Page 57 of The 3am Shattered Mums' Club

Ksenia looked at it like it was one of the filthy toilets she cleaned, ignored it and nudged her head up, indicating the way past Sophy. ‘Kitchen and bathroom that way?’

‘Er, it is yes.’ Sophy looked at Mel for reassurance. Mel narrowed her eyes and shook her head.

‘Right, I go there and make clean.’ Ksenia walked past Sophy, her cleaning caddy in hand. Sophy and Mel watched her go. Mel’s look was one of pride.

‘What a woman,’ Mel said as she watched Ksenia walk to the kitchen at the end of the hallway.

Sophy screwed her nose up. ‘A bit rude.’

Mel shook her head. ‘Nah, I don’t think so. I think politeness is overrated in some circumstances. Ksenia is no-nonsense all the way. I find it highly refreshing.’ Mel shook herself away from her gaze. ‘Besides, she is a bloody good cleaner.’

‘Oh, good, Mel, because this place needs it. They promised a thorough deep clean before we moved in. I told them I had a small baby and they assured me. I would have been happy to have done it myself – I grew up cleaning our only bathroom, you know.’

‘I know, but like you say, you have Max, and Ksenia will do it in half the time.’

Sophy looked around the hallway and Mel followed her gaze. It wasn’t so bad in Mel’s eyes, but then Sophy had been used to the modern interior of Jeff’s house that looked clean even when it wasn’t. She was starting again here and the building itself was less than modern. But Mel liked that about it; it had lots of character and nooks and cupboards, which was so important with children for storage.

‘Besides, you know what estate agents are like,’ Mel said the words before she had time to think about them. ‘I mean—’

‘Don’t, Mel. You don’t need to say anything, let alone apologise. I feel as though it’s me who should be apologising.’

‘And you have, Sophy, like a hundred times already,’ Mel said.

Sophy quickly rubbed her hands over her face. ‘I know. I just don’t know what else to do?’

‘You’ve done enough. You’ve left Jeff, you’ve set up on your own, all in the space of a few weeks. That’s some achievement, I’d say.’

‘I know, but it still doesn’t take away from what he did to you, when you were pregnant with Skylar as well. Or what he could go on to do to other women. And what about Max? Can I ever leave him alone with Jeff?’

Mel reached forward and put a hand on Sophy’s shoulder. ‘I think you should take a deep breath and take one day at a time. I think it’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever have to worry about Jeff wanting to have Max by himself, didn’t you say he had not taken him for a walk in his pram once?’

‘Not once.’ Sophy shook her head, obviously still shocked at her own confession.

‘Well then, come on, I can’t see him bashing your door down any time soon to take him to the park, can you?’

Sophy pulled her mouth down. ‘I don’t know. I hope not.’

‘Well, you just tell him it’s supervised visits only, and he’ll soon get bored and sod off.’

‘But then Max won’t have a father?’

Mel raised one eyebrow at Sophy, and Sophy breathed in slowly and nodded. ‘I know I know; he never was much of a father to him.’

‘I mean, are you actually sure he really is the father?’ Mel quipped.

Sophy groaned and nodded. ‘Sadly, yes, one hundred per cent.’

‘Shame. That would have solved all the problems. Never mind. You’ve been doing it all on your own for the last few months, you can keep doing it on your own. Right then, it’s time you gave me a tour!’ Mel said, and Sophy’s face brightened.

‘Okay, come with me.’

They found Ksenia in the kitchen, scrubbing the front of the cupboards, which were an off white.

‘Kitchen, obviously.’

Sophy showed Mel through the rest of the flat: two double rooms with white walls; a bathroom with large brown tiles, a bath with a shower and screen; and a very spacious lounge, big enough to relax in and for Max to crawl around in a few months, complete with high ceilings and a fireplace. A sofa had arrived an hour ago and was against the back wall, still in its wrapping.

Mel put her arm around Sophy. ‘It’s perfect. I think you’ll be very happy here.’

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