Another firework lit up the canvas above them from the outside. Carenza flinched and pinched at the bridge of her nose. ‘These bloody people! They don’t know what’s good for them, and they—’ Another, louder bang. ‘They won’t do as they are told!’
‘You do know you terrorise everyone?’
Carenza drew her neck back, indignant, but then, after a moment’s thought, she cast her eyes to the ground. ‘I suppose I do know that, yes. But life is much easier when everyone does what you tell them.’
‘And it’s exhausting as well, I imagine?’
‘Well…’ Her posture slumped, only a little, but Peaches saw it. ‘I suppose it is.’
‘Mum, I think we’ve lost our way a little.’
This was enough to draw her eyes off the floor. Carenza had never heard Peaches speak like this, calm and assured, even though, inside, Peaches was trembling. ‘It’s getting too much,’ she said, quickly. ‘You always telling me what to do.’
‘That’s how I keep us both safe,’ Carenza rejoined, quick as a flash.
‘To control everything and everyone?’
‘Yes! And it works brilliantly.’
‘Until it didn’t.’ Peaches’ legs were shaking, but things couldn’t get much worse than they were now, so she had to go on. Something was going to give way tonight, and it wouldn’t be her resolve. ‘Mum, I need a life of my own?—’
‘Yes, yes, yes,’ Carenza said, cutting her off. ‘I know what you’re getting at. That electrician boy? But… these boys you like, they’re always such…’ Peaches watched her mother’s mouth moving, waiting for the word. Losers? ‘Risks,’ Carenza said. ‘One mistake, just one, and a girl’s life can be ruined, and you can find yourself stuck.’
Peaches’ palms spread open at this. ‘But I want to take risks. That’s part of life.’
Carenza shuddered and wrapped herself in her own arms. She turned away, walking the length of the tent, refusing to meet her daughter’s eye.
‘I wanted to get to know Euan Sparks, even if you think he’s risky. He’s nice. He only really wanted to help me out. He’s never asked me for anything. Knowing him doesn’t equate to trading in my future or my freedom.’
‘You can’t know that. There’s always a trade-off. He gets what he wants, you lose your power.’
‘What, like that prize balloon you tried to set me up with? Felton Cromarty?’
Carenza turned at last, her eyes steely. Peaches took the opportunity to fill her mother in about dodgy electricals, his less-than-ethical business model, the influencers, the shonky units he’d supplied her with that had meant a fire at the flat was inevitable, and not in any way Euan’s fault, actually.
Throughout all this, Carenza’s attitude changed from incredulity to defeat and failure. ‘So he’s a dud too?’ she said, as though it was, she supposed, inevitable.
‘He could have got you put in jail! What if your tenants sued? What if they’d been harmed? You could have failed your inspection!’
‘I did!’ Carenza yelped. ‘I’ll never get Fire Officer Dunoon on side now.’
‘You might be surprised. I’m guessing he’ll be paying a visit to Felton’s warehouse with the Trading Standards guys some time tomorrow.’
Carenza huffed out a hard breath. ‘He seemed so special.’
‘He seemed rich.’
Carenza shrugged in surrender. ‘That too. Peaches, I’m sorry. Maybe Felton Cromarty wasn’t quite the right fit, but I just cannot bear the thought of losing you to someone who doesn’t deserve you, and I don’t want you leaving me on my own!’ Carenza cast her eyes around the bleak interior of the tent. ‘When I imagine life in five years’ time, I can’t face…’ Her voice cracked and she couldn’t finish the sentence.
‘Is that why you’ve muscled your way onto every committee in town? So that you’re needed?’
‘Things seem easier when I’m busy.’
Peaches dropped into a canvas field deckchair. ‘What a mess we’re in.’
The mother joined her daughter, pulling up a chair at her side. For a while, both of them examined their hands dejectedly.
‘Peach,’ Carenza said eventually. ‘I… I may have made some mistakes.’
