‘You can’t have a cat. You’re going in a home soon.’
Birdy slammed her magazine shut so hard, poor Lucky jumped and tried to wriggle further into Ginny’s khaki dungarees. ‘Why don’t you come round here more often with your cheery statements?’ Her brow creased. ‘You can’t wait to lock me away, can you?’
The last thing Ginny wanted was another argument about the care home. ‘I’m not locking you away,’ she said gently, ignoring the kitten nuzzling her earlobe.
‘You’ve always hated me,’ snapped Birdy.
That’s rich!
‘It’s got nothing to do with me, Mum. You need help getting in and out of bed now.’
‘I’ve got Suzanne. She’s a good girl. I bet she wouldn’t toss her mother out with the rubbish.’
‘She can’t do everything for you anymore. You need full-time care.’
Birdy flicked the magazine to the carpet. ‘Then why can’t you move in and look after me? You’re only thirty-four. Got lots of strength left in you.’
‘I have a full-time job running the café.’
‘So, give it up.’
‘I can’t afford to do that.’
Birdy huffed. ‘Of course you can. I know you’re loaded.’
Ginny almost choked on her laugh. ‘I’m not loaded.’
‘Oh please. This is me you’re talking to. I know how much that loser left you.’
Ginny hated it when her mum called her dad names, but she bit her lip, not wanting to stoke the fire.
Birdy wasn’t done. ‘Didn’t leave me anything when he snuffed it, did he? Oh no. Just you. Didn’t even care about Lee.’
‘He didn’t know Lee. Lee had his own dad. Anyway, he didn’t know me either. He left when I was two.’
‘Don’t tell me about my own life. I was the one who lived it, not you. Left me alone with a nipper. Good thing Lee’s dad did come along. He was so lovely.’ She pulled a peach hanky from her cardigan pocket and sniffled. ‘Look, you’ve made me cry now. Pleased with yourself? You know how much I loved him.’
Oh, she knew. Heard it all her life. Lee’s dad this, and Lee’s dad that.
‘It’s your fault your brother’s dad left me.’ Birdy scrunched her handkerchief. ‘Didn’t want someone else’s kid, did he? Couldn’t put up with you. But did I lock you away somewhere so I could live a carefree life? No, I bloody well didn’t. You’ve always been selfish, just like your old man.’
Her mother’s words failed to sting anymore. She’d heard them so often, she knew each line off by heart.
‘Even when your dad died and left you everything he had, you still didn’t bother giving anything to me, and I’m the one who raised your sorry arse. See what I mean about you.’ She dramatically raised a hand to her brow. ‘Oh, Ginny, why couldn’t you just be different? You drain me, you know that. I gave up everything for you.’
‘I need to get to work,’ Ginny said softly, swallowing hard.
‘You haven’t even made my breakfast yet.’
‘Suzanne’s making it right now.’
‘Yeah, with horrible jam, no doubt. Oh, well, never mind your poor old mum, as long as your customers get a bit of decent grub.’
Ginny placed Lucky back on the carpet. ‘You’ll have to give her back to Mary.’
‘Mind your own business.’
‘How old is she anyway? She looks too young to be away from her mum.’
