Lexi didn’t want to continue the conversation we’d had with Mrs Westley, but at least she promised – reluctantly – she wouldn’t leave school again without my permission. I needed to believe her.
I almost wanted to go to bed unwashed, mascara caked on, foundation, or what remained of it, left to rub off onto my pillow, teeth unbrushed. A crumbling wreck. But then I thought, Katie, what if your husband is having an affair and is about to leave you? What if your kids run away from home and you’re left all alone? Do you really want to add blotchy skin and decaying teeth to your list of worries?
I scrubbed my face until it was taut and shiny, and cleaned my teeth until my gums ached and the enamel was worn. After the eye, face and neck cream, I examined myself critically in the mirror. What was Mum banging on about? Okay, I didn’t have one foot in the grave, but I certainly wasn’t getting any younger. On the plus side, at least I didn’t have raccoon eyes and bad breath.
By the time I crawled into bed, Matthew was asleep, legs spread and snoring. I was restless. Restless and wide awake, thinking about the perfume on Matthew’s shirt. Was I focusing on that so I didn’t have to take responsibility for my own adulterous actions? Perhaps trying to convince myself if he’d been unfaithful as well, I’d be in the clear?
I picked up my iPad, completed Wordle, then scanned the day’s headlines followed by feature articles. A sex survey popped up.
According to latest research, thirty per cent of thirteen-year-old girls have engaged in deep kissing. Deep kissing . I courageously continued reading to find ten per cent of them have had sex. I stopped reading and closed my eyes. That meant two in Lexi’s class were…
Thanks for enlightening me! Now, not only did I have my imagination to deal with, but I also had cold hard facts. It dawned on me that I could easily be a grandmother before I was forty-one! I contemplated discussing the scenario with Matthew but mentally slapped myself instead.