‘That’s true, Debs, but they can get them from the market, can’t they? Just like they can get most of what I stock from the market.’
Debbie gave her friend a sympathetic look and there followed a sisterly silence while the two of them ate and drank.
‘I’ve got to be honest, Debs,’ Jo said gloomily. ‘If someone left Bernard money in their will, I’d think very seriously before turning it down.’ She managed a half-smile and took a gulp of wine.
‘Well, it could happen,’ Debbie replied, determinedly upbeat. ‘I’m sure there must be a rich benefactor out there somewhere, with a soft spot for arthritic Labradors.’
‘Arthritic Labradors who are slightly incontinent and a bit smelly,’ Jo clarified.
Debbie chuckled.‘How is Bernard, anyway?’ she enquired.
Just as Jo had always taken an interest in me and the kittens, Debbie also felt an affectionate fondness for Jo’s dog.
‘Oh, he’s plodding on, bless him,’ answered Jo. ‘I took him to see my dad last weekend on the farm. They were like two peas in a pod, wheezing and limping around the yard together.’ She was smiling, but her eyes looked damp.
There was a sudden rattle and tinkle, followed by a gust of night air as the caf? door opened. Debbie and Jo both looked up, surprised by the unexpected interruption.
‘Oh, hi, sweetheart,’ Debbie said, twisting in her chair to see Sophie standing on the doormat. ‘You’re home early.’
Sophie shrugged.‘My plans changed. What’re you eating?’ she asked, drawn towards their table by the spicy aroma of their food.
‘Indian. There’s plenty left. Why don’t you join us?’
Sophie stood beside them, considering the offer.‘Okay,’ she said, and disappeared into the kitchen to fetch a plate.
‘So how are you?’ Jo asked, when Sophie had pulled up a chair alongside them and set about heaping her plate with lukewarm curry. ‘I’ve hardly seen you recently.’
‘That’s because she’s hardly ever here!’ Debbie chipped in, with a pointed look at her daughter.
‘And why do you think that is, Mum?’ Sophie riposted drily.
There was a pause, during which Jo glanced from mother to daughter.‘I guess it must be a bit … crowded … in the flat at the moment?’ Jo said diplomatically.
‘You could say that,’ replied Sophie, a distinct edge of bitterness to her voice. She tore off a chunk of doughy naan bread and dipped it into the sauce on her plate.
Next to her, Debbie had assumed a miserable expression and seemed to have sunk lower in her chair. Jo carried on eating, eyeing the pair of them surreptitiously.
‘So,’ Jo said, in a ‘changing the subject’ voice. ‘What do you think about Margery’s legacy, Soph? What do you think your mum should do?’ At this, Debbie’s body visibly tensed.
‘I dunno, really,’ Sophie shrugged. ‘I think it’s a bit of a weird thing to do, leave all your money to a cat. But then I also think David sounds like a bit of a d—’
‘Sophie!’ Debbie warned.
Sophie rolled her eyes, continuing to muse on the dilemma as she chewed.‘I think,’ she said at last, ‘that even if you’re not going to keep the money, you should string it out for as long as possible. Make David sweat over it. At the very least, that might teach him not to go around treating people like sh—’
‘All right, thank you Sophie,’ Debbie said sternly, sitting up straight to address her daughter.
‘She’s got a point though, Debs.’ Jo laughed. ‘It might not be such a bad idea to sit tight till New Year. Give yourself time to think about it, before you decide one way or the other.’
‘And prolong the agony even further?’ Debbie grimaced. ‘No, thanks. I don’t want to receive a court summons on Christmas Eve, if it’s all the same to you.’ She heaved a sigh and slumped back down in her chair with an air of self-pity.
‘I suppose,’ Jo replied, glancing at Sophie, who responded with an eye-roll. ‘What’s John got to say about it?’ Jo asked, hopefully. But the mention of John merely made Debbie’s shoulders sag still further.
‘Not much,’ she said in a long-suffering voice. ‘I haven’t heard from him for a couple of weeks. I expect he’s had enough of me.’
A gloomy hush settled on the table. It seemed that the more Jo tried to raise Debbie’s spirits, the more determined she was to see the worst in her situation. No one spoke for several minutes until, eventually, Sophie broke the silence.
‘Oh, for God’s sake, Mum,’ she hissed irritably. ‘Enough with the pity-party.’
‘Pardon?’ Debbie replied, looking stung.
‘Well, are you surprised you haven’t heard from John?’ Sophie snapped. ‘The last time you saw him, you practically bit his head off about the legacy.’
Debbie’s brow furrowed indignantly, and she looked at Jo for backup. But Jo was staring hard at her wine glass, keen not to get involved.
In spite of Jo’s presence, Sophie made no attempt to soften her accusatory tone. ‘Honestly, Mum, you don’t get it, do you? First, you were so wrapped up in the whole Linda saga, and now in the whole legacy saga, that you seem to have forgotten that other people have feelings and might have stuff going onin their lives, too. You’re not the only one with problems, you know.’
Debbie stared at Sophie with a hurt look.‘But I didn’t … I’m just trying to do the right thing by everyone, Soph. I didn’t ask for any of this—’
‘I know you didn’t ask for any of it, Mum,’ Sophie interrupted impatiently. ‘We all know that. But instead of letting Linda and David ruin your life, why don’t you just get off your backside and do something about it?’ Anger flashed in her eyes, and Debbie’s mouth had opened, but nowords came out. Across the table, Jo was looking increasingly uncomfortable. ‘Honestly, Mum,’ Sophie continued authoritatively, ‘you need to start taking a bit of responsibility for your life. If you think you should decline the legacy, then do it. And if Linda’s interference is gettingyou down, why don’t you just tell her to f—’
‘Okay, thank you, Soph,’ Jo cut in with a tense smile. ‘I think you’ve made your point beautifully.’
Sophie sat back in her chair. Next to her, Debbie looked stunned.‘You’re right, Soph,’ she said. ‘I guess I have been a little … self-absorbed recently.’ Sophie did not meet her mother’s gaze, but a grunt indicated assent. ‘And you’re absolutely right: I need to make up my own mind about what to do.’
Another grunt.
Debbie placed a hand on Sophie’s arm, and her eyes rested on her daughter with an expression of shrewd concern. ‘So … I guess I’ve also forgotten to ask what’s been going on in your life, haven’t I?’ she asked.
Sophie was staring at the piece of naan bread in her hands, breaking it into smaller and smaller pieces, until it disintegrated into crumbs on the table.
Jo drained her glass and tilted the empty wine bottle, looking at it with fierce concentration.‘I think I’ll just pop out for another bottle,’ she murmured, standing up and grabbing her jacket from the counter. Within seconds she was gone from the caf?, leaving mother and daughter alone. Two spots of pink had appeared in Sophie’s cheeks and she looked like she was fighting back tears.
‘Well?’ Debbie prompted gently.
‘Well, since you ask, Matt and I have split up,’ answered Sophie, her bottom lip trembling.
‘Oh, sweetheart,’ Debbie replied, draping her arm around Sophie’s shoulders. ‘I’m so sorry. When did that happen?’
‘Tonight,’ Sophie whispered.
As Debbie leant in, Sophie’s restraint suddenly dissolved and she took a deep, shuddering breath. Debbie pulled her daughter towards her, resting Sophie’s head against her neck and stroking her hair. As Sophie sobbed, Debbie murmured soothingly into her ear. ‘It’ll be okay, sweetheart, I promise. Everything’s going to be okay.’
22
[Êàðòèíêà: _9.jpg]
When Linda emerged from the bathroom the following morning, Debbie was waiting in the hallway for her.