AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Sally gathered the empty dishes from their meal, placed them on the side and said, ‘Pity Millie couldn’t stay for supper.’
‘Yes, I’ll tell her later what she missed.’ George grinned and pushed away from the table. ‘That was delicious, mum.’ He leant back in his chair, contently patting his stomach with both hands.
‘You going to the pub?’ Owen asked George, passing the last plate to Sally.
George said, ‘In a while. You want to come?’
‘No, I’ve got reading to do, but I can still help your mum with the dishes.’ Owen stood up.
‘No need, lovie. I’ll be fine. I’m going to use the dishwasher tonight. Chas isn’t here to complain about using electricity.’
‘Bit of a Luddite, was he?’ Owen asked.
George laughed. ‘More like a Neanderthal. Apart from the television and his car, dad was deeply suspicious of all modern technology.’
‘That’s what comes of being a caveman,’ Sally said, grinning at them both.
‘Well, if I can’t be of any use down here, I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got a book to finish,’ Owen said, and left the kitchen to George and his mum.
Sally watched the door close behind him, and murmured, ‘More escapism.’
George stood up, suddenly wanting to give her a cuddle.
‘Thanks, mum,’ he said, breathing softly into her ear, arms around her middle, chin on her shoulder.
She turned her face to his and George thought she looked tired. ‘For what?’ she asked.
‘Being the best mum ever. I know how lucky I am now. I couldn’t believe Owen’s home. Last week, there was no time to see it properly. We just had to get him out of there, but today, I can’t get that place out of my head and what his mother did. I…’
‘Shush, he’ll hear you.’
George nodded and gently manoeuvred his mum to her seat. ‘Sit down, I’ll pour you a drink and you can take a rest while I stack the dishwasher.’ He moved to the cupboard where he knew his mum stashed the best of her whisky.
Head in the cupboard, he reached in for the Lagavulin and asked, ‘What was in the letter?’
‘I think it was a love letter.’
George stood up too rapidly and banged his head on the frame of the cupboard.
‘Careful, George, you’ll knock your brain cells out.’
‘Better take care then, I haven’t got that many to spare.’ He poured a generous measure of whisky. ‘There you are. You get that down you. It’s time I started looking after you.’
‘Oh, Georgie, sweet boy. I’m all right. You don’t need to worry about me.’
Ignoring her protests, George opened the dishwasher and began loading plates. ‘I’m always going to look after you, Mum. You know that, don’t you?’
‘I know,’ Sally sipped her Lagavulin and added, ‘And I’ll always look after you, too. No matter how grown up you get.’
Their eyes met, gentle love exchanged, and contented silence fell on the kitchen, broken only by George clattering cutlery and plates into the dishwasher.
Sally sipped her whisky, sighed as the cares of the day drifted away, and said, ‘It’s not just you affected by what was at Owen’s home, you know. I still can’t understand how a mother could neglect such a lovely boy.’
‘There, that’s loaded,’ George said, closing the dishwasher door. ‘Do you want me to set it running?’
‘Just switch it to rinse for the moment. There are maybe a few more things to load before bedtime.’
