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“So you're still here because of me?” I'm not sure why that makes me feel uncomfortable, or it could just be the water seeping out from the collar I've been swimming in.
“It's so nice to see a lovely young man around the house. I thought I'd be a more welcome sight than Freddie and his muscle men.”
“You are, thank you. I just feel bad that you needed to change your schedule for me.”
“That's not your fault, poppet. I'm excited to welcome you. Do you have a favourite meal you'd like?”
“Um. I usually have a freezer surprise so anything someone else cooks for me would be amazing.”
“Freezer surprise?”
“Yeah, when you open the freezer and make something out of what you find.”
“Oh poppet!” Gladys gasps, her hand covering her mouth.
“It's fine. I get by, it's all I've ever really known.”
“Here.” The kind woman passes a plate of home baked muffins under my nose. They're like the breakfast blueberry muffins but chocolate coloured and covered in chocolate chips.
“Oh my goodness. These are just divine.” The moist sponge melts in my mouth with an explosion of flavour.
“You're a skinny lad, the kind who watches what they eat, so you can tell yourself this is made with beetroot and therefore one of your five a day.”
I don't watch what I eat, my wages just don't go far between three adults. Then I exercise for a living. I'd be fat no time living here, and no one could complain about leaving the anorexic side of the weight scale.
Gladys prepares the food while I devour the muffin, presenting me with a lunch fit for the gods. A ham salad sandwich, cucumber, and carrots around a pot of hummus, a pile of chips next to a pot of dip, and another muffin.
“There, get some meat on those bones.”
This is so unfair. How can I go back to Mum and that dump after this?
I bite the ham sandwich and groan again. It's a simple ham sandwich with cucumber, lettuce, and tomatoes, but so much better than the ones I make. I guess the expensive ham really does make the difference.
“I'm thinking about a chicken, bacon, and leek pie for tonight. Mashed potatoes and a side of veg. How does that sound?” Gladys takes off her apron and puts it in the washing machine. “I make it all from scratch.”
“Sounds amazing. Thank you. This is wonderful.”
“It's a pleasure. Now I've got to get home to Mum and get her lunch.”
“You still live with your mum?”
“She had a fall and broke her hip. She still wants to move out when she's better, but I doubt it.”
“With your food, I can't see why she'd want to.” But now I feel guilty about my mum. She wasn't really all that bad. “I dumped my mum in a home.”
“I'm incredibly lucky Knox is such a great boss. He really does look after his people well.” Gladys walks over and rests a hand on my shoulder. “Only you know if you did the right thing. And it has to be right for both of you. If you're not coping then keeping her home was hurting you both. Now, how does a young thing like you have a elderly mum?”
“She's not old. About your age. But she was addicted to drugs and didn't really do much.”
“I thank you for saying I'm not old.” Gladys smiles at me like she really cares. It's a look I've often searched for in Mum and never found. “Is she in rehab?”
I nod, fearing the threat of tears. I want my mum to be like this woman. Or would it be more accurate to say I want this woman as my mum. They say money changes people, and it's changing me already. And I don't even have access to any.
“Well, if she's in rehab then there is no doubt you did the right thing.”
“Thanks.” Yep, definitely going to cry.
“Oh, come here poppet.” Suddenly I'm wrapped in the most mothering hug of my life. “You are a good boy and any mumma would be proud to have a son like you.”
