“Because...you...your...” She stopped, rethinking what she knew. This woman had stood up to her. Quit her job. Called her out.
“I’m what?”
Sloan held her gaze. “Hired?”
Chapter ten
Sloan was nervous on Monday morning—an unfamiliar feeling, and one she didn’t enjoy. She'd got up early and showered before she went downstairs to begin organising her mother's breakfast.
The toast popped just as she heard the mechanical whir of the stairlift.
"Mother? What have I told you about waiting for me to help you?"
"Oh, shush. I'm here, aren't I?" Gloria said from the seat as it glided towards the bottom of the stairs.
"You could have fallen," Sloan said sternly.
"And broke my neck? I’d have thought you’d be encouraging that."
Sloan sighed, rolling her eyes. "Why can't you just do as you're told?"
The chair came to a halt and Gloria unclipped the belt after slapping away Sloan's hands when she’d tried to help. "In case you've forgotten, you are the child, Joan, not me." She put her stick to the floor and eased herself up. One foot moved forward, the other dragging along the floor to meet it.
"How could I ever forget?" Sloan threw her hands up and was about to turn away to the kitchen when the bell rang.
"Who's that?" Gloria demanded.
Sloan smiled at her. "Your new carer."
Gloria's eyes narrowed. "Well, you can get rid. I'll be fine by myself."
Sloan ignored her, adjusting a crooked cufflink on one sleeve as she went to the door. The sound of her mother shuffling off made her turn back and look at her. Despite everything, she really didn't want Gloria to injure herself.
Facing the door again, she opened it.
"Morning," Matty said with a smile that almost took Sloan's breath away. "I thought you’d probably need this." She handed over a coffee cup. "Where is she?"
"In the..." She took the cup and stared at it a moment, before her eyes rose back up to Matty. The colourful dungarees and T-shirt were still there. The skates weren’t on her feet—thank God—but slung over her shoulder. She felt relief at that, unsure what her mother’s reaction would be to them. "She's in the lounge. Already defiant."
"Intriguing," Matty said as she stepped across the threshold and placed her skates and bags by the hat stand. "I'll go and introduce myself. I assume you've got an office to get to?"
"I... Yes," Sloan answered. She reached towards the hat stand for her jacket, still neatly hung on its hanger. She hesitated before pulling it on. "Do you need me to stay?"
"Nope, I'm good," Matty said, wandering further in. "We'll see you at five?"
"Okay," Sloan answered. "She hasn’t had breakfast yet. The toast is ready. Peach jam—jar on the side. She can’t manage it herself, so you’ll need to."
"All right." Matty smiled at her again. "Go on, we'll be fine."
"It's not her I'm worried about. You'll call if..."
Matty laughed. "Yes, ma'am." She saluted.
"Right, then, I'll..." She picked up her bag and keys. "Okay, then."
"Bye, Sloan."
When the door closed, Matty took a breath and thought of her own mother—not a tyrant, but difficult. Then there was her grandmother, another strong-minded woman in her life. "I dealt with both of you," she told herself. "I can deal with Gloria Slater. I can’t afford not to." She stepped into the lounge, ready to confront whatever battle came her way.
