The Monster Who Wasn't by T. C. Shelley

Author:T. C. Shelley [Shelley, T. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781526600820
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2019-05-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Nicholas’s slippers shuffled into the kitchen. ‘You did the dishes. I knew I was gonna like you.’ Then he opened the creaky fridge and saw the bare shelves. ‘I don’t suppose you want breakfast though?’

‘You did the dishes?’ Michelle said behind him, the baby dangling in her arms.

Nick nodded in Sam’s direction. ‘But he was hungry. At least he left us some eggs.’ He pulled out a carton, flipped the top and grinned at a dozen bald domes. ‘Scrambled?’

Beatrice’s rose-coloured lights wriggled towards Sam. The boy tapped them back one at a time. Her small hands flexed open and closed, catching rebounded flickers.

Michelle fixed a kiss on Nick. ‘I’ll take you into town this morning and buy something you want. Samuel needs new clothes and if we hand him over without a good spit and polish they won’t consider us … I mean, they won’t think we’ve taken care of you.’ Michelle patted Sam’s shoulder.

‘Yeah, the vision of him in Dad’s old Elvis shirt is a bit much,’ Nick said. ‘Mum, do you mind getting me that Bad’un T-shirt while you’re there? You know the one, right?’

‘The red one?’ She frowned as he sighed. ‘I take notice.’

‘Last winter’s anorak says not.’

Sam wondered why she laughed.

‘You want a new shirt to look nice for that girl?’

Nick flushed.

‘Not for Maggie?’ Sam groaned.

Michelle folded her arms. ‘Stop scowling. It’ll happen to you soon enough.’

‘I’m never going to be in thrall to a banshee.’

‘Ouch,’ said Nick. ‘Harsh!’

Michelle stroked Sam’s cheek. ‘You’ll understand one day.’

‘Where’s Dad?’ Nick asked.

‘Beatrice kept him up all night so I let him sleep in. We’ll get out of the house and give him some peace.’

Sam smiled. A morning with Beatrice would be a treat and moving might keep them all a bit safer, until Daniel returned.

‘I’ll look after her,’ Nicholas offered. ‘I’d rather not hang out with you and Sam looking for Spiderman T-shirts. I can watch TV and stick Bea in the rocker.’

‘Who’s Spiderman?’ Sam asked.

Michelle pressed her lips together. ‘She’ll need a feed and be put down for a sleep.’

‘Well, what if she goes to sleep while you’re out, won’t you want to come home anyway?’

Michelle patted Beatrice’s nappy. Blue sparks flew from her bloomers. ‘I suppose we won’t need to be gone more than an hour. We could shop in an hour, couldn’t we, Samuel? I could get this one a pair of jeans too.’

Sam gave her his best unknowing grin.

‘Go on,’ Nick said to Sam. ‘Work your magic on Mum. Whatever you’re doing makes her happy. Talk her into getting me a voucher. I don’t wanna end up with mum jeans.’ Nick chuckled. ‘And Mum, get him something decent cos that look’s not working for him. No collars. Let him look normal.’

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