Mum Cathy
Whats all this sniffling about? Its damp enough outside, and now youre adding to the humidity!
An enormous woman, the size of a small bungalow, plonked herself next to Keira on the weathered, splintering park bench.
Hot today, isnt it? And that rain this morning right as if the clouds were on a personal vendetta. Now its like were sitting in a greenhouse! Its only midday but Im soaked through, look at the state of me!
The woman fished about in her shopping bag, pulled out a hefty water bottle and, after a struggle that would make most give up on the gym forever, twisted the lid open.
Want some? She offered it to Keira, who blinked. Supposed to calm you down, having a drink of water. Doesnt work for me, mind. I could drink a bathtub and still be a wreck.
Keiras eyes widened as she eyed this unexpected companion. What had she done to deserve this? Hadnt she had enough for one day? Now this this person.
Shed never liked large people, truth be told. They depressed her. How could you let yourself go like that? Was it really so difficult to cut down on cake, do a star jump now and then, and consider that, yes, other people have eyes? All those bulges, baggy clothes, sweat the aromaUgh. She remembered being at a spa with friends, mortified when a woman easily twice their size flopped into the pool.
Im not getting in. No way, Lisa, Keiras best mate, had declared as she glided away, sun-bronzed and gym-toned, model-perfect. Not that she didnt work for it hours in the gym, personal trainer, the lot.
Why not? You were dying to all day, someone had protested.
With her? Lisa had flicked a disdainful finger behind her. Not a chance. Its revolting.
The rant that followed wasnt something Keira cared to remember. Lisa had said what Keira didnt have the guts to admit aloud: you cant just let yourself go. If you cant get yourself together, stay at home Lisa had a point.
But here she was, next to someone who made that spa woman look positively dainty and whats more, this one wouldnt stop talking! But Keira was too drained to move. Shed been sitting here hours sobbing at first, now just staring bleakly at the brick wall in front of her. There was nowhere else to go but Victoria Station. And, as this impromptu companion nattered on into the ether, Keira found herself listening almost against her will.
Pretty lass like you, and not a suitcase or bag in sight. So youre not travelling. Meeting someone? Or got nowhere to go? the woman queried.
Keira tore her eyes from the wall and really looked at her. A round, kind face with cheeks as red as English apples, beamed until Keira unexpectedly let out a sob and started properly bawling. The woman enveloped her in a huge hug, and Keira couldnt say quite why later. She buried her head chopped, fashionable hair and all into the womans loosely-tied blouse, which instantly grew damp. Oddly, Keira detected no smell of sweat. Just flowers. A gentle, fresh scent. Was it her washing powder, or had she actually hand-rinsed her blouse in wild herbs? It was strangely comforting. Keira sniffed again and suddenly jerked away. She remembered that was how her own mothers hands had smelt: flowers and sunlit meadows. Shed lost her mum in a car accident at five, so her only memory was a field of wildflowers and her mum weaving a crown, those hands perfumed just like this.
Whats the matter, my love? Someones upset you? asked the woman.
Keira shook her head, but then nodded. She couldnt speak.
Rotters The woman rummaged in her bag and pulled out a sandwich and a bright red apple. Here, have this. She unwrapped the sandwich. The smell made Keiras stomach clench painfully. She hadnt eaten in nearly a day, and she had no money for food.
Come on, its chicken. Lovely stuff. I made it myself. You need feeding up you look half-famished!
I dont eat meat Keira mumbled, looking away. Her mouth still watered.
Say that again? the woman said, stuffing the sandwich into Keiras hands, pretending she hadnt heard, and split the apple with the efficiency of a mother of five.
Nothing Keira tried to protest, then took a bite and nearly groaned with delight. Shed never tasted anything so good.
Nice, isnt it? There we are then! The rest doesnt matter. The woman shifted around, getting comfy, and surveyed her handiwork as Keira demolished the sandwich and eyed the second hopefully.
Go on, eat. Tell me what happened. You being at the station alone, no bag, and, if Im not mistaken, no cash?
Keira nodded, wiping fresh tears away. Just the question of money set her off again.
Dont start up again, not yet, tell me first. Then well have a proper weep together, and maybe even a laugh.
She didnt want to recount the details, but it wasnt as though she had a choice. Her life wasnt worth two hapennies, but it was all she had.
