They both turned to find Gloria bearing down on them on a mobility scooter, one hand planted on the horn, grinning from ear to ear.
“Where did she get that?” Matty asked.
“If she’s stolen it, I’ll take her to the police station myself.”
“She won’t have stolen it,” Matty said, laughing. “She’s got her own money, hasn’t she?”
“Yes, of course she does.” Sloan grimaced, then stepped forward, striding towards her mother. “Where the hell have you been, and who have you swindled for this?”
“Oh, Joan,” Gloria said, coming to a halt. “Give it a rest.”
Sloan flinched before she could stop herself, then smoothed the reaction away.
Gloria chuckled. “I’m test-driving it.”
“You’re what?”
“Test-driving,” Gloria repeated, like Sloan was an idiot. “I know you’re not a stupid girl, so I won’t patronise you by explaining what that means.” She glanced past Sloan to Matty. “He says it can do eight miles an hour. Can you keep up on them skates?”
“Mum,” Sloan said firmly, “explain to me how you went from, ‘I just want a quiet cup of coffee,’ to marauding around town on a borrowed scooter?”
“Well, I was enjoying a nice coffee, and then this gentleman appeared and we got talking and he was telling me about his dad and how he used to be in a wheelchair until they got him a scooter.”
“Right,” Sloan said, forcing herself to follow along.
“And I said that Matty had suggested getting one to me, but we hadn’t looked at it yet.” Gloria winked at Matty. “Then he said there’s a shop just around the corner that does them. You can hire one or buy one.”
“Okay. And you somehow managed to get yourself there?” Sloan asked.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I can’t wheel that thing,” Gloria said. “Harry took me.”
“Harry?”
Matty leaned in. “The man she was talking to,” she hinted, then leant back when Sloan glared. “I mean…I imagine.”
“Exactly. See? Someone pays attention to me,” Gloria sneered. “So, I’ve got this for three hours to see if I like it, and I’ve been on it for three minutes and already decided I do.” She tapped the horn again, delighted with herself. “So come on. I want to get one ordered.”
Chapter thirty-six
Gloria spun the scooter and shot off, leaving Sloan grumbling as she followed. Matty caught her hand and pulled her to a stop.
“Stop. Just a second,” Matty said.
“I don’t have time. She’s off doing God knows what,” she argued, pointing in the direction Gloria was heading. “What if she falls again?”
Matty let her talk.
“She’s so bloody self-absorbed.”
“Do you think,” Matty said carefully, “maybe this is the bit that makes you feel out of control, and that’s why she gets to you so fast?”
Sloan opened her mouth, then closed it, not sure how to respond.
“You like knowing where you stand with things,” Matty said. “But with her, there’s no pattern to it. No way to get ahead of it. Maybe that’s also some of what gets under your skin.”
“Because she’s chaos,” Sloan said quickly. “Look at her.”
Matty looked, smiling as Gloria trundled along. “She’s having fun, Sloan. Can’t you see that?”
