The Happy Family by Jackie Kabler (electric book reader txt) 📕

lives down in Cornwall and we’ve only recently been reunited – it’s a long story. But anyway, two of my neighbours are coming round for drinks later, which will be nice. I just have to decide whether I’m going to cook something or just get a takeaway. I won’t have much time after work, so a takeaway would be easier, but it seems a bit lazy, you know …’

Her eyes have widened and she’s staring at me with a bewildered expression. I’m suddenly aware that I’m waffling, speaking far too quickly, and anyway, why on earth am I telling her all this, this poor old homeless woman?

Why would she care if I cook or get a takeaway? Talk about middle-class problems. Shut up Beth …

‘Oh, heck, sorry Nadia,’ I say. I stand up awkwardly, rubbing my leg. ‘I’ll leave you in peace. But do let one of us know if you want anything, OK? I’m sure Ruth will be out with some coffee in a bit. She usually makes some around now.’

She’s still staring at me, but she nods.

‘Thanks. And for the books. Thank you,’ she mutters.

‘No problem. Well, bye.’

I lift a hand in a half-wave and then turn and walk swiftly back across to the surgery, cringing inside.

What’s wrong with me, going on like that? She’ll think I’m bonkers …

I’m just metres away from the door when a man emerges. He glances at me, then quickly looks right and left and jogs across the road towards the car park. I stop walking so suddenly that a woman coming towards me on the pavement has to step out into the road to veer round me. She tuts loudly, but I barely look at her, my heart pounding.

Is that Mike? Not again. Don’t start this again, Beth. You know it’s not him. You know there’s nothing to worry about. Stop it, stop it …

But it’s not working. My eyes frantically scan the car park but the man is already out of sight. I push the door open and walk into the waiting room. Ruth is behind the reception desk and Deborah is leaning across it, and they’re having a conversation in low, urgent voices. Then Ruth spots me, and pokes Deborah in the arm with a manicured finger.

‘Beth!’ she says loudly. ‘How was Nadia? Did she like the books?’

Deborah turns abruptly.

‘Oh, hi,’ she says. She looks a little flushed.

Why stop talking so suddenly? Were they talking about me? Was it him, after all? Did he … did he tell them?

‘Who was that?’ I say and point over my shoulder in the direction of the door. ‘That man, in the dark overalls? He just left. Who was he?’

I know I sound agitated but I can’t help myself. Deborah frowns and looks at Ruth. Ruth hesitates for a moment, looking at me, then picks up a business card that’s lying on her desk.

‘He’s a plumber. He just popped in to leave a card in case we need one at any point,’ she says, waving the small white rectangle at me. ‘Why? What’s wrong, Beth? Are you OK?’

I take a breath.

A plumber. Just a plumber. And the other day with Barbara and Brenda it was just a gardener, and before that, with Robin, just a runner who dropped his wallet. It’s not him. None of these men are him. He went home ages ago. I’m worrying about nothing. Nothing bad is going to happen. Everything is OK. Everything is fine.

I’m losing it, I think. Literally losing my keys, seeing people … Is this stress? A result of Mum appearing so suddenly and Dad being ill? I need to get on top of it, and fast. I breathe in again, and out, slowly.

‘I’m fine, sorry,’ I say. ‘I got cramp in my leg, crouching down talking to Nadia, and it’s a bit ouchy, that’s all. And I just thought I recognised him, that bloke, but I’ve obviously got him mixed up with someone else. You two OK?’

I smile reassuringly.

‘Erm … great,’ says Deborah. She looks at Ruth, then back at me. ‘Happy it’s Friday, that’s for sure.’

‘Hear, hear!’ says Ruth. ‘Hey Beth, we were just talking about how we’d love to meet your mum. Why don’t we organise drinks or something? Before she goes home again?’

Instantly, the paranoia is back.

Why were they just talking about me and Mum?

I hesitate, but they’re both smiling, acting completely normally.

Oh, for God’s sake, Beth. They’re your friends, and you’ve just been reunited with your long-lost mother. Of course they’d love to meet her.

‘She’s not planning on going any time soon,’ I say. ‘So yes, that would be lovely. I’ll run some dates past you later. Brenda and Barbara are coming round tonight, so maybe next week?’

‘Ace,’ says Ruth. ‘Have you spoken to your sister yet, by the way? Weren’t you going to FaceTime or something?’

‘We did, last night. It was … well, amazing,’ I said.

It was. Once the kids were in bed – I decided it might be too much for Liv to be faced with all three of us at once – Mum and I settled down on the sofa and dialled the number. I’d had butterflies for hours, but as soon as she answered the call and her smiling face appeared on the screen of Mum’s phone, they vanished.

‘Hey big sis,’ she said.

She looked even prettier than in the photos I’d seen: long blonde hair a similar shade to mine falling in soft waves and framing delicate features. We didn’t chat for long – she was at work, taking a coffee break during an evening shift at the shipping office – but she sounded exuberant, repeatedly saying how exciting all of this was and how she couldn’t wait to meet me and her niece and nephew. She had, it emerged, known about me for years, but had rarely dared to ask about me, knowing I was a sensitive subject for Mum.

‘When she finally decided to get back in touch with you, I literally ran around the room