Shed left her house the day before or, more accurately, scarpered, after her dad announced hed have his own, real child soon, and that Keira wasnt really his. It still knocked the breath out of her. For years, the man whod raised her as his own had never hinted she wasnt his daughter. But now, here he was, all by the way, youre adopted. And he wouldnt even say who her biological father was. And her mum was long gone.
Shed never bonded with her stepmum, Emma, who, to add insult to injury, was barely older than Keira herself. At their first meeting, Emma had pursed her lips and chirped, Oh, youre sweet! and Keira had known straight away that her peaceful life was over.
The usual drama ensued: sly digs from Emma, tales spun for dad, tears, the full bargain-basement soap. Keira would have laughed, were she not the main character. Shed always relied on Dad for support until too late, she realised everything had changed forever.
The straw that broke the camels back was their last conversation in his study: he laid out adoption papers and told her to have a read. Then the killer blow: he wasnt her father, shed been adopted at three months, he wasnt saying who her birth dad was, and mum was gone. She stared at her wall all night, then threw on a raincoat and walked out. She didnt know where to go. By morning, she wandered to the nearest big station. Her phone was dead, and she felt no urge to speak to anyone.
Thanks to moving around so much, Keira had never made real friends only acquaintances, and they definitely wouldnt help. Their whole life philosophy was best summed up by an old cartoons motto: Love yourself, forget the rest, and youll succeed! Shed liked the little cartoon devil who rebelled against that line so much, shed bought a keyring of him lost ages ago now.
The woman listened, not interrupting not even when Keira trailed off into awkward silence. Then she handed across some tissues.
Here, wipe your face.
She rooted around and produced a chunky, rather battered purse.
Look, love. Chatting to your dad can wait. Is your phone working?
Its flat.
Right. Here, she handed Keira an ancient, indestructible Nokia, Dont look like that! Its brilliant, big buttons, you can hear everything. Use it to let him know youre alive. He might be a rubbish dad, but no need to worry him senseless.
While Keira composed a message, the woman stood, straightening her wrinkled and rather tear-stained blouse.
Im Aunt Cathy, by the way. Live out near Chelmsford, proper country side. Fancy coming with me? Seeing as youve nowhere else to go, could do worse.
Why?
Why not? she shrugged. Whyd you want to help a stray kid like me? Keira pressed, confused.
The woman smiled, taking Keiras chin gently. Her fingers were soft and incredibly warm.
Because, darling, theres no such thing as someone elses child. And its wrong for a youngster to be all alone.
But Im not a child anymore
Of course you are! Now up you get, or well miss the train. Chop chop.
And thats exactly how Keira ended up moving in with Catherine Elizabeth Smith.
On the journey, Aunt Cathy let her rest, only saying later, No point prying, pet. Someone will talk when theyre ready, thats all. You cant force your way into someones soul and expect good results.
Keira nodded off on the train, waking only when Cathy nudged her.
Up now, duck, were there!
On the platform, another woman bounded up in a blur of skinny elbows and excitement.
Mum Cathy! Im nearly missing the second train waiting for you! Hows Nina?
All right. Sorted her and Harry. Ill check on them in a few days. Spoke to the doc, young but seems switched-on.
Whos this? The woman, tall and wild-eyed, peered at Keira.
Less questions, Sue. Were starving and just off a journey.
Right. Fine. In you get then.
Their battered old Vauxhall Capri was so comical Keira snorted as it pulled up with a wheeze.
Oi! Careful! Thats custom paintwork my brother did it special.
Its called airbrushing, Keira muttered, eyeing the cartoon cat sprawling over the bonnet.
Where dyou find her then, Mum Cathy?
At the station.
Same as me Sue glanced more closely at Keira, who now traced the design with her finger. Can you draw?
Yeah, finished art school last year.
My brotherll love that hes self-taught, mind. Proper talent.
Keira gaped – Looks like a pros work!
Hell like hearing that. Come on, lets go, the rest are waiting.
Whos the rest?
Youll see!
Sues driving forced Keira to close her eyes on every bend.
No need to break the sound barrier, Sue! Cathy chided, with a soft laugh. Im used to it, but our guest isnt yet familiar with your stylish driving.
Shell get used to it! Here we are! Sue yanked the car to a halt outside a large, rambling house.
A horde of children descended upon them, Keira staggered by the sheer numbers.
