Page 148 of Good Sisters

The doorbell rang and I went to answer it. It was Pippa. She wasn’t due to visit Robert today. She was dressed nicely, make-up on and hair done. She looked more like her old self.

‘Hi,’ she said. ‘I know it’s not my day, but I really needed to see him. Can I come in?’

Jack and his lawyer had been very clear. Pippa was allowed to visit only at allocated times when Jack was in the house. But she was a mother who missed her son. I couldn’t turn her away and, besides, I was there in case anything went wrong.

‘Please, Sophie.’

‘Okay, come on in. He’s in the TV room.’

Pippa went in, said hi to Jess and hugged Robert, who was thrilled to see his mother. Jess and I left them alone but kept the door open and hovered outside.

‘I didn’t know you were coming today. Daddy said you were coming on Sunday when we all go to the zoo, you, me and Daddy together,’ Robert said. ‘Daddy said we can go and see the new baby elephant.’

‘I wanted to see you because I miss you, baby.’

‘I miss you too, Mummy. Can I have ice cream on Sunday?’

‘About Sunday, sweetie, there’s been a slight change of plan.’

What? What did she mean ‘a slight change of plan’? Jack would go nuts. Robert had been looking forward to it all week. I’d spent hours the night before looking up all the animals and making a list of the ones he most wanted to see and working out where they were on the zoo map.

‘Oh, no. He’ll be crushed.’ Jess put her hand to her mouth.

‘What does that mean, Mummy?’ Robert’s little voice sounded so young and innocent. How could she let him down again?

‘It just means that we’ll go to the zoo another day.’

‘But I want to go on Sunday. You promised.’ Robert’s voice began to waver.

‘It’s okay, darling, we will definitely go to the zoo, just not this Sunday. I have to go away for a few days.’

Go away where? Was she drinking again? Was she going back to rehab? What the hell was going on?

‘I want to go on Sunday. You said we were going. Why can’t we go?’

‘Well, you know Mummy has been sick?’

‘Yes, but you’re all better now.’

‘I am, but I’m tired and I need a little holiday. My friend has invited me to go away to the sun for a few days. I think Mummy deserves a little holiday, don’t you?’

Oh, my God, how could she? How could she let her son down like this? What friend? What holiday? How dare she make this all about her? He was a six-year-old kid, who needed his bloody mother to show up.

‘I suppose so.’ Robert’s voice quivered.

Jess shook her head and whispered, ‘How can she do this to him?’

‘Don’t look sad. Be happy for Mummy. When I come back from my holiday, I’ll be feeling good and we can go to the zoo then.’

‘But I want to go this week.’

‘I understand, but I can’t go. I need a break, Robert. I’m exhausted. Don’t make Mummy feel bad.’

‘Sorry, Mummy.’

That selfish bitch, crushing his little heart, then making him feel guilty for being disappointed. Enough of this crap.

I walked into the room, Jess hot on my heels, and glared at her. ‘Holiday, Pippa?’

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