‘Please don’t sing.’
I laugh and finish the rest of my food.
Chapter 55
‘Soapy? What a surprise! You should have told me you were coming!’
Mum is dressed to the nines as usual. White wool sweater, knee-length pink skirt, Vivien Westwood pumps. There’s not a hair out of place.
‘I did tell you I was coming,’ I reply as she air kisses me. ‘I called you three times, I sent two messages, and a voicemail.’
‘Oh, I haven’t checked my phone. Are you coming in?’
No, Mum, I just thought I’d stand here until it gets dark and then peer through the windows.
I follow her into the living room and stop in my tracks. As different as Naomi’s childhood home now looks, mine is beyond recognition. It’s hard to believe that this is the same home I grew up in.
‘Did you knock down the dining room wall?’ I exclaim, looking at the huge gap where the dining room wall used to be. I throw my bag beside the couch. Which is also new.
‘Really opens the space up,’ she replies, like she’s a participant onGrand Designs. ‘Much better, don’t you agree? I’ve also added a breakfast bar to the kitchen.’
‘It’s lovely! I just had no idea you were remodelling.’
‘Oh, just here and there. I actually. . .’ She pauses. ‘Oh dear.’
‘What?’
‘Soapy, you weren’t planning on staying over, were you?’ she asks. ‘Only, your bedroom is now a wet room. I’ve kept the freestanding tub in the downstairs bathroom but it’s nice to have the use of both.’
I laugh in disbelief. ‘You have a freestanding tub? Well, that’s handy, I’ll just sleep in there. Problem solved.’
She looks horrified. ‘Heavens, no, I couldn’t—’
‘Mum, I’m kidding. I’m just passing through. I’ll get an Uber to the station later. Don’t panic.’
I sit on the couch while she plonks herself down on the love seat by the window.
‘Shall I make some tea?’ Mum asks, jumping up again. ‘Though I think I only have Earl Grey. If you’d told me that you were coming– ’
‘Two texts, three calls and a voicemail.’
‘– I would have bought in some Tetley or something.’
‘I’m all right for the moment,’ I tell her. ‘I had one on the train. So, good holiday?’ I enquire, staring at theVenus de Milostatue on the bookcase. Has that always been there?
‘Paul bought it for me in Greece,’ she informs me, following my gaze. ‘Very generous. He’s taking me to the golf club for dinner tonight. Meeting a few of his friends.’
‘That’s nice, Mum,’ I say. ‘You look happy.’
‘I am,’ she replies. ‘What did you think of him? Wonderful, isn’t he?’
I smile. ‘He seems really nice.’
‘He’s madly in love with me already, you know.’
I laugh. ‘Well, who can blame him. . . And you? Are you head over heels?’
She beams. ‘I’m playing my cards close to my chest. Don’t want him to think he’s won me over quite yet. . . but he just might have. Anyway, talking of handsome. . .’