All mine! Cathy said, grinning as she levered herself from the car. But dont panic, I only live with a few. The rest are always popping in, so the house is rarely empty. Cmon, dont be shy!
Little fingers reached for Cathy, who ruffled hair and pinched cheeks.
My precious ones!
It took Keira a week to figure out the vast, complicated web that was Cathys family. Eventually, Sue, shooing her youngest son to Cathys care, gave Keira a tour and the full download.
You see, down this street, theres three who used to live with us Jean, Mike, and Annie. All married now, kids galore. You met most of em earlier. Down the next street Molly and Vera. Mollys two little ones, Vera just married last month. At the far edge of the village its me with my lot, my brother Shaun and Nina Mum went to see her just now. Her son, Harry, needs heart surgery soon
Im confused!
Youll work it out. Theres just a lot of us, Sue said. But Cathys not our real mum well, she is, really, but not by blood. None of us are.
Keira stumbled. What do you mean?
None of us are hers biologically. Itd take hours to explain. Cmon inside
Sues house was small, but the kitchen was spotless and welcoming. Sue shooed a tabby off the sofa and indicated the spot to Keira.
Settle in. Ill put little Joe down, then Ill be back.
Keira gazed about. Handmade embroidered curtains, neat as a pin, covered the windows. She peered closer each Forget-Me-Not a tiny work of art.
You like those? My daughter did those. I make one every time Im expecting helps pass the time in hospital.
Theyre beautiful. Keira stroked the fabric.
Mum Cathy taught me. I couldnt do a thing when she took me in.
Took you in?
My parents were hopeless drunks. Dont remember much before Cathy, thankfully. They say, when pain goes on long enough, you forget it, just to keep yourself sane.
Dissociative amnesia, Keira said quietly.
What?
Memory loss under stress. I wanted to study psychology read a lot about it.
Why not go for it?
I got ill back surgery, missed the key exams. Had to pay to go later and Dad was covering it. I need to find the money now.
Sue poured tea, handed Keira a mug, and explained her past the beatings, running away at thirteen, ending up at Waterloo underpass with nothing but bus fare. Cathy found her, fed her and took her in. It took months of red tape before she could formally adopt her, but eventually Sue and her younger brother Shaun became hers, in every way that counted.
But Cathy doesnt have her own kids?
No, love. Seen her? You know why shes sogrand?
Thought she just liked puddings.
Nope. Diabetes, chronic heart problems she kept most of her medical stuff secret or theyd never have allowed her to foster or adopt. Started treatments only when it got dire. Her sister, Vic, is a nurse. Sorts her out as best she can.
She was beautiful in her youth wanted to be a doctor, top of her class. Missed out on medical school by a point, broke her heart. Meant to reapplybut then she fell for some scumbag who moved her away. He was a brute. Broke her ribs, fingers regular visits to A&E. Cathy never talks about it, but we found out. She escaped, nursed her parents through their final days, and stayed on. Couldnt have children after all that. But we just keptshowing up.
Shes helped more waifs and strays than you could believe, squared away benefits, found housing, you name it. She knows more about the legal system than most solicitors.
But how does she manage financially?
Ah, youre a smart one, spotted that! She gets some help from the government, but mainly, its because of Patrick.
Whos Patrick?
Another one she collected she found him lost in London, malnourished and abandoned. Turns out his familys loaded construction, transport, you name it. His dad, Mr. Simmons, turned up with a fleet of black SUVs, thought we were being done over by the mafia! But hes a good man. Didnt put Patrick in care, loves him dearly, and backs Cathy with everything she needs. He brings in proper legal teams, offers money, the lot. Cathy calls him her King Arthur makes up for the rest. Theres a lot more help than strings attached, lets just say that.
Sue paused, looked at the clock, and leapt up. Oh, I talk far too much. Shaun and Russ will be in for lunch soon.
I should go
Dont be daft lay the table! Mum Cathys round Mollys, sewing something for the children. No point in you mooching about alone.
For Keira, the family meal was like stepping into some parallel universe. Laughter, crowded table, the lot. Shed never experienced it her father always worked late and after Emma moved in, Keira ate alone, not to cause friction. Only now did she feel how much she wanted a home like this. She didnt realise tears were falling until Sue nudged her, grinning.
Oi! No need to season the salad! Youre home now, nobodyll hurt you.
