The following day Adele went to stay with her mother. Although she had agreed to Peter’s suggestion, she couldn’t quite face being at his apartment at the moment. She hoped that staying with her mother would take her mind off things. It wasn’t going to be easy, though, with her mother’s home being the place where Adele had killed her father.

In the weeks since she had left prison, Adele had visited her mother regularly. She’d got rid of the cat fleas and cleaned the place up, and now it wasn’t so bad. There was still a bit of a smell but it wasn’t quite as pungent as previously.

Adele was also getting more used to going into the living room. The first couple of times she had found it harrowing looking at the hearth: the scene of her crime. But now, although she would always feel guilty and repulsed by what she had done, she could face it without feeling distraught every time she walked into the room.

Her mother was mellowing towards her too, and actually seemed grateful that Adele had helped her clean the place up. When she’d asked to stay for a while, her mother had seemed glad of the company. Adele knew, though, that she couldn’t afford to let her mother get too used to it. She must continue to stand on her own two feet. With this thought in mind, Adele decided that she would get her own place and move out as soon as possible.

‘It’s only for a couple of weeks,’ said Adele when she arrived at her mother’s door and walked down the hallway.

‘How come you’re not staying at Peter’s anymore?’ her mother asked.

‘Oh, y’know, I feel like I’m cramping his style a bit.’

‘Aah. Women, you mean?’ her mother asked, flashing Adele a knowing look.

‘Something like that.’

‘He never introduces me to his girlfriends, y’know,’ said her mother.

‘Maybe he hasn’t found the right one yet.’ Then Adele quickly changed the subject. ‘D’you mind if I take my case upstairs?’

‘No, you go on. Help yourself.’

Adele went up the stairs and into her old bedroom. It hadn’t changed much. The décor was now outdated and there was a tiny rip in the wallpaper, which Peter had done when they were children. Her books were still on a shelf along one wall and the head of her old bed stood facing the window. It had been stripped bare.

She went into her mother’s room and searched for some bedding but it was all old and shabby. Adele decided she’d take her mother to the shops and treat herself to some new bedding. She’d need some for her own new home anyway so she might as well take her mother shopping with her.