‘Vietnam,’ her hench-girl answered, not even bothering to nod a hello my way.
‘Read in public? Me? No, thank you, Vanessa. But I will be bringing some food.’
‘Oh, excellent. What are you bringing? Because I’ve already got Martha Treghenny on the sushi, and Teresa Marsden is doing the pastries.’
‘I’ll actually be bringing some arancini,’ I informed her, already relishing the look on her face.
‘Oh dear, are they organic? They sound very fattening. Remember that we parents are responsible for projecting an image of healthy eating. Although I suppose they are part of the Mediterranean so-called diet.’
Unbelievable she was, that one. ‘Right. I must be off,’ she cut short, looking at Alf and his trio who were watching the exchange innocently, but I knew the minute Vanessa and Aimée left, they’d fall apart in hysterics.
‘Bye,’ they called, and as the door closed, they all hooted with laughter and I grinned. My silly, beautiful tribe.
After that, I dropped Chloe off at the bakery shop with the very last of my coins to buy some fresh bread.
‘I’ll walk home, I want to look at some stuff,’ she barked as she jumped out. ‘Oh, and I’m staying at Chanel’s for the night.’
Oh, so now she was telling me rather than asking? Better nip that one in the bud as well.
‘Sorry, Chloe. Emma’s got a long day tomorrow and doesn’t have the energy to deal with you as well as her own daughter. Maybe some other time.’
‘Bloody hell, why did I have to get the cheapest – and strictest – mother in the universe!’ she seethed, giving me one of her filthy looks before she slammed the car door shut, while Ben slid me a glance and squeezed my arm.
‘Don’t be late,’ I warned her.
When I got home, I fed Minnie and Callie, who enjoyed watching me with her almond-shaped eyes from the space between the counter and the AGA. Minnie, a German Shepherd and too large to fit in such a small space, dolefully watched from under the table, her clever eyes not missing a move I made, waiting for her turn.
As they devoured every single morsel, I leaned back against the counter, watching them. There was something so very satisfying in feeding a pet, something very rewarding, knowing that they felt safe and happy because of you. And that they loved you unconditionally, as opposed to Chloe. At least I was doing one thing right.
I sighed and turned the oven off. My chicken potato vegetable bake was ready.
‘Ben,’ I called into the living room where he was doing his homework with his back propped up against the settee. ‘Can you please set the table, love? What’s keeping Chloe?’
‘Don’t worry, Mum. She’s probably drooling over the new cosmetics rack in Alf’s shop,’ Ben answered.
‘He has a cosmetics rack, now?’ Alf was one who didn’t like change.
‘It would be more appropriate to say that the Ice Cream Trio have. God knows why girls put all that guck on their faces,’ Ben said. ‘It’s not like it makes them any prettier.’
I laughed. ‘Ben, my boy, you need to learn a thing or two about girls. And precisely what to keep to yourself.’
As if on cue, the phone rang. It was Beverly, one of the Tregarth sisters who had opened, as a nod to Alf’s shop, the Post Of ice Cream Parlour. But as they had promised to sell only ice cream and not any of the same goods Alf stocked, he agreed not to make a fuss as, widowed some twenty years, Alf never went without a hot meal thanks to them, and his clothes were always clean and pressed.
‘Hello, pet…’
‘Bev, hi,’ I said, mentally searching my engagements. ‘Was I supposed to call you back about something?’
‘No, no, luv. Nothing like that. I… er, have Chloe here…’
My eyebrows shot up. I could feel them. ‘Yes?’
‘We’ve a bit of a problem…’
‘Oh God, is she okay?’
‘Oh, she’s fine, but Alf’s a bit upset. You see, dear, Chloe thought to, er, help herself to the new cosmetics section…’
‘Oh my God! I’m so sorry! I’ll obviously pay him back to the last penny. And I’ll punish her like she’ll never forget. I’ll be there in a minute.’
Ben rolled his eyes and removed Chloe’s place from the table.
‘No need to come down here, luv. Jack swung by to get some cinnamon for his apples. He’s going to attempt a pie. They’ll be there shortly.’
Jack. Well, at least I knew he’d keep a secret, if any were to be kept in Penworth Ford.
‘Thank you, Bev. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.’
‘Of course, luv. I’ll deal with Alf. Don’t you be too hard on her. She’s just a child.’
‘Yes, well, tomorrow then,’ I said and hung up. Child, my arse. At her age I was tending to my sick parents and hadn’t had half the fun my friends were having. I had been too indulgent after Phil left, and this was the result. From now on it was going to be tough love. As if there was anything such as easy love.
About a minute later, as Ben finished setting the table, we heard the familiar crunching of gravel under Jack’s SUV as he stopped and took off again and in came Chloe with a bang of the door, her face red as she flounced off to her room without even saying hello.
I dished up Ben’s meal and wiped my hands on the tea towel. Time for another sermon.
I trudged upstairs and opened Chloe’s door without
