MARA
Kate kissed Rosie and Luke as they sat on either side of Ed like two wriggling bookends.
‘Kids, listen to me – you be good kids for Aunty Mara and Uncle Ed,’ she said, trying to get one of them at least to look her in the eye. ‘Lights out at half past seven, no later!’
‘You’re in the way, Mum,’ Luke whined. He tried peering around her to see the television.
‘Charming.’ Kate gave up and turned to me. I was standing in the doorway, watching the little scene with amusement. ‘There’s a treat in the tin for you two in the kitchen and wine somewhere. Cook yourselves whatever you want. Sorry I haven’t got anything prepared,’ she said to me, glancing at the book I was holding. ‘They might not want to read, Mars, not when the telly’s on, sorry.’
‘I’ll give it my best shot. Anyway, Ed will listen, won’t you?’ I said, waving the book at the sofa. ‘It’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea!’
‘Ooooh, my favourite!’
‘Favewit! Favewit!’ Rosie chorused and jumped up and down next to Ed.
‘Well, that one might work,’ Kate conceded. ‘She’s completely obsessed with cats at the moment.’
‘See? Now push off out of here before you’re late, don’t worry about us.’
We walked to the front door together.
‘Have you heard from Dad lately?’ she asked, pulling on a rose coat that hugged her slim frame.
‘No, have you?’.
‘Not a squeak. It’s like he doesn’t have grandchildren,’ she said bitterly.
I took her arm. ‘Don’t take it personally. You know he just shut down after Mum left. He isn’t in touch with anyone, it’s not just you.’
‘I know.’ Kate threw her handbag over her shoulder, frowning. ‘I just worry about him.’
‘There’s only so much we can do, Katie.’
‘I suppose so.’
‘Ed hasn’t seen him properly yet. When he does I’ll tag along and check in on him, how about that? Now, you stop your worrying.’
‘I’ll try.’ Kate opened the door. ‘Thanks for everything.’
‘There’s just one thing I need to tell you,’ I said.
‘Yes?’ Kate turned, still looking worried.
‘You look beautiful.’
Kate’s pretty face broke into a smile, her chin falling to her chest in the bashful expression she’d carried over from childhood. I hugged her. Dear little Kate, she deserved the best after the crap she’d endured through the break-up with Martin, that slimy excuse for a human being.
A little under an hour later, I was starting to envy Kate’s night out.
‘Upstairs now, Rosie. No more arguing.’ Was that the millionth time I had said that, or the millionth and one? Rosie responded by jumping from one sofa to the next, squealing in delight. I was sure I had never seen the kids so wound up, thanks to Ed. There I was thinking it would be a perfect opportunity for having a heart to heart with him by bringing him babysitting with me. What a joke.
‘Come on!’
Squeal, squeal, squeal.
‘Ed, can you grab her? This is all your fault.’
‘How so, sis?’
‘Don’t call me that!’
Ed tucked Rosie under one arm and left the room.
I stared at his back disappearing up the stairs. When exactly did he become so annoying?
Eventually I had Ed to myself. I pushed aside the domestic detritus on the table to make two plate-sized spaces. A plastic duck hovered close to the side of the table. I considered moving it but decided, on balance, that I was too exhausted to care. I’d assumed the kids would get less tiring as they got older, but it appeared the opposite was true. How did Kate cope? I sat down and groaned.
Thankfully Ed put a plate of food in front of me in record time. My favourite slap-up supper – poached eggs on toast. And look, the dear thing had tarted them up with chilli.
‘Sorry if I was grumpy before.’
‘It doesn’t matter.’ Ed smiled reassuringly. In a light voice – as if it didn’t matter at all – he added, ‘Rebecca came by today.’
‘What?’ The idea of that piece of work sneaking around my home outside chaperone hours almost had me shouting.
‘She thought she’d left something behind, an address book, I think she said.’
‘Riiiight . . .’ My fork still hovered over my food. I hoped Ed’s story was going to get better.
‘She’s a strange girl, isn’t she?’ he said.
I exhaled and stabbed my knife through the egg and toast. ‘Strange is one word you could use. I could think of several others more pertinent.’
Ed picked up the plastic duck and turned it over in his hand.
‘It was almost as if the address book was just an excuse to come round . . .’
You don’t say. I knew I had to pick my words carefully. ‘She was being very friendly with you the other night,’ I said finally, not quite able to meet his eye.
‘She was,’ Ed addressed the fridge. ‘But I’m not actually convinced that was why she was there. I can’t quite work it out . . .’
I waited for him to say more but he didn’t.
‘Well, you know I don’t trust her, Ed. It always feels like she’s got some kind of agenda. It usually involves having something over Sam.’
‘Why would she want to do that?’ Ed frowned.
‘I really have no idea.’
There was a small silence as I chewed my last mouthful. Ed continued to frown.
‘Ed?’ I had to ask him. I just had to.
‘Yes?’
‘What brought you back from India so quickly?’
Ed let out a long sigh and started building a tower. I waited. I knew trying to hurry him wouldn’t help. On the bottom went two pieces of oversized orange Lego, followed by a stack of junk mail, a book and a small bag of lentils. The plastic duck was placed on top.
‘It’s a long story.’
‘I’m not going anywhere.’
He looked at me and sighed again.
‘I thought that going away would make things better . . .’
But he got no further. From the top of the stairs came the sound of Luke roaring.
‘Rosie, you can’t poo there!’