The Not So Perfect Life of Mo Lawrence by Catherine Robertson

Author:Catherine Robertson [Catherine Robertson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781869799373
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2012-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

22

I don’t know how many times I can tell her, thought Michelle, and in how many different ways. She simply refuses to comprehend.

‘Virginia.’ She spoke firmly enough to break her mother-in-law’s flow. ‘Chad will not be returning anyone’s personal calls for another two weeks. Not yours. Not Lowell’s. Not even mine.’

‘But I left a message at his office.’

‘And there it will stay. Unanswered. For another two weeks.’

‘Surely,’ Virginia persisted, ‘if he is at work, then he must be contactable.’

‘Not by us.’

‘But I must speak to him.’

Even on the far side of the country, Michelle could feel her mother-in-law’s distress.

Join the club, she thought, then regretted it as unnecessarily heartless. Just because she was pissed off with Chad for being a gigantic dickhead, that was no reason to take it out on his mother. OK, so she did play some part in raising him — but then, Michelle was hardly that confident about how her own kids would turn out.

‘Is it something I can help with?’ Michelle asked.

‘Oh!’

Virginia sounded taken aback by the offer. Fair enough, thought Michelle. It was not like she’d been the greatest daughter-in-law thus far.

‘Oh, no.’ Virginia rallied herself. ‘Thank you, but — no.’

‘Is everything all right with Lowell?’ asked Michelle.

There was silence on the line. At least, that’s what Michelle thought at first. But then she detected a small sound, a dampish, muffled choking noise.

‘Virginia! Are you crying?’ Michelle gripped the receiver more tightly. ‘Jesus! What’s wrong?’

In her head, she swore furiously. Chad, you shit-wad! It isn’t just me you’ve abandoned. If you wanted to find out what it feels like to abdicate all responsibility, why didn’t you do it when you were freaking sixteen, like everyone else?

‘Virginia?’ she said. ‘Is Lowell ill again?’

‘No.’ The answer was barely audible.

‘No?’ Michelle was perplexed. ‘Well, what then?’ A thought struck her. ‘Christ! Virginia! He hasn’t left you, has he?’

‘Certainly not!’ The effrontery of the suggestion galvanised Virginia out of tears. ‘Lowell has never so much as looked at another woman.’

Right, thought Michelle. Sure. Whatever. But if it wasn’t adultery, and it wasn’t illness, than what the hell could be wrong?

‘I’m not sure if I feel comfortable discussing this.’ There was an uncertain quaver in her mother-in-law’s voice.

‘I’m married to your son and heir,’ Michelle pointed out. ‘I’m not the second scullery maid.’

‘Oh, dear …’ Virginia took a deep, shaky breath.’ I simply have no idea where to begin.’

Michelle glanced over at the living room. Harry was in front of the television, engrossed in Wonder Pets. Rosie was in her playpen, happily bashing together her Tickle Me Elmo and a hand-me-down Barney that had seen better days even before Rosie had got her hands on him.

‘Forget the prologue. Jump right to the action,’ Michelle advised her mother-in-law. ‘Trust me. It’s the only way.’

Half an hour later, she was just hanging up the phone when she heard the rattle of a key in the front door. Rapid footsteps heralded the arrival of a flustered Benedict.

‘I’m so sorry I’m late!’ he said.

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