BooksBarbecue
Back The Library Save as PDF
Chapters (57)
  1. Cover
  2. THE LIBRARY
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. Questions for your Book Club
  55. Acknowledgements
  56. About the Author
  57. Become an Aria Addict

‘Roast lamb,’ she said.

‘Um. Okay,’ he said, his forehead puckering.

‘What?’ asked Maggie sensing something was amiss.

‘I honestly daren’t ask,’ replied Tom, with a nod in Colin’s direction.

17

TOM

Sitting in Maggie’s kitchen I was kind of hoping she was going to invite me to dinner that night. All that was waiting for me at home was fish fingers. I’d had pizza at school, which I had most days, but it never filled me up. I was pleased when she offered me some cake though, and it was a large slice filled with thick buttercream and home-made raspberry jam. It was very nearly as good as the lemon drizzle.

‘Bus goes at quarter past,’ she said, nodding at the kitchen clock. I felt my body sag at the thought of going home and of the state Dad had been in yesterday. He’d been home all day and I had no idea what he’d been doing. He used to do the shopping, ironing and cleaning on a Monday but not anymore; he doesn’t seem to do much of anything these days. At least I wouldn’t see him for long tonight though because he had to be at work for half eight. I felt bad for thinking it but it was just easier when he was out. He had to keep it together for his job.

Maggie was giving me an odd look. ‘Is everything all right?’ she asked. I paused to have a think about what I should say. Part of me wanted to spill my guts but I’d look pathetic if I did that. I didn’t really have much to complain about. It wasn’t like he was beating me or about to chuck me out. ‘I don’t mean to pry,’ she added.

‘No, you’re not. My dad and me…’ I stopped. Why had I started like that? I stared at the plate and tried to think of how to say it.

‘Ah, parents and children. It’s all extremely tricky. Especially around the teenage years.’ She nodded wisely.

‘Yeah. It is.’

‘He knows you’re here though?’

‘Yeah. I messaged him.’ I didn’t like lying to Maggie but it didn’t seem right to say, “He wouldn’t care.” That was a bit unfair. Dad did care but he had no clue about how I spent my time. He knew I had to stay at school to do my homework, because for most of it I need a PC, but otherwise he let me do what I liked. It was getting dark now, which might make Dad wonder where I’d got to. I’d text him from the bus.

‘Maggie?’

‘Yes.’ She put down her cup and waited like I was going to say something important. Resting her forearms on the kitchen table and letting the long flowy sleeves of her top puddle on the surface. She had some well weird clothes.