The Other Family

money.’

‘I gave Amy twenty quid,’ Chrissie said, ‘and now I’m worrying that wasn’t nearly enough. A whole weekend, on twenty pounds.’

Sue put the wine glass on the table, amid the clutter.

‘They’l pay for her, won’t they?’

Chrissie made a face.

‘That’s what I was thinking when I gave her the money. They can darn wel pay for her, that’s what I thought. But now, I wish they weren’t. I wish I’d given her more.’

Sue found a second glass, and blew on it.

‘Stop thinking about her.’

‘I—’

‘Haven’t you got enough to think about?’ Sue demanded. ‘Isn’t there enough going on without fretting over the one child who’s actual y striking out?’

‘In the wrong direction—’

‘For you,’ Sue said. ‘Not necessarily for her. Don’t you just love it that wine comes in screw-top bottles these days?’

Chrissie wandered back from turning off the television and watched Sue pouring wine into the glasses.

‘I’ve sometimes wished, since Richie died, that I real y, really liked alcohol. I mean, I do like it, I love a glass of wine, but I don’t crave it. It would have been easier to crave something rather than just be in such a state.’

Sue held a ful glass out to her.

‘Tel me some good news.’

‘It’s sort of OK news—’

‘Fine by me.’

‘I took the job,’ Chrissie said.

Sue let out a yelp, and clinked her glass against Chrissie’s.

‘Go, girlfriend!’

‘It isn’t amazing. In fact, it’s very lowly, very lowly indeed, but it’s the first one I’ve been offered, actual y offered, in al these months of trying, and I suppose it might lead to something—’

‘It’s a job!’

‘Yes,’ Chrissie said, ‘they were so nice to me. I met Mark’s father, and al his uncles, and they were lovely, so welcoming.’

‘You’l be so good at it—’

‘I hope so. Nine-thirty to six, four weeks’ paid holiday, pay-as-you-earn tax.’

‘Chrissie,’ Sue said, ‘this is good. This is even great. This is like starting again, and do not, do not, do not tel me that starting again is the last thing you want to do.’

‘OK,’ Chrissie said.

‘You’re smiling.’

‘I’m not—’

‘You’re smiling.’

‘It’s relief,’ Chrissie said.

‘I don’t care what it is. You’re smiling. And the flat?’

Chrissie took a sip of wine.

‘If I don’t sel the house—’

‘You will sel the house.’

‘I can’t afford the flat on what I’l be earning.’

Sue cleared a heap of T-shirts and a pair of swimming goggles off another chair, and sat down.

She said, ‘What about those girls?’

‘Wel , Amy—’

‘I don’t mean Amy. I mean Tamsin and Dil y.’

Chrissie said cautiously, ‘Dil y is looking for a job—’

‘Is she now.’

‘And Tamsin. Wel , I don’t real y know what’s going on with Tamsin.’

‘Do sit down,’ Sue said.