Katherine stepped into the flat and spotted unfamiliar boots and a jacket on the rack. So Emily had her friend over again.
«Guests?» she called toward her daughter’s room, heading to the kitchen with groceries.
Before she could put things away, Emily appeared in the doorway.
«Mum, Chloe’s here. Can she stay over tonight? We’ve got finals tomorrow. You can’t properly revise in halls, and Chloe needs that scholarship.»
«Hello, Katherine,» said Chloe, popping up behind Emily.
«Of course, stay. I’ll make dinner.»
«Thanks, Mum!» Emily chirped, kissing Katherine’s cheek before both girls vanished into Emily’s room.
Katherine remembered Emily mentioning Chloe’s background – tiny hometown, alcoholic father, barely any money sent from her mum. She sighed. Couldn’t stand girls like that. All shy smiles on the surface, but underneath? Tenacious as a bulldog, clawing their way into London life by any means.
Katherine hadn’t planned on cooking dinner. Leftover pasta and meatballs wouldn’t stretch for four. So, more pasta boiling, more meatballs frying. Thank goodness she’d bought biscuits for tea earlier – her own waistline hadn’t thanked her lately.
As Katherine shaped meatballs, Chloe appeared. «Can I help?»
«No, love, get back to studying,» replied Katherine.
«Need a break – my brain’s foggy.» Chloe lingered like a stubborn pet.
«Well, then, make a salad. Veg in the fridge.»
«What sort?»
«Whatever you fancy!» Katherine smiled.
Chloe sprang into action – washing vegetables and lettuce, fetching a chopping board. Katherine directed her to the salad bowl. Soon Emily joined them, reluctantly chopping a cucumber before claiming unfinished revision and escaping. Chloe chopped like a seasoned chef.
«Shall I squeeze lemon in?»
«Lovely!» Katherine nodded. Sweet girl, modest, capable. Maybe Emily would learn something from her.
When David arrived from work, dinner was ready, fresh tea brewed, biscuits and sweets waiting.
«Guests?» he asked, peeking into the kitchen.
«Emily’s friend, revising for finals. Staying overnight. Wash up and fetch the girls,» Katherine instructed.
Over dinner, normally quiet David became unusually chatty, quizzing the girls on studies and tutors, telling awkward jokes that still made them giggle. Katherine was delighted. After the meal, Chloe volunteered to wash up. Astonishingly, David didn’t vanish toward the telly but lingered on chatting too. Katherine fetched spare bedding and a nightdress for Chloe.
Later, plates washed, girls disappeared. David slumped before the TV, gloom returned. Katherine felt puzzled, not jealous. Since when did he entertain Emily’s friends?
Chloe stayed away for days, then asked to sleep over again. Halls were throwing a noisy dance party, apparently.
«Stay whenever,» Katherine warmly agreed.
«It’s ever so calm and nice here,» Chloe murmured shyly. Modest, unspoiled, eager to please – perfect influence for flighty Emily.
Things between Katherine and David had been tense lately. Long past passion, living separate lives. They understood each other silently, mostly in quiet. Yet David lit up around Chloe – unexpected but oddly pleasant.
Chloe became a fixture, practically living there during exams. They saw in New Year together too. Chloe never rushed home. Katherine guessed celebrating with a drunken dad wasn’t cheerful, but surely she missed her mum? Best not ask.
The girl helped clean at times, unlike lazy Emily. Oh well, marriage would teach her.
Soon Chloe felt like family. Katherine cooked for four without thinking. If she bought Emily something, Chloe got one too. Chloe accepted gifts gratefully, pitching in while Katherine shared recipes she eagerly adopted. Emily only surfaced for meals. When Chloe went home for summer, Katherine even missed her.
Two years flew. Early third year, Chloe vanished.
«You two fall out?» Katherine asked Emily. «Fight over some lad?»
«No, Mum. Chloe rented a flat.»
«Really? How? You said her family struggles. Why? We’d gotten used to her!»
«She got a boyfriend. Might move in,» Emily said vaguely.
«What boyfriend? Aren’t you friends? Has she said nothing?»
«Mum, I’ve got essays,» Emily muttered darkly. Clearly dodging discussion. Meanwhile, David grew gloomier, worked late. Katherine sensed trouble. Finally, she probed:
«Bad week?»
«Why d’you think that?»
«You’re silent. Distracted. Late. Talk.»
«Fine. Stop nagging.»
«What’s wrong, David?»
«Enough!» he snapped. «I’ll tell you. There’s someone else. Love her. Happy? All you think about is food. Soon won’t fit through doors. Can’t stand looking at you.»
Katherine froze. «Who? Younger? Why’d she want you? Nearly fifty! Plaything. Drain your savings. Then dump you!»
«Pointless talk. Packing.» He grabbed a suitcase. Unthinkable – twenty years blown apart. Yet David stuffed clothes inside. All her tidying, cooking – meaningless. Why? Young flesh? Stupid flab? Disliked her mirror image too, but diets never stuck. And him? Ridiculous! Middle-aged delusion. Some foreign girl would toy with him…
Katherine stood helpless. What did wives do? Beg? Scream? Smash plates? Never imagined it. Only believed he’d really gone when the front door slammed. A stray sock lay abandoned. She picked it up. No tears. Just stunned numbness. Then Emily stood watching.
«Mum… he’s gone?»
«Yes.» Katherine sank onto the sofa, clutching the sock. Emily hadn’t asked *where*. Katherine looked up sharply.
«You know. Tell me!»
«Know what?» Emily half-turned.
«Liar! Explain!» Katherine’s voice cracked.
Emily whirled back. «Honestly? Didn’t you notice?»
«Notice *what*?»
«He’s gone with Chloe!» Emily yelled.
«Chloe? *Our* Chloe?»
«She’s not *ours*! Kept saying she envied my family. Saw him once… left lectures early… came home…» Katherine’s voice went flat. Now she remembered David chatting Chloe up, his eyes lingering. She’d thought paternal pride – no. Seeing a young woman. Clever Chloe! *Ooh, so lovely and peaceful here… Let me help…* Katherine’s head swam. She’d praised Chloe’s homemaking, shared David’s favourite foods… Welcomed a snake into her nest.
No mystery about Chloe: starved for affection, desperate to anchor in London. David – convenient daddy-lover figure with cash. *He* rented her place! Planned it quietly. Katherine – utterly blind.
“Blame yourself!” Emily spat. “Look at you! Stopped dressing nicely, gained weight… Then Chloe sashays in…”
“Twice his age!” Katherine rasped lifelessly. “Why didn’t you say?”
Chloe’s sweet voice rang mockingly in her ears. Katherine noticed she still clenched the sock and flung it aside. Disgusting. She’d welcomed that girl! Fed her! Treated her like a daughter! How could she miss the scheming? Mortifying.
Emily was right. Katherine knew Chloe’s type couldn’t be trusted. Yet
Christine sighed, deciding that in future, she’d welcome Goldie the cat’s friends over before her daughter’s, at least until she’d installed a foolproof snake detector in the hallway.