She waved as Nancy went up her path and watched, enthralled by the size of the garden, the balcony she could see that was the length of the house until she suddenly realized she was probably spending too long looking and turned away.
When Lorna got home it was lunchtime. Her husband, hearing her come in, ventured out of the office and as soon as she saw his face she knew she was in for a lecture.
‘I’ve had the credit-card bill,’ said Simon, holding up a piece of paper.
She tried to look innocent. ‘Oh?’
‘There’s an item on here for thirty pounds. From a phone shop.’
Lorna pretended to think. ‘Oh yes, I remember. It was the phone case. For Rosie’s birthday present.’
Simon’s mouth dropped open. ‘You spent thirty pounds on a phone case?’
‘It’s the one all the kids want these days.’
‘So?’
‘So it was her birthday.’
‘It doesn’t mean we have to spend thirty quid!’ Simon took a breath, tried to compose himself. ‘Do you not think that’s too much money to spend on a gift for an eleven-year-old child who isn’t even ours?’
It was, she knew it was, but it wasn’t about that, it was the fact it needed to be the rightbrand.That was what counted. Rosie’s face had been a picture when she’d opened her gift. And even Imogen had looked surprised – and Lorna had enjoyed the feeling of being able to demonstrate to Imogen that she could keep up with her, was as good as her. Better even.
‘It’s important,’ she said. ‘It’s all about positioning.’
‘Positioning?’ repeated Simon, baffled. ‘Positioning is being at the right angle when you’re taking a penalty.’
Football, always football. That was what her husband was passionate about. She sighed inwardly. It was a heavy burden being the only one looking out for their family, their children, wanting them to have the right opportunities, the best start in life. She remembered the battles she’d had to persuade him to name their children Phoenix and Pepper. She’d tried to explain how an unusual name gave someone a head start in life – made people notice them when facedwith a pile of CVs. All Simon thought was that they’d get bullied. Well, neither of them had and she knew she’d made the right decision.
‘Sorry,’ she said to Simon, knowing it was wise to be contrite. It would save an argument.
‘We don’t need to follow the latest fashions,’ said Simon. ‘It’s just a bit of plastic that goes on a phone.’
Lorna hid a smile. He was so sweet sometimes. Didn’t have a clue.
‘Or you’re going to have to go back to work,’ added Simon.
Lorna felt a stab of panic. Not that. She’d promised herself she would be the one to bring up her children, take them to school, pick them up at the end of the day, do their homework with them. ‘What?’
‘Lorna, you’re only thirty. You’ve got years ahead of you. Good earning potential.’
‘I’m doing a very important job bringing up the kids.’
‘I don’t dispute that. But at some point...’
She refused to bite.
He held his hand out.
‘What?’ asked Lorna, looking at it, confused.
‘The card.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Lorna, we’re nearly a grand in debt. I can’t afford to pay all that off this month. I’m a data analyst, not a striker for Leicester City.’
‘But I wanted to get something for Pepper.’
