‘Romantic, nah, just a realist. This game of happiness is formulaic. Stop rushing around and looking for it, then – what is it they say? It’ll have a chance to sit on your still shoulder like a butterfly.’
‘Aww. You’re sweet,’ Vic crooned.
Chrissie let out a loud, dirty laugh. ‘I’ve been called many things before, but that ain’t one of them.’
Vic smiled. ‘So did anyone come and sit on your shoulder, then?’
‘I’m not supposed to say, but yeah, that bald-headed auld fella in the kitchen. Moved down here, minding my own business and he’d been in that kitchen waiting for me all along.’ A grin formed on the blonde woman’s face.
‘Aw, that’s lovely to hear.’ Vic took another slurp of coffee. ‘There could be a chance for me yet.’
‘Keepthe bigger picture in mind, girl. You’re going to be just fine. Right, I better go and help my Doug, before he starts kicking off.’
Vic sat and looked down the garden. Maybe the only reason she had come here today was for Chrissie’s wise words. Because right now, she had a sudden urge to flee this building, which reminded her of everything she didn’t really want to be talking about to complete strangers – not today, anyway.
She checked for messages on her phone and, finding none, closed her handbag and stood up.
Chrissie noticed her walking past the kitchen and followed her to the door. ‘You’re off already?’ she asked gently. ‘Was it something I said?’ She smiled, seemingly keen to show she wasn’t offended.
‘It was everything you said, actually.’ Vic paused. ‘In a positive way, I mean.’
‘Good job I’m not in charge of service-user retention.’ Chrissie grinned, but on noticing Vic’s downturned lips, put her hand on her shoulder. ‘We are here, every Tuesday. No judgement. It’s not as hard as you think to open up to strangers. I mean we did all right, didn’t we?’
‘Thanks, Chrissie. And yes, we did just fine. And just knowing that is enough – for now, anyway.’
As Vic arrived back home in Windsor, Kath came to the front door with Chandler at her feet.
‘I didn’t even hear you leave. Are you OK, love?’ Kath looked concerned. ‘Been somewhere nice?’
‘Just into Slough, I… er… needed to take a top back that I bought last week.’ Wishing that was what she had been doing, Vic leant down and ruffled Chandler’s ears. Despite – and indeed because of – her mum going through a sober patch, she justwasn’t ready to worry her and cause an explosion of drama by telling her. Not yet.
They walked through to the kitchen.
‘It’s been lovely having you home more lately. And I’m so glad you told me about Nate, love.’
Despite it being months since Nate had left, the time had only recently felt right for Vic to tell her mother.
‘You can’t be going through that on your own. So I’ve made a vegetable soup this morning, for your lunch. Full of goodness, it is, and I’m just off into town to get some fresh bread. There’s a sliced loaf in the bread bin if you can’t wait.’ Kath put her hand to her daughter’s chin and moved her face from side to side.
‘Mum! Stop it!’
‘You look much better than when you arrived. Good, good. See you later on.’ Kath fixed Chandler’s lead to his collar. ‘Our Albie is coming round for his tea tonight. In fact, I’ve seen a lot of him lately. He’s been helping Joti out with odd jobs as well as me.’
‘I’d heard.’ Vic was finding the obvious change in both her mother and sibling quite unnerving.
‘I told you, he’s a good lad, really. Oh, that reminds me: I need to get some mince. I’ll do a lasagne, shall I?’
‘I’ll be looking like a lasagne soon,’ said Vic fondly, overtaken by the warmth of love from her mother.
‘Well, if your old mum can’t feed you up with your favourite food, then who can? See you later, darling.’
Vic was sure her mother had tears in her eyes. She found it so heartening to see the change in her, and if Kath carried on like this, Vic would have no hesitation in confiding in her about her HIV. Because a sober Kath Sharpe was a tour de force and a mother like no other – two things that she could really do with right now.
‘Bye, Mum.’
Vic was just about to shut the door behind her when Joti pulled onto the drive. As she lifted her hand to wave at her, Vic noticed that she was crying. Not wanting to pry, she turned to go inside again.
‘Vicki? Have you got a minute?’
