Page 33 of The In-Laws

Katie looked at Toby’s big, brown, trusting, loving eyes and wanted to cry. She felt as if she was back in school. Those dreaded moments when she was asked to read aloud and how she’d always try to make up an excuse to get out of it – need the bathroom urgently, sore throat, coughing fit. Once, she’d even pretended to faint. She’d do anything to avoid it, and then, as she got older, she became the class clown. She’d pretended not to care about school, mainly because she’d never been able to keep up, and by the time she’d realized she was behind everyone in reading, it was too late. She was too ashamed to admit it. Leaving school and becoming a hairdresser was her way out. She’d told Jamie she found books and reading boring because she never wanted him to know how bad she was at it.

Katie read on, but stumbled over several words. She could feel her throat constricting. ‘Hey, you know what? My throat is really sore. How about we listen to the audiobook instead?’

‘But I like when you read, Mummy, I like your voice.’

‘I think the actress who reads the books has a lovely clear voice,’ Lucy said.

‘Yes, me too. Let’s put it on.’

Toby’s face fell. ‘Okay, Mummy, if you want to. Will you stay and snuggle with me?’

Katie held him close and breathed in the scent of his freshly shampooed hair. ‘Of course I will. I’m just going to pop down and get a drink of water for my throat.’

Katie left Toby with her phone and the audiobook ofHairy Maclaryand went downstairs to the kitchen, where she poured herself a large drink.

The wine eased her shame and embarrassment. How was she going to manage the kids going forward? How could she help them with their homework? Lucy had already stopped asking her to read the stories and essays she wrote for school. Instead, her daughter waited for Jamie to come home or, even more humiliating, she called Nancy and read them out to her over the phone, asking Granny for her wise advice.

Katie was gulping a second glass of wine when she heard Jamie coming in. He was talking to someone. He must be on the phone … Then she heard Nancy’s voice.

Oh, God, no! Not Nancy, not here, not now. The kitchen was a mess. She hadn’t had time to tidy up properly after dinner because it was hair-washing night. She’d made pancakes for the kids for dessert and they’d all got a bit carried away flipping them. They’d had a competition to see who could flip them the highest. There were bits of pancake all over the hob and scattered across the floor.

Katie threw the frying pan and the dirty dishes into the sink and grabbed a dishcloth to try to wipe the worst of the mess off the hob before they entered the kitchen. Butthe door flung open and Jamie wheeled in his mother. He mouthed, ‘Sorry,’ over Nancy’s shoulder.

‘Hi!’ Katie was very glad she’d had the wine to settle her nerves and help deal with her mother-in-law.

As if on cue, Nancy looked around the kitchen, wrinkling her nose as she took in the chaos – school bags, uniforms, shoes, trainers, the cooking mess and then, to top it all off, a huge pile of laundry in the middle of the kitchen table.

‘My goodness, has a bomb been detonated in here?’ Nancy asked.

Katie saw Jamie flinch. She felt bad. The place did look awful.

‘We made pancakes and it all got a bit crazy. Here, let me make some space for you.’ Katie shoved the laundry to one end of the table, then pushed aside two chairs to make space for Nancy’s wheelchair. Jamie grabbed a cloth and wiped the table free of crumbs, jam and pancake bits.

Nancy was, as always, immaculately dressed, in one of her perfectly tailored trouser suits and a pussy-bow cream blouse. Katie felt like a hobo in her cosy leggings and oversized hoodie, which were covered with flour and splodges of jam.

‘Would you like a drink, Nancy? Glass of wine?’

‘No, thank you. A glass of sparkling water, please.’

Katie didn’t have any sparkling water. Who had sparkling bloody water knocking around the house? ‘Will tap water do?’ she asked.

Nancy sighed. ‘Fine.’

No clean glasses. Katie pulled out the only clean mug she could find. She had bought it for Jamie last year and it said on itMy husband is hotter than my coffee.

Nancy held it, looking as if she was sucking lemons.

Jamie grinned and nodded at the mug. ‘Ain’t that the truth!’

Katie could have kissed him. Jamie always had her back and she loved him for that.

‘Where is Lucy?’ Nancy asked. ‘I’ve come to give her some books, three classics.’

‘In bed, reading. I’ll call the kids now to say hello to you.’

‘Just Lucy. Let Toby sleep.’

‘I think he’s still awake, he’s listening to an audiobook.’

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