Page 30 of Be More Octopus

'It was a struggle. She expected us to wait on her hand and foot. She wasn't grateful for any help at all. Not that I was expecting much gratitude. But it's difficult caring for someone who doesn't appreciate what you're doing and who has no concern for your well-being, particularly when they're your mother.'

'Not all mothers are loving and caring.'

What a relief that he understood that. Not everyone did. 'I thought it was something I was doing wrong. That I wasn't loveable.' Don't cry. She took a deep breath and looked away.

'Did she appear to be the perfect mother to everyone else?'

Jack really did get it.

'Oh yes, she put on a great act when we were with other people. Not my dad. But anyone else - family and friends. Not that she had many friends - not that stuck around anyway.'

Jack looked thoughtful. 'How was she with your dad?'

Something about his demeanour made her want to open up. 'Dismissive. Bullying. Controlling. Same as she was with me.'

'But he stayed with her?'

'Yes. He thought she would get better, back to the person he fell in love with. But she didn't. So many years wasted.'

Jack looked like he was debating what to say next. Eventually, he broke the silence, 'Your mother sounds a lot like Isabella. She changed from being a loving girlfriend to someone else entirely on our honeymoon.'

'What happened?'

He started drumming the table nervously with his fingers. 'She flirted with one of the waiters at our hotel - more than flirted. I went for a swim one afternoon while she took a nap. I realised I'd forgotten my towel, and when I went back to our room to get it, they were kissing passionately. If I'd arrived a few minutes later, who knows what they'd have been doing.'

'On your honeymoon? Seriously?' Poor Jack.

'Yes. I haven't shared that with anyone else before.'

'Because she told you it was all your fault?'

It was Jack's turn to look relieved that he was being understood. 'Yes. I'd been coming on to the woman on the Reception desk, apparently. But I hadn't.'

'I believe you.'

'Thank you.'

Em was going to ask more, but the waitress arrived with their food.

'Enough about me. How did you end up in the call centre?' Jack asked when they were alone again.

'I wasn't prepared to give up my independence entirely. I hadn't been able to save any money in London, and I needed to have some escape from the house. So I looked for a part-time job. I wanted to carry on being a graphic designer - that's what I'd been doing since I left art school, and I loved it - but there was nothing available. So the call centre was a stopgap. One that turned into a three-year-long stopgap.' Oh no. That crying sensation again. She turned to look out the window so Jack wouldn't see.

'This was meant to be a trip out to cheer you up, and so far, a sheep has terrorised you, I've bored you with the sorry tale of my marriage, and I've made you revisit a traumatic time in your life. I'm sorry. I should stick to ships.'

Em laughed. 'Perhaps we should change the subject completely.'

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Ominous black clouds had rolled in from the sea while Jack and Em were finishing their lunch, and now huge raindrops were starting to hit the promenade where they were standing.

'I'm sorry. I left my umbrella in the car,' said Jack. The car park was five minutes walk away.

Em looked at the building across the road. 'We could have a look at the aquarium?'

'Good idea. I haven't been in there since I was a child.'

They ran inside as the downpour started. There wasn't a queue.