Page 115 of The In-Laws

Nancy was sitting at the kitchen counter with the twins, having dinner. Her face lit up when she saw Lucy. ‘Hello, my little pet.’

‘Hi, Nancy.’ Katie put on her cheeriest voice, the one she used in the salon for the impossible clients who complained about everything.

‘Mum came to give you a cake and see if you’re okay and not lonely,’ Lucy gushed, clearly trying to get her granny onside with her mother’s presence.

‘Hi, Katie.’ The twins climbed off their stools and came over to hug her.

‘Hello,’ Nancy managed, though how she did it through clenched teeth Katie wasn’t sure. It was clear that Nancy hated the sight of her. The idea of bridge-building seemed stupid now.

‘I’ll leave this here, Nancy,’ Katie said, putting the home-baked cheesecake on the counter. ‘I just wanted to check in on you. Lucy can text me when you guys are finished.’

‘No, stay,’ the twins said. ‘We need help setting up the TV.’

‘Yes, Mum, stay.’ Lucy looked sideways at her grandmother.

Nancy nodded. ‘Let me talk to Lucy about the book and you can help the twins.’

‘Fine.’

Katie and the twins sat down in the lounge. She got the twins to read out the instructions so she could work out how to set up the TV. The twins lay on the couch, legs crossed on top of each other. It was as if their bodies meshed when they were together. It was nice that they had each other, Katie thought. They were never alone.

‘Well, how are you both? It’s been a tough week.’

Joni bit her nail. ‘Yeah, big-time.’

‘Mum is such a selfish bitch,’ Janis said.

‘Whoa! Steady on there. Don’t speak about your mum like that. She is not selfish or a bitch. She’s an amazing woman.’

‘She’s a crap mother.’

‘She never puts us first, ever.’

‘Not true,’ Katie said. ‘She’s worked her arse off for twenty years, putting up with that … well, putting up with Nancy, who is not easy, to provide you with a lovely home and a great education and holidays and all the extras you take for granted.’

‘She’s leaving us, Katie. She’s walking out.’

Katie connected the TV to the Sky box. ‘She’s not leaving you, she’s moving to a new place. She’s not abandoning you. She and your dad have decided to live apart. She’s still your mum, she’s still going to be providing for you all, and let me tell you, it’s very decent of her to make sure you don’t have to move out of your house. She’s the one moving. She’s the one who’s making the changes.’

‘She wants to go,’ Joni said. ‘She can work twenty hours a day without having to look after us, or even think about us.’

She had a point. Melanie did seem to be looking forward to her new working environment.

‘Look, girls, my mum died when I was young and I hated not having a mother. You have a mum and dad who love you and are there for you and do everything to make your lives as perfect as they can be. So instead of giving out and being mean about your mum, try being grateful for all she’s done. Believe me, when you have no mother there’s a big hole in your life. Melanie may not be perfect, but she’s good enough. Now give her a break, please.’

The twins looked a bit sheepish. ‘Okay, we’ll try,’ Joni said.

‘Sorry you had no mum,’ Janis added.

Katie smiled. ‘Thanks. It’s only now I realize how hard it was. At the time you just get on with it. Honestly, appreciate the mum you have.’

The door opened and Lucy came in carrying a pile of books. ‘Look, Mum, Granny gave me all these to read.’

‘Thank God she has you to dump her books on.’ Joni giggled.

‘Granny wants to talk to you,’ Lucy told Katie.

What? Did she? Oh, God, was she going to have another go at her? Sighing, Katie made her way to the kitchen.

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