The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner

Author:Katherine Faulkner [Faulkner, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

TASH

The woman at the Corinthia spa reception has the glassy expression of a doll. I lean over her marble slab of desk, her lit scented candle, trying to read her screen. I make an effort to keep the white heat of panic from my voice.

‘I don’t … I don’t think it’s quite that much,’ I stutter. ‘I paid a deposit. And it is just a massage, a manicure and pedicure …’

‘That’s right,’ the woman says. ‘Three treatments, a day pass for use of the facilities, and lunch also. Plus your friend advised us that the three of you would be splitting the cost of Ms DeSouza’s food and treatments – as a birthday gift?’ She pauses. ‘Would you like to see the breakdown?’

I grip my card. The embossed numbers are sharp against the pads of my fingers.

‘Can I just cancel my treatments?’ I ask quietly.

‘I’m afraid the cancellation cost is the cost of the treatment now. You’d need to give us twenty-four hours.’

I feel a plummeting sense of panic.

‘You can pay when you leave, if you prefer.’

‘No, now is fine – I just, um …’

‘Did you want to pay by card?’

I can feel there is someone else behind me, waiting. There is nothing I can do. I start to hold out the credit card, a slight tremble in my fingers. Then an arm appears over my shoulder, a flash of black plastic between outstretched fingers.

‘I’ll get this, Tash. It’s on me.’

Jez looks like he has just come out of a shower. His hair is wet and he smells of shower gel. A sports bag is slung across his body. I feel myself adjust to his presence, like you might to a change in altitude. I hold up my palm.

‘Honestly, no. Jez, that’s very kind, but it’s far too much.’

Jez waves me away. ‘My treat,’ he says. ‘For Nicole. I forgot about her birthday. I’d like to get it.’

I feel my face colouring. ‘I can’t let you pay for this, Jez,’ I say, firmly. ‘It’s not appropriate.’

‘Please don’t worry. Claire and I are members. We get better rates.’ He pauses. ‘You can pay us back, if you really want.’ He tilts his head to one side. ‘You might as well take the discount, no?’

Jez shoots an authoritative nod at the woman in the blouse, who has been holding his credit card in the air. She smiles shyly at Jez and places his card in the machine. As I hear the payment go through, the tick of the receipt printing out, my panic is replaced by unease. The woman behind the desk hands me the receipt, and I shove it into the pocket of my dress.

‘I’m sure Claire really appreciates you coming.’

‘But, I …’

Jez drops the bravado, places a hand lightly on my arm and lowers his voice for a moment. ‘Tash, please don’t worry.’

His eyes meet mine, and we look at each other for a moment. I open my mouth to say something, but before I can think of anything, Claire and Laura appear.

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