Abigail: Chapter 11

After dropping Mr James home, politely declining his offer of more tea, I decided it was time to head back to Gloddfa Bont via Abigail’s house. I needed to keep her updated on my progress, that was my excuse at least, but what I really wanted was to get a glimpse of life for the mum of two when no one was watching. By the time I’d navigated the now busy motorway and pulled up outside Abigail’s house, it was starting to get dark. I could see lights on in the house and the outline of little people in one of the rooms upstairs. I turned off the engine and just waited. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for but I still couldn’t shake the feeling I had about her. I was about to get out of the van and knock on the door when my mobile rang. I glanced at the screen before answering and smiled.

“Hi Grace. You okay love?”

I listened as my daughter complained about the lack of food in the house. I really needed to go shopping but the last few days had been so busy, I simply hadn’t got round to it yet.

“Could you make yourself a toasted sandwich?” I listened to more gripping. “Just to tide you over until I get home. Won’t be long now.”

I was about to suggest she make one for Louise at the same time but before I could speak again she’d hung up. I sighed. No doubt there’d be yet another argument and I wasn’t sure I had the energy for it. With one last glance at the house I decided updating Abigail could wait until after the weekend. It was late o’clock on Friday and I needed a quiet relax with my girls. I put the van into gear and headed home. The reality of a weekend together never quite seemed to match the picture in my head but it was nearly Christmas. I had to believe there was something vaguely festive we could do together that wouldn’t result in world war three.

It was as I was mentally sorting through the list of options that my phone rang again. I pressed the button to answer it using the handsfree kit. “Look Grace, I’m on my way. If you could just ….”

“Charlie?”

Jonathan? I felt my stomach flip at the sound of his voice. “What do you want?”

“Lovely to hear from you too love.”

“I’m not your love. I haven’t been your love for twenty-two months.” And thirteen days. Not that I said that out loud of course. “So don’t ‘love’ me. What do you want?”

I could hear Jonathan laughing at me. I hated it when he did that. He knew he was winding me up and he was enjoying every single second of it. I just didn’t know how to stop myself reacting to him.

“Well, what do you want?” I counted to three in my head and was about to hang up when he spoke.

“I wondered if you and the girls had plans this weekend?”

“Plans? Of course we’ve got plans. We always have plans. Plan central, that’s us.” I paused. “Why?”

“I’ve got tickets for a show in Cardiff, bloke in work bought them and now he can’t go so he gave them to me.”

“What show?”

“Mary Poppins. It’s meant to be spectacular.”

“Are you doing jazz hands?” I could tell he was doing jazz hands. I felt myself weakening. I loved Mary Poppins, he knew that of course.

“Maybe. So, what do you think?”

“I’d have to ask the girls.”

“Of course.”

“Because we have plans we’d need to change.”

“Understood.”

“Okay, well I’m almost home. Let me talk to the girls and we’ll give you a ring back.”

“Deal.”

By the time I arrived back in the village I’d planned our full itinerary. There was a lovely French place in the Bay where we could have food, maybe even sit outside if they had patio heaters. I’d have the beef. He’d have the fish. Just two old friends and their children having dinner together. It didn’t have to be awkward.

I opened the front door and listened for the sound of warfare. Hearing none I took that as a very good sign and headed towards the kitchen.

“Grace? Louise? I’m home.” I sang out in a cheery voice, all the exhaustion of the day swept away by the prospect of a fun day out in Cardiff.

By some minor miracle, not only were the girls not quarrelling, they were actually sitting together at the kitchen table eating toasted sandwiches. Even more miraculously, the kitchen countertops were clear of mess and almost sparkling.

“Who are you and what have you done with my children?”

They laughed obligingly and I listened as they filled me in on their respective days before telling them about their father’s invitation.

“Mary Poppins? Brilliant!” I knew Louise would be pleased but even Grace smiled and said it sounded like a laugh.

I was about to tell them about my ideas for dinner when the phone rang again. A glance at the screen told me it was Jonathan so I put him on speaker.

“Jonathan? Good timing. I’ve just told the girls. They’d love to come!”

The girls made a great display of gushing and saying all the right things and I could hear Jonathan laughing.

“Great! Well I’ve got to go now girls but I’ll see you tomorrow. Say around eleven?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll set an alarm.”

I smiled to myself. They both sounded so happy. I was glad the two of us could be grown up like this.

“Okay. Me and Tricia will be in the estate and it’ll be a late one so feel free to bring a pillow in case you want to snooze on the way home.”

Wait. Hang on. Who will be in the what now? My stomach lurched for the second time in less than an hour and I cursed myself for being so stupid.