La vida

**BETTY-THE-COUSIN** My cousin Betty was the one I looked up to as a child. She lived in London, while

Evelyn was seventy-two when her own son turned her out of the house—and all for one simple reason: she

One dreary autumn evening, I realised my stomach had a new tenant—a son. Not, say, a tapeworm—no, this

Claire was 72 when her own son turned her out of the house—all for one simple reason: she’d lost her job.

At Willowfield Academy, an elite private school tucked away in the leafy outskirts of Manchester, reputation

“Mum, I can’t go on like this,” Emily stood by the window, staring at the heavy grey

**Diary Entry** One damp autumn evening, I realised a son had taken up residence in my belly.

**Exhale** Yesterday, Emily turned 47. Two years ago, her life fell apart. Who would’ve thought such

Primrose He was just a boy—freckled, slightly clumsy, with a haphazardly tied tie and shining eyes that

“Mum, I can’t go on like this,” Emily said, staring out the rain-streaked window at the leaden