Page 23 of A Good Mother
‘Course it was him. Everyone knows your Jimmy drives a McLaren. I’d recognise it anywhere. Now, shall I start on the upstairs bathrooms? Then I’ll do the kiddies’ rooms. Back soon.’
In that moment, Gina’s head resembled a melt-in-the-middle chocolate sponge, the hot centre oozing everywhere. Rendered immobile she remained on the sofa, trying to hold her dripping, dribbling mushed-up brain together. After a while one question somehow forced its way through the goo.
Why was Jimmy near the Young Farm when he’d told her he’d be in Chester all day, and having dinner with clients?
All it took was one quick text, asking if he’d arrived in Chester, telling him she missed him already.
The reply came six minutes and eleven seconds later.
He said he was at the conference centre; the traffic into the city had been a nightmare, and he was about to go into his meeting, and that he missed her too.
LIAR!
That’s when it all began. The first lie; the text then the voice note; the nightmare; the return of Bella. Once suspicion took hold, Gina’s imagination ran riot. Her paranoia knew no bounds and her latest meltdown began in earnest. It was all going wrong.
* * *
Gina checked her watch. Time to make her way home and then, as she stretched out, she had an idea. The Young Farm was only minutes away if she diverted from her usual route. What was the harm in taking a look? Seeing if Bella’s car was there or maybe two, meaning she’d shacked up with someone and that was why the slapper hadn’t been in touch with Jimmy.
It was worth a look, and she didn’t even have to stop running, just skirt the perimeter of the farm, have a gander then head home. It was a no-brainer. She had to know and with her laces nice and tight and her mind made up, Gina reset her watch and began to run.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
BABS
The soundof her phone distracted Babs from the laptop screen and Jess, the effervescent fitness instructor who was putting all the other online viewers through their paces. Babs ignored the phone and focused on the last few minutes of Disco-cise. This was her time, and nobody was allowed to interrupt.
Who would have thought that she’d enjoy working out? But she did and joining the online class was so much fun. Being part of a group with her far-away, puffed-out buddies who logged on each day. At first, she’d ached and some of the more intense sessions were a struggle, but a month in and she was feeling so much better, in herself and about herself.
She’d also joined a Facebook group where each morning they did steps and chatted via messages; and another for women going through the menopause. They shared their experiences, gave advice, and swapped healthy eating tips about superfoods and supplements. What Babs liked best was the encouragement and comfort. Knowing that others were going through it, felt less like she was going doolally, or alone.
Babs wished she’d done it before, had the guts to join an online group but she’d been too shy and also, there never seemed to be enough hours in the day, until now. It was Gina who’d suggested it, ages ago when Babs had been there cleaning. She’d had a bit of a funny turn, a hot flush that sent her dizzy and Gina noticed.
It was the first time Babs had ever mentioned her symptoms. She’d felt daft… definitely embarrassed about discussing such a private matter but once she’d started, it was like she couldn’t stop. Gina had listened and suggested Babs made an appointment at the doctors and also, had a gander at online support groups. It had meant a lot that she’d taken the time to listen.
Many of the women in the group were scared of what was happening in the world but at the same time, determined to make the best of a terrible situation, turning unexpected time at home into a positive, especially their hourly, outdoor exercise. Babs saved hers until after tea, where she left whoever was on the rota for washing-up to get on with it.
The house was at full capacity, so she relished her walk along the lanes around the estate, sometimes accompanied by Demi who’d reverted to being the daughter Babs remembered, the one that lurked beneath her teenage veneer. They’d chat about all sorts and nothing in particular and Babs suspected that being away from her peers was good for Demi. It gave her a break from the pressure of being a teenager and social media and it was nice, just the two of them.
Pete, despite being asked always declined as did Sasha. Fiona was superglued to Isaac who was superglued to the remote and never moved from in front of the telly. Anyway, she kept as far away from them as possible because they’d been out there, into the world and the thought of catching anything scared her half to death.
Refocus – that’s what Babs had done in order to take her mind off the news. It made her worry. She’d considered sleeping on the sofa because let’s face it, she wouldn’t miss anything, or be missed in the bedroom, not these days.
She’d also developed her own beauty regime after ordering some face and skin products and vitamins online. She was determined to have summer-ready feet, and had started painting her toenails; and now she wasn’t cleaning so much her fingernails looked much nicer, too. She was halfway to being glamorous. And now she’d lost a few pounds and summer had arrived, she intended treating herself to some new clothes as well, thanks to her mum’s ‘little windfall,’ as Bridie called it.
It had occurred the day after lockdown and the actual amount of the EuroMillions lottery win remained undisclosed – her mum loved to be mysterious. It was enough for her to transfer £250 into Babs’ bank account with the strict instructions that it was for her and NOT for Pete. The three kids had been given an envelope with a £20 note inside. Pete got bugger-all. Poor Pete.
Her mother had always tolerated Pete and shown him respect for the simple reason he was the father of her grandchildren, but there was little love lost. In the early days Babs sought to defend Pete, wanting her mum to like him, and – if she was honest – for the truth not to sting so much.
‘He’s selfish and lazy, and yes, I know he gets up early for work on the bins but he’s home and sat on his fat arse by two and that’s it for the day. Your dad put in a full shift on the tools at the waterboard, started at seven, digging holes and laying pipes in all weathers. But he still found the energy to do overtime, do our house up, take you and Tom swimming or to the park, even when he was shattered. Pete’s a bone-idle shirker who finds time and money for golf and football, but not for his wife and kids.’
Babs ignored the memory of Bridie’s dulcet tones, pecking her head and ringing in her ears, and instead, followed Jess’s warming-down exercises. Once she’d waved goodbye, Babs disconnected from the feed and then checked her phone to see who’d been calling and speak of the devil, it was her mum. Jabbing the call-back icon, Babs waited for Bridie to pick up.
‘There you are. What were you doing? I let it ring for ages.’ Bridie always cut to the chase.
‘I was doing my workout, Mum. You know the one I was telling you about on Facebook. Are you okay?’
‘Yes, love, I’m fine. I need one of you to go and collect something from Argos for me. I’ve bought me and Mavis a marquee each.’
