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Back Her White Lie
Chapters (72)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Chapter One
  4. Chapter Two
  5. Chapter Three
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Chapter Eleven
  14. Chapter Twelve
  15. Chapter Thirteen
  16. Chapter Fourteen
  17. Chapter Fifteen
  18. Chapter Sixteen
  19. Chapter Seventeen
  20. Chapter Eighteen
  21. Chapter Nineteen
  22. Chapter Twenty
  23. Chapter Twenty-One
  24. Chapter Twenty-Two
  25. Chapter Twenty-Three
  26. Chapter Twenty-Four
  27. Chapter Twenty-Five
  28. Chapter Twenty-Six
  29. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  30. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  31. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  32. Chapter Thirty
  33. Chapter Thirty-One
  34. Chapter Thirty-Two
  35. Chapter Thirty-Three
  36. Chapter Thirty-Four
  37. Chapter Thirty-Five
  38. Chapter Thirty-Six
  39. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  40. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  41. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  42. Chapter Forty
  43. Chapter Forty-One
  44. Chapter Forty-Two
  45. Chapter Forty-Three
  46. Chapter Forty-Four
  47. Chapter Forty-Five
  48. Chapter Forty-Six
  49. Chapter Forty-Seven
  50. Chapter Forty-Eight
  51. Chapter Forty-Nine
  52. Chapter Fifty
  53. Chapter Fifty-One
  54. Chapter Fifty-Two
  55. Chapter Fifty-Three
  56. Chapter Fifty-Four
  57. Chapter Fifty-Five
  58. Chapter Fifty-Six
  59. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  60. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  61. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  62. Chapter Sixty
  63. Chapter Sixty-One
  64. Chapter Sixty-Two
  65. Chapter Sixty-Three
  66. Chapter Sixty-Four
  67. Chapter Sixty-Five
  68. Chapter Sixty-Six
  69. Chapter Sixty-Seven
  70. A letter from Jackie
  71. About the Author
  72. Also by Jackie Walsh

Taking the phone from my pocket, I notice I’ve missed about five calls from Mam. I open the phone and text her that I’m on my way. Then I look back and watch Andriu’s handsome shape fade into the dark night.

Chapter Forty-Seven

The following morning I’m feeling excited and motivated and I even chance a tune in the shower. I haven’t heard my own singing voice in a long time. I put on a pair of jeans and a bright yellow T-shirt then I plaster cream on my face. My skin has dried up a lot lately. I need to take better care of it. When I get to the kitchen, Mam and Dad are sitting at the table. Mam jumps up and asks me if I would like sausages but her voice sounds nervous. She’s wearing a navy skirt and white shirt with a navy trim. Her hair is perfectly set.

Mam always likes to look her best even first thing in the morning when she’s frying sausages. I say yes to the sausages but a sense of dread is growing inside me. I sit down at the table and wait for the bad news. I know it’s coming because my father hasn’t said anything yet and that’s how he usually starts delivering his bad news, by saying nothing.

‘What’s wrong?’ I say.

My mother turns her attention to the frying pan and I look at my father. I hadn’t noticed how much he’s aged until now. His silver-grey hair is now snow white. His eyelids droop a little heavier over his eyes. He looks away from his paper and sighs.

Mam is silently buttering bread at the countertop. The poor woman gets into as much trouble as I do. I bet my father gave out to her last night, telling her not to cover for me.

‘Were you drinking last night?’

‘I just had one drink, Dad.’

My father turns his attention back to the paper. It’s his way of saying you’re not fooling me. I’ve heard your bullshit before. He will never forgive me for losing my driving license.

Mam turns to look at me and mimes, do you want some tea? I smile at her and nod. For the next while, no one will say anything. Eggshells will not be broken. My father will decide when normality can return but, until then, Mam and I will sit and eat and be grateful. I wish I didn’t have to stay here. It’s ridiculous being treated like a kid again. I can’t wait until I get my own place.