Maman was there, tea tray in hand after uncharacteristically deciding to take the morning off. Gripping the door handle, his heart sank when he saw not only Kat, but a woman with straggly waist-length hair and a face covered in scabs.
William gasped from the back door.
“Mum!” he cried, throwing himself across the living room and into the woman’s arms. “Mum! Oh, Mum, I’ve missed you, I’ve missed—” William’s words turned into muffled sobs as he clung to Janine Manders like a life raft.
Kat gave Johnny a sorry look as she shuffled inside. “Afternoon,” she said, giving Maman a quiet nod and following her into the kitchen. Johnny hovered in the living room, awkwardly watching as William and his mother embraced in the doorway.
“Er… come in,” he said, opening the door wider until they both shuffled in. Janine looked up at him nervously as they passed.
Maman poured everyone tea before sidling alongside Johnny in the corner of the kitchen. “Do you want us to give you some privacy?” she said softly, giving Janine a sympathetic smile as she, William and Kat sat around the table.
Kat shook her head. “It’s okay, we’ve already spoken about what’s going to happen, haven’t we, Mrs Manders?”
William looked up at his mum with wide, hopeful eyes, whereas Johnny’s only narrowed. “What have you gotten yourself into?” he said, jaw tightening as he stared down at Maman.
Maman rubbed the back of her neck, before giving him a tight smile. “Nothing you wouldn’t have agreed to yourself in five years’ time.”
“Mama… for the love of God,” he sighed, pressing the heel of his palm against his eye.
“Will,” Kat began, clearing her throat and drawing out a thin stack of papers from her bag. “As you know, your mum hasn’t been in a good place recently, isn’t that right, Mrs Manders?”
Janine dropped her head and began picking at a scab on her arm. She looked gaunt, like a ghost living inside a hollowed-out husk. Not that he could blame her after putting up with someone like Aden fucking Manders for so many years, but it looked like her drug use had gotten a lot worse. Her hands were already shaking, jaw ticking, and Johnny reckoned that in about thirty minutes she was going to be fuckingrattling.
“I-I-I-I-I-I—th-that’s right,” she managed, gripping William’s hand. “N-not good, Willy. N-not good.” Her jaw was working overtime as she tried to keep a grip on her own voice.
“But you’ve come to get me, right?” William said, wrapping his arms around her thin body. “It’ll be okay now we’re together, won’t it, Mum? Dad’s away and you’ll come home, won’t you?”
Johnny winced as he watched Janine drop her head again and pick more aggressively at the scabs. “W-Wills… I-it’s not?—”
Kat clicked the top of her pen. “Your mum needs help, William.”
Janine’s chin wobbled, then her whole body, and pretty soon the whole stool began to rock. “Y-yes.”
William let out a long, relieved breath. “I can help you, can’t I, silly? Like I always do.”
Maman’s fingers tightened around Johnny’s arm, and he could see that her chin was beginning to quiver too.
Rubbing her hands together, Kat blew into the space between her fingers; a nervous tick Johnny had seen her do a dozen times before.
Oh God, here it comes.
“William, you can’t live with your mum at the moment.”
Aaaaand, there it went,as William jumped up and bolted towards the back door. He wrenched it, unable to work out how to detach the old-fashioned farmhouse lock. Johnny sighed, walked over, gripped his shoulder and deposited him back on his stool.
“Willy,” Janine said, patting his hair as she rubbed her rough face all over his cheek. She kissed his forehead, but it didn’t look like affection that came easily.
“No!” William cried, burying his face in her shoulder. “No, Mum, I want us to be together. I don’t want to go back into foster care, please!”
“I’ve already—” Janine sucked in a breath, gripping the table. “I’ve already signed the paperwork, Will. M-Mr and Mrs A-Ateba will look after you. It won’t be forever.”
Johnny gave his mother a withering look, because she and Papa didnothave the time or space for any more kids. Temporary or otherwise.
Johnny clenched his jaw as he reached for Maman’s hands. “Mum, what are you doing? When did you speak to Kat about this?” He spoke in hurried French, trying not to let frustration seep into his tone but failing miserably.
Maman rubbed the back of his hand. “Yesterday evening, after you called. It is my choice, John-Paul. It’s only temporary until something permanent comes up.”
Johnny shook his head, turning her so he had his back to the rest of the group. “Was Taylor temporary? Did they ever find a permanent place for him? Come on, Maman. Don’t be naïve.”
