‘Nothing. I’m just apologising – you deserved better, that’s all.’

Marjorie cried openly. Vera finished her cake.

In the car ride home they talked about Grace’s looming oophorectomy and Molly’s court case, which was scheduled for the next day. Vera wasn’t judgmental about Grace removing her ovaries, or mean about Molly’s war on the law. She wanted to be, Marjorie could see her internal struggle written all over her face, but she kept quiet and it was appreciated. They talked about the new house and how nice it would be to be beside the sea. As they parted Marjorie took the opportunity to apologise to her mother.

‘I’m sorry.’

Vera turned to her. ‘For what?’

‘For the state of your fanny.’

Vera chuckled. ‘That wasn’t you,’ she said, cupping Marjorie’s face, ‘that was them,’ and she raised her finger to the sky, her voice quivering a little.

‘I’m sorry anyway,’ Marjorie said, and she meant it. Her mother gave birth to her and it destroyed her – finally she empathised.

Vera smiled and said, ‘You’ll be a good mother,’ before getting out of the car.

Marjorie couldn’t speak so she just waved and drove off, but she cried so hard she had to pull in by the side of the road because she couldn’t see straight. A copper leaned in. ‘You all right, love?’

‘My mother just told me she loved me, well, not in those words but . . . yeah . . . she loves me,’ she said.

He was staring at her mighty bump. ‘Due any day, are ya?’

‘Two weeks.’

‘Brain fried?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Do you want an escort?’

‘Ah, no.’

‘Sure?’

‘I’ll just cry for a bit longer, if that’s OK.’

‘There’s a car park just in behind the bar on the corner, lash in there and you cry as much as you want to.’

‘Thanks,’ she said, and she pulled into a spot behind the bar and bawled like a baby. If you could see me now, Rabbit.

Chapter Sixty-Two: Davey

Chapter Sixty-Two

Davey

DAVEY HAD TO RECONSIDER what he would do for a living. He still loved music and wanted to work in music, but just not schlepping around playing drums every night. He wanted a home life with Juliet, Marj and the baby. He looked online at college courses; there was a music degree he could apply for. He researched it and he knew it was for him. He’d get his degree, he’d even do a masters. He could teach. He’d like that. It felt right. He was scared of course, but he didn’t miss his old life. Before Juliet he had been so lonely. He just hadn’t really noticed.

She became my world, Rabbit.

I know.

She’s still my world.

Tell her.

I’m trying.