Page 47 of The In-Laws

Amanda placed the tray on the chair beside the bed and carefully pulled a blanket over her mother-in-law’s lap. As she was creeping out of the room she heard a muttered ‘Thank you.’

Amanda was shocked. That was the first time Nancy had uttered those two words to her. All she’d done, all the meals, the constant laundry, the numerous times she’d bitten back the words she wanted to say to let Nancy know what she thought of her constant criticisms, all of it had gone unnoticed and unremarked. And now this. Incredible. Maybe Nancy’s heart wasn’t completely shut down, after all. It was only a simple gesture, but to Amanda it felt like a minor miracle.

17. Katie

Jamie moaned as Katie slapped his bare bum under the covers. ‘Come on, babe, rise and shine. We have a seven-year-old’s party to organize.’

‘Come back to bed for a bit.’ Jamie pulled her arm.

‘No, you’re not getting sex until you’ve earned it. You have thirty balloons to blow up, bunting to hang and a million other things to do.’

‘Toby already had a birthday party – we just had twenty kids thumping about the house last week.’

‘That was his class party. This is his family birthday party. Come on, Jamie, get up. I had no parties after my mum died and I always promised myself that when I had kids they’d have multiple parties for every birthday. So, up you get.’

Jamie put the pillow over his head. ‘I see my family all the time in work. I really don’t need to see them on a Sunday too!’

Katie pulled the pillow back. ‘Believe me, there are a few members of your family that I could do without seeing, but this is about Toby and he loves a fuss. Besides, I haven’t seen Amanda in a while. I feel bad about not making more of an effort with her.’

Katie had good intentions. She had meant to call her sister-in-law to meet for coffee, but every time she went to pick up the phone she chickened out. Amanda was hard-going and Katie had chosen the easier option of not calling.But she felt guilty and selfish, so this party was the perfect excuse to see everyone and tick the time-with-family box.

Jamie was blowing up balloons with Toby, who had been trying to blow up the same one for the past fifteen minutes. Lucy was helping Katie ice the fairy cakes they had baked the night before.

‘These are so cool, Mum,’ Lucy said, admiring them.

Wow, praise from Lucy! It was rare and very welcome.

‘You are grumpy and forgetful at times but you always do the best birthday parties.’

Ouch, and thanks.

‘Thanks, pet. My mum gave great parties, too, but then she died and I didn’t have any because your poor old granddad was a bit hopeless. That’s why I like to make them really special for you guys.’

‘I can’t wait for mine. Granny said she’s going to buy me the whole series ofHarry Potterwhen I turn ten.’

Katie marvelled at Lucy’s excitement over books. At seven years old, the year her mum died, her parents had given her a purple sparkly bike with silver tassels on the handlebars. It was the coolest thing ever. If someone had given her a book, she’d have been inconsolable.

‘Have you readCharlotte’s Web, Mum?’

‘No. You know me, I don’t like reading much.’

‘Why, Mum? It makes you clever and curious.’

Katie bit her lip. If she had to hear that bloody line one more time, she’d scream. Nancy was always banging on about it. But she had to tread carefully with Lucy: she didn’t want her daughter ever to find out that her mother was stupid with words.

‘Everyone likes different things, Lucy. If we all liked the same things, life would be very boring.’

Lucy frowned. ‘If everyone liked reading, life would be super-interesting because we could talk about books and swap them and always be learning new things. I just think you haven’t found the right book yet to make you excited about reading. I’ll talk to Granny and find you a good one.’

Jesus, would she ever let it go?

‘No!’ Katie snapped. ‘Do not talk to Nancy about my reading. Ever. Just leave it, Lucy.’

Lucy’s shoulders slumped. ‘Fine. No need to be so narky, I was just trying to help.’

Katie felt awful for snapping, but the last thing she needed was Nancy forcing books on her, then demanding to know what she thought of them and why she hadn’t read them.

‘Hey, why don’t you lick the spoon? We’re finished here,’ Katie said.

---