More Than a Mum by Charlene Allcott

Author:Charlene Allcott [Allcott, Charlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473560321
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2020-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

23

IT WAS EASIER being dropped off at work. I decided if we did it again, that’s what I would do – and I already knew we would do it again. I appreciated having a buffer between Frank’s world and home life. When the two were next to each other, it was too easy to compare them and find Dylan and the girls lacking. I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want to think my husband wasn’t good enough. He was good enough for someone, but I was starting to think it wasn’t me. Bettina was so fired up about her afternoon with the teacher, she barely noticed my noncommittal anecdotes about my weekend.

‘He brought me a book,’ she purred, ‘which you know I appreciated more than flowers or chocolates. Most guys wouldn’t be brave enough to do that. They’d fear judgement over their choice – which they should.’

‘I got you a book.’ Marcus’s voice floated out from under Bettina’s desk, where he was connecting her new monitor. ‘In the Secret Santa last year. I know it’s meant to be a secret …’ It wasn’t a secret; Marcus had spent weeks negotiating, campaigning and finally paying for her name in the draw. Bettina looked to the ceiling, and then shrugged as if she had been asked to remember what she had for lunch last Wednesday.

‘It was a collection of Dostoevsky’s short stories. I mean, you couldn’t get any more perfect. I’m getting a herbal tea if anyone wants one.’

Marcus appeared from under the desk and threw himself into Bettina’s chair. ‘I’m never gonna get her,’ he said.

I don’t think it was a question but I answered. ‘Women are not for getting,’ I said.

He looked appropriately apologetic and I felt a flash of warmth for him.

‘What was the book?’ I asked.

‘Love letters,’ he said, ‘from famous men to the women they loved, I guess.’ I placed my hands on the desk, and leaned forward in an effort to create at least the illusion of privacy.

‘Marcus,’ I said. ‘Stop trying so hard.’ He stroked his goatee thoughtfully.

‘OK,’ he said. ‘How do I do that?’ I shook my head. ‘Oh, oh, I get it,’ he said.

‘Move,’ said Bettina forcefully. He jumped up quickly and then, catching himself, wandered slowly away from the desk.

‘Yeah, I was going anyway,’ he said in a languid tone. Bettina examined the chair before sitting. Marcus gave her one last wistful look before scurrying away.

‘I don’t think this monitor’s any better than the last one,’ she said. ‘Anyway, Tristan. He finally asked me to the wedding! That’s an official thing, right? He wouldn’t ask me if we weren’t official?’ I opened my email to see if Frank had sent anything, but there was only a string of updates from Annie.

‘Have you spoken about exclusivity? I wouldn’t assume anything unless you have.’

‘Really? I guess I didn’t think people did that. It seems a bit “back of the school bus”, actually asking someone to be your girlfriend.’

‘I agree it would be

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