Tell You No Lies by Lynn Fraser

Author:Lynn Fraser [Fraser, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

28

JENNY

‘You want to watch what you’re doing with those things.’ Jenny pointed to the knitting needles Rose was holding when she opened the door. They were bundled up in what looked like the sleeve of a baby’s cardigan in palest pink. Rose had knitted numerous versions of that same garment for Jack in his early months and years, new versions in ever bigger sizes and brighter colours arriving as the seasons passed. He must’ve been about eight when she had to tell Rose to stop because he wouldn’t wear them anymore. She’d nodded. ‘Tommy was the same. Such a shame when they grow up so fast.’

Now the same patterns were out. Different shade of wool, that was all. Jenny had wondered if she’d have another, a girl. Not now. She was done.

Rose stabbed the needles into the ball of wool. ‘Nice surprise. You coming in?’

‘I wanted to see if you were okay after yesterday.’

‘I’m fine. Take more than some little vandals to upset me.’

Jenny remembered Rose’s hand shaking, white as she held those scissors so tight. ‘Did you call the police about it? Like we talked about.’

‘I called Tommy.’

‘Not the same thing.’

‘That’s what he said. What’s the point having a son in the police if you can’t call them, rather than hanging on for some constable or secretary to tell you to fill in some form on the interweb?’

Jenny had given up correcting Rose’s version of the internet. It drove Jack crazy. That and the way she pronounced pizza. He’d correct her, every time, and, every time, she’d respond with a flutter of her hands to bat him away. They were lovely together. Jenny secretly hoped that the new baby wouldn’t get that special relationship with Rose that Jack had. She didn’t like herself for the hope, but it was there.

‘Shall I put the kettle on?’ Rose added.

‘I didn’t want to disturb you.’

‘You’re never a disturbance. I’m just watching some rubbish on the telly. I shouldn’t. Waste of time. Watching other people spend stupid amounts of money on houses and moaning about the size of the third bedroom. Should know when they’re well off. Don’t know why they want to keep moving anyway. Me and Tom were quite happy in one place. Come on through, then.’

Jenny hadn’t intended to stay but dutifully followed Rose inside.

They were drinking tea and watching some impossibly orange women looking at villas in Spain when the doorbell went.

Rose looked out the window. ‘It’s Tommy. And he’s got the baby with him.’ She sounded so thrilled.

Jenny considered an escape over the broken fence out the back. She didn’t want to see Tommy again. She certainly didn’t want to see him with his new daughter in tow.

Tommy walked in holding the baby against one shoulder and holding his jacket and a flowered changing bag in his free hand. He was red in the face and sweating. Still he managed to sound officious when he said, ‘Mum, I told you to always put the security chain on when you don’t know who’s at the door.

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