‘Is that all?’
‘What do you mean, is that all? It was a horrifying experience.’
‘God, you’ve become so spoiled. My card gets declined every other week. I keep a few twenty-pound notes in the car as a backup. You get used to running out of money when you live on the wages of a nurse and a police officer.’
I took a sip of my wine, and Cass reached a hand across the breakfast bar and squeezed mine.
‘I’m sorry, I realise it must have been really embarrassing for you, given the circles you now move in. Didn’t you have another card you could use?’
‘Rob only likes me using the credit card.’
Cass choked on her wine. ‘Sorry. You mean Rob restricts the money you have access to?’
‘It’s not like that.’
‘No?’
‘No. He’ll give me extra if I need it.’
‘How generous of him. Listen, Liv, isn’t it about time you got a job, used that massive brain of yours? It must be awful relying on pocket money from your husband.’
‘There’s no way I can get a job and take care of Bertie.’
‘Really? What do you think most females in the population do?’ Cass raised an eyebrow and glugged down more wine.
‘Yes, but Bertie’s school is so far away, there’d be no way of getting him there if I was working.’
‘I get it. Logistics can be hard. But you wouldn’t need to work full-time. You could probably find a job you could do from home. You’ve got an amazing degree and incredible language skills. Most employers would snap you up like that.’ Cass clicked her fingers. ‘What are you doing for the rest of the day?’
‘Housework, mainly.’ My insides squirmed at the mundanity of my life compared to my warm-hearted grafter of a sister. ‘I’ve no idea what to cook for tea given I can’t buy any shopping.’
‘I’ve got a cottage pie in the freezer you can take home with you, but it will cost you.’
‘Cost me how?’
Cass reached into a drawer and slid a paintbrush across the counter to me.
‘Deal.’
Chapter Four
‘Perfect,’ said Rob as I walked my preened self into the kitchen.
‘Thank you.’ I felt constricted in my figure-hugging tailored dress. My toes pinched in uncomfortable heels, and my arms ached from the hour it had taken to straighten my unruly hair.
Rob wrapped an arm around my waist and I felt an absurd rush of pleasure that my appearance pleased him. ‘Did you have any luck with the bank?’
‘No, bunch of incompetent fools. I was on the phone for over an hour yesterday and they still couldn’t transfer me to the right department.’
‘I’m not sure what to do. I need to get shopping, pay for Bertie’s swimming lessons, settle the final bill for the plumber.’
‘Don’t stress,’ said Rob, placing a series of kisses along my neck. ‘I’ll give you some cash to tide you over. The credit card will get sorted next week.’
I tried not to let his kisses distract me. How had I reached the point that I was screeching towards thirty with no independentmeans, living the life of a nineteenth century housekeeper? ‘I’d better check Bertie’s ready.’
Rob stopped his kissing, frowned, and picked up his phone. ‘You mother that boy way too much.’
Wasn’t it only a few days ago he’d told me about his own mother laying out his clothes the night before? ‘I’m not fussing over him, but I know you hate being late for your parents.’
