The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson

Author:Laura Pearson [Pearson, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2023-08-03T23:00:00+00:00

I send it before I can change my mind. I’ll think about where we can have the party later. There isn’t really enough room here. Patricia’s would be ideal. I haven’t been but Julie says it’s enormous, and it’s right next door to Kirsty’s house so handy for getting her there. When my telephone beeps, it makes me jump.

Hello, thanks for the invite. Are you sure she wants us there?

My stomach churns a bit at that. I don’t know how long it is since they saw each other, whether they’re properly estranged or just not the kind of family who live in each other’s pockets. Julie puts her head in, then, brings me a cup of tea, sits down.

‘Have you got what you need?’ she asks, jerking her head in the direction of Kirsty’s telephone.

‘Yes, all sorted. Do you think Patricia would mind if we had the party at hers?’

She shrugs. ‘I suppose we can only ask.’

I look at her properly for the first time since she arrived. She’s got a bit of sparkle since Martin’s been back on the scene, but behind it, she’s still sad. I’d thought this new development would have erased that. Maybe it’s just that he’s not fully committed yet. He’s not back. I’ll wait until he is and see how she looks then.

When Kirsty returns, she asks if she can come in for a bit. She leaves the buggy on the doorstep and lifts Dotty out of it, and I take Olly off her hands. Julie goes off to make more tea.

‘What is it?’ I ask.

She looks so serious I think for a second she’s going to tell me something awful. I think about the message I sent to her mum, wonder if it’s had some knock-on effect. But no, it can’t have done. She hasn’t had her telephone with her.

‘I’ve loved walking Olly these past few weeks,’ she says.

Ah, so she’s going to say she can’t do it any longer. It’s not the end of the world. I want to stop her from looking like she’s about to cry.

‘It’s fine,’ I say.

‘What is?’

‘If you can’t do it any more.’

‘Oh, it’s not that. I was going to say I’d love to take him, if you’re still looking for that. I’ve fallen in love with him. And I’ve talked to Ben. But I can only imagine how hard it must be to give him up.’

She has Dotty on her lap, facing her, and while she speaks, she is playing. Holding a finger up for Dotty to grab, then pulling it away. Doing little claps for Dotty to copy. Does she know she’s doing this, or is it completely automatic? Even in the middle of a conversation, she is mothering. It’s astonishing to me.

‘He’ll be better off with you,’ I say, surprised to hear my voice wobbling. ‘He’ll love being part of a family. Just… could you give me a couple of days, to get used to it?’

She makes a face at Dotty, crossing her eyes and sticking her tongue out, and the baby laughs, and then Kirsty pulls her in for a tight cuddle.

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