And so, for the first time, Keira told someone her story about her mum, her adoptive dad, Emma. Properly, not in patchy bits, but all of it. Sue just listened, only asking when necessary.
When shed finished, Sue mused: Dont be too cross with your dad. He raised you as his daughter all those years, right? He might have handled it badly, but not everyone deals with happiness the right way. Bet he took a paternity test on the stepmums baby, didnt he?
Keira nodded.
Told you. People react madly when something huge happens. Like Nina, when she finally got her own house. Went completely wild Mum Cathy had to tie her down to keep her from self-destruction. Shes got her own demons too raised partly by the family dog in her early years. Mum Cathy took her and the dog in; she transforms wild kids, one at a time.
At that moment, the kitchen door burst open.
Mum, someones here for Keira Nan says go home now!
A small girl, caught off-guard, looked apologetically at Sue.
I woke him? Sorry
No, love, hes with Dad. Go on, and thank you.
As the girl vanished, Sue turned to Keira.
Youre never alone here, you know that, yeah?
Keira hugged her fiercely. Thank you.
Sue hugged her back, You can always come here, whenever you need.
Its weird, Sue None of you are related, but youre more family than most.
Sue stroked her hair. Family isnt always about blood, love. Its about who chooses you, who sticks with you. Sometimes thats stronger than anything.
Keiras dad, awkward as a schoolboy, showed up to collect her that afternoon. He had no idea Aunt Cathy had trekked into town, found him, and given him a piece of her mind. He apologised, begged her home.
No, Dad. I dont want to interfere. Its better this way.
Ill get you a flat.
Keira met Cathys gaze and nodded. Id be grateful while I find work and switch to distance study. I want to earn my place.
Ill sort everything, Dad said fretfully.
No, Dad. I will. Time to live by your rules you always said to stand on my own two feet.
He fell silent, at last proud in his own awkward way.
Her father paid for Keiras course. She finished top of her class in child psychology, with a waiting list months long. Emma had her son, and Keira, genuinely happy for her dads new family, saw him rarely not from anger, but because shed found her real home elsewhere. When Cathy now Mum Cathy to all had a stroke, Keira dropped her life and moved back to nurse her.
Those six months were the hardest and, oddly, happiest of her life. Surrounded by a dozen children and grandchildren, with Cathy in the garden, propped up like some benevolent queen on a hand-built bench, forever responding to theatrical curtseys from the younger ones.
Is your throne comfortable, Your Majesty? Fancy a cuppa, Queen Mum?
And through it all, Keira realised: the loud, noisy, raucous family wasnt hers by blood, but it was hers all the same.
She stayed until Cathy could manage her speech slurred, walking difficult, but with laughter ringing out daily from her new grandchildren as they competed to share every tiny victory.
And when, a year later, Keira finally married, the very first name on her guest list was Mum Cathy.
Mum Cathy, will you be there?
Always, my dear, alwaysCathys reply was a wink, mischief dancing in her still-bright eyes. Be there? she scoffed, waving away the question with a sweep of her sturdy hand, Darling, who do you suppose will be running the show? Never trusted anyone else to arrange a party worth remembering.
And true to her word, when Keira entered the village hall, festooned with wildflowers, strings of fairy lights, and banners hand-stitched by three generations, Cathy sat enthroned amid the laughter and chaos, wearing a daisy crown and holding twin babiesno ones by blood, everyones by heart. The cake was three layers, slightly lopsided, carried by a procession of children singing off-key. The first dance was a roundelay, Cathy clapping the rhythm, her voice louder than music itself, and soon all the familiesbound not by birth but by choicejoined hands in a circle that spiraled until no one knew where it began or ended.
At dusk, Keira slipped outside to breathe in the scent of cut grass and dew, her new husbands hand warm in hers. For the first time she realized: she wasnt lost, wasnt a waif, wasnt alone. Behind her, light spilled through windows, voices rose in discordant, perfect harmony.
Cathy found her at the fence beneath the climbing roses.
Got everything you need, love? she asked, her gentle touch smoothing a strand of hair behind Keiras ear.
Keira nodded, tears pricklingnot of grief but of something infinitely fiercer and sweeter.
I do, Mum Cathy. I really do.
Cathys arms closed around her, soft and safe as ever. And dont you forget it. Once youre family, youre mine forever. No one lost, not ever again.
Hand in hand, they walked back insideinto light, into laughter, into the noisy, everlasting heart of home.
