Fabric by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-08-24T00:00:00+00:00

His mother arranged the solicitors; paid for them too. Anything for my son she said when I called to thank her for her generosity. I sent flowers the next day and promised she’d be the first guest after we’d moved in, which only took a couple of months because the flat sold really quickly to a cash buyer. An investor, Ben said.

Pause.

Sound effects: Voicemail message “You have one new message…” etc, then:

BEN’S MOTHER (voicemail) Leah, dear. It’s Rachel. I can’t get hold of Ben. I know you must be absolutely swamped with everything for the housewarming so I’ll bring my apple tarte tatin. I know you struggle with sweet things and it is Ben’s favourite. See you tomorrow.

The message ends.

LEAH Nan stayed home; she couldn’t get out as much any more and was getting over a nasty bout of flu but Mum was there, and Deenie and Mark came with the kids. It was the first time we’d all been together since the wedding, Rachel in a bouclé suit like she’s Jackie bloody Kennedy, smoothing the cushions after the kids dive-bombed the sofa, her face a tight smile. We gave them the tour and then sat down for lunch. Deenie drank too much, baby in the crook of her arm, Mark sat there mute, as usual, only coming alive when Ben turned on the huge flat screen TV. I brought in the coffee: Is that a little bump I see?

My mum.

Ignoring her I handed out the coffees but she asked again, this time adding something about my ankles, the amount I’d eaten at lunch. There’s this weird silence and I looked up to everyone watching me; Ben frowning slightly. Are you saying I’m getting fat? No, I’m saying you should be getting fat…and she adds – just in case I don’t get the massive subtlety – with babies.

Pause.

Those conversations that quickly go from “do you want kids” before you’re married, to “when are you having kids” after. The friends of friends telling you it was the best thing they’ve ever done, the nurse explaining why your smear test hurts on account of a tight cervix – “never given birth you see”, the younger sister who warns you about your age, your decaying eggs…

Pause.

So I laughed, said something about there being no hurry. Ben gave me a look. Later on, after everyone had gone, he said look at your sister, she’s two years younger but she’s got three kids. I carried on loading the dishwasher. I felt like I’d failed an exam or something.

Longer pause, to herself.

I never understood what all the rush was.

A long pause, then suddenly galvanised.

Kate’s a great organiser. She called me one day and was like for fuck's sake, are we dead yet? Can you all please just ditch your husbands and your kids and come and get absolutely rat-arsed like we used to before you all turned into such boring old

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