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

filing done before the afternoon rush. I’m so glad Finley’s OK though. And kids bounce back so quickly … Oh, gosh, no pun intended. Probably a bit early for trampoline jokes!’

‘A bit, yes!’ I say with a grimace. She pats my hand and then stands up, gathering her belongings. Moments later she’s gone too, and I sit there for a minute, sipping my coffee and thinking.

Why was Ruth being so evasive there, because she was, wasn’t she? I don’t care what she says, there’s definitely something going on with Deborah, and it’s more than her just being tired and needing a break. If she doesn’t want to talk about it, though …

I sigh and head back to my office. I’ve only just settled again, trying to get my head round the latest plans for the surgery renovations, when my phone rings. It’s Jacob, and he’s not happy.

‘Beth, why has Finley gone to school? You said last night he’s supposed to keep the weight off that ankle for a few days, but when I rang the house to talk to him your mother said you asked her to take him to school! And what’s this about you falling out with Robin?’

I sigh.

‘He didn’t want to stay at home, and he’s already a pro on the crutches, honestly. He’ll be fine. I rang the school earlier and the head promised they’d keep an eye on him.’

‘Well, it doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. And Robin?’

‘It’s nothing. Just a silly misunderstanding. I’ll speak to her later and sort it out.’

There’s a moment’s silence on the other end of the line, then he says, ‘Beth … this thing with the trampoline. I’m trying not to blame you … Accidents happen, but I’m sorry, you can’t have put it together properly, and when our children’s safety is at stake …’

Well, I didn’t hear you offering to come round and put it up for them, I think, and wonder if I should say that out loud, but he’s still talking, his tone increasingly irate.

‘And you seem to be away with the fairies recently, by all accounts. Eloise told me you keep losing your keys and having to get cabs to work, and that you’ve fallen out with your neighbours too … What’s going on?’

Shit. I hadn’t realised the kids – or Eloise, at least – had picked up on the fact that something’s happened with Brenda and Barbara. They bloody notice everything, don’t they?

‘Nothing’s going on,’ I say. I know I sound angry and defensive now but I can’t help it. It’s how I feel. Angry, defensive, and ashamed too.

‘I’ve just had a lot on my plate, with Dad being ill and Mum turning up like that, but everything’s fine now. Just leave it, Jacob. Finley will be OK, and if I think being at school is delaying his leg healing I’ll keep him off, right? And now I have to go. I have work to do. I’ll see you later in the week.’

He’s still muttering, something about me ‘needing to get it together’ as I end the call, and for a moment I sit there, staring at the phone, a sick, hollow feeling in my stomach. He’s right, I do need to get it together. Why have so many things gone wrong recently? The past two weeks, since Mum reappeared in my life, should have been the happiest ever, and instead …

I take a deep breath and then another. I just need to try harder, to concentrate on what I’m doing, to be more organised at home and to stop blaming other people for my own failings, I decide. I get back to work and an hour later I’m so engrossed in trying to sort out everyone’s summer annual leave requests that when my mobile rings I jump. I grab it and instantly my heart rate speeds up.

Mum. Oh no … Now what?

But this time, it’s good news. The best news.

‘Liv’s coming to visit, darling! On Friday, is that OK? She’s so excited to meet you all. She’s got a half-day so she thought she’d get the train up on Friday afternoon. She has to go back on Saturday evening because she’s working on Sunday but, well, it’s wonderful, isn’t it? My two girls, together for the first time!’

‘Oh Mum … that’s amazing!’

I’m grinning from ear to ear.

‘I’ll move Eloise in with me and Liv can have her room. I’ll ask Robin …’

I pause, remembering.

‘Well, anyway, I can sort that out. Mum, thank you, that’s cheered me right up. I’ve got to go, but I’ll see you in a few hours, OK?’

‘See you later, darling. I’m off on the school run shortly. Is it OK to tell the kids their auntie is coming?’

‘Of course. They’ll be thrilled. See you all later!’

It’s hard to concentrate after that. My head is full of plans for the weekend, what to cook for dinner on Friday, and what to wear when I meet my little sister for the first time.

‘How much weight can I lose in three days?’ I think, as I run a hand over the rolls of fat emerging from the waistband of my trousers, then grimace and vow not to worry about it. If Liv is as nice as she seemed to be during our FaceTime call, she won’t care that her big sis is carrying a few extra pounds, and I have more important things to worry about. I need to patch things up with Robin, urgently now, and I leave another voice message, telling her I’m so sorry about last night and that I really want to speak to her. Then I remember the trampoline lying drunkenly in the garden and call the council to arrange a bulky item collection. It’s a terrible waste – I’m sure it wasn’t cheap, and I’m going to have to try to persuade Mum to let me reimburse her – but I can’t bear to see it out there for much longer. To have it taken