One of Those Mothers by Megan Nicol Reed

Author:Megan Nicol Reed [Megan Nicol Reed]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2023-01-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Twenty-four

January

Day Four

Bridget opened her eyes in their room among the trees to find Greg’s face inches from hers, snoring softly, his breath warm on her skin.

She appraised her husband: uncomplicated, solid, there. When he stirred, she kissed him. He tasted like toothpaste. Drawing her lips away from his, she was reminded of Velcro. Greg never shaved on holiday; it only took him a day or two to sport a full face of stubble.

‘How come your breath smells so good? Have you been downstairs already?’

‘I heard the kids so I went to check they weren’t getting up to any trouble. I must have nodded off again. Do you know how beautiful you are when you sleep? Even when you dribble.’

She shoved him in the chest, pleased.

‘And were they?’

‘What?’

‘Getting up to trouble?’

‘Nah, well I guess it depends how you define trouble. They’re playing that stupid Operation game. I don’t think it’ll work for much longer. They’ve squished banana around the little plastic bits you’re meant to surgically remove. To make it harder.’

‘Seriously? That’s disgusting.’

‘I thought it was kind of ingenious.’

‘You would. God, what are they like? This will be the second one they’ve trashed. Remember last year on the West Coast when his nose stopped buzzing? Hey, was there any sign of the others?’

‘Nope.’

‘That was hideous yesterday. I couldn’t believe Lucy trying to turn the situation back on us.’

‘People are always defensive when they’re embarrassed.’

‘That’s no excuse, though. It wasn’t her in the wrong anyway. It was Zachariah.’

‘Aren’t you the one who’s always saying our children are an extension of ourselves?’

‘True, but if Zachariah’s an extension of Lucy, then she’s not who I thought she was.’

‘I know you’ve got him pegged as some sort of psycho in the making, Bridge, but he’s just a bully. Someone needs to cut him down to size, that’s all. Put him in his place.’

‘Well, I wish someone would hurry up and do it. I keep thinking about how apoplectic Lucy was when his kindergarten teacher suggested she take him to a child psychiatrist. Remember? He was soiling himself and hiding his dirty undies in the other kids’ cubbyholes. Lucy said she refused to have him “labelled”. At the time I kind of admired her having her boy’s back like that.’

Bridget picked at a downy feather poking through the duvet.

‘Most kids can be little shites when they’re younger, go through a bit of a weird phase. But Zachariah’s quirks have only become more pronounced. You can’t put it down to immaturity any more. The way he behaves, it’s not normal. You know, I’m almost of a mind to tell Lucy what’s what. Pull the wool from her eyes.’

‘You big brave thing, you!’

Bridget kissed her husband again and felt his cock stiffening against her belly. She pushed him gently aside.

‘Not now, honey. I need to see Lucy.’

‘Wow, you really are going to strike while the iron’s hot.’

‘What? Oh … no, it’s not the right time. I’m going to try and smooth things over. I don’t want to ruin the holiday.

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