Laura packs her things and walks away from you. “Where to?” you ask. “What difference does it make to you?” she snaps. “Youd better clear out of the flat tooit belongs to me and my dad. Ill be renting it out. I dont need layabouts here. Find yourself somewhere else to live.”
Laura had just come home from work and, once again, found her husband messing about. He wasnt alonehis mates were over. At the table sat their neighbour, Peter, and his brother, Nick. Nick had come to visit, and now they were celebrating his holiday for the third day straight.
William, Lauras husband, hardly ever fooled around like this. Rarely, if ever, and only on special occasions. But with his friend visiting, he couldnt say no to the lads. He knew he was in the wrong, but he couldnt turn them away.
“You my mate or not?” Nick kept repeating.
“William, see your friends out and get some sleep. They can barely stand.”
“Shut it, woman!” Nick barked.
“Laura, well be off now,” Peter said quietly, pushing himself up from the table.
“How dare you speak to my wife like that?”
“Calm down. Everyone out. Now.”
Laura shoved the guests toward the door, steered her husband onto the sofa, and started tidying. Her mother-in-law would be arriving soonlet her see what her son was up to!
By the time Margaret arrived, Laura had everything in order. Shed prepared a quick dinner too, since the lads had polished off all the ready-made food. What little remained on the table ended up in the bin.
“Margaret, Mary, Ive missed you so much!”
“Mummy, Granny has a kitten! Its ginger. Grandad says its a sly little thing.”
“Mary!”
“Grandad says so.”
“Wash your hands. Well have dinner and tea.”
“Wheres William? I rang him, but he didnt answer.”
“Asleep. Celebrating with the neighbour for the third day. I come home from work and have to kick them out, then it starts all over in the morning. Might as well lock him out. Before Nick came to stay with Peter, everything was fine. But now hes moved in for good. The flat belongs to both brothers, and Peters wife wont let them carry on at hometheyve got little kids. So theyve all piled in here instead.”
“Theyve been mates since Year One. They became friends as soon as we moved here. You cant just cut that sort of thing off. You two need to move.”
“Where to? The house isnt finished, though its nearly there. We need to go and check on it. And how can I just leave him?”
“Hell come running after you.”
“Who will?” William appeared in the kitchen doorway.
“You. Who else? Here you are, lured by the smell of food or something else?”
“I dont want anything.”
“Good. Lauras packing her things and leaving you.”
“Where to?”
“What does it matter? You need to clear out toothe flat belongs to me and Dad. Im renting it out. I dont want layabouts here. Find your own place.”
“What place, Mum?” Nick looked stunned. “Weve got a house being built!”
“A house? Well, think about itwhose house is it? Whos put money into it? RightLaura and you. But you used *our* money. The house is for Laura and Mary. Laura, dont just stand therepack your things and Marys.”
“I wont let you take my daughter!”
“Oh, Im terrified.”
“Shes mine. Lauras got no claim on her.”
“And when she stepped in as her mother, did she have a claim then? Arent you ashamed? She *is* her mother! And dont you dare say another word in front of her. Just pack your things.”
“Mum, Im your son. What about me?”
“So? The flat needs to be empty by tomorrow. Were leaving nowme and the girls.”
“Where to?”
“To check on their house and hurry the builders along. Theres not much left to do. Theyll finish it. Well order the furniture while were at it.”
“What about me?”
“Why do you keep worrying? Youve got friendstheyll take you in.”
“No, you cant do this.”
“Ive said my piece. Laura, got everything? Then lets go. Take the car keys.”
“*My* car?”
“Would you rather we walked? Youre in no state to drive.”
“Well go to ours tonight and see about the house tomorrow,” her mother-in-law said. “Its the weekend. Well air it out, have a rest. And let *him* think things over.”
The next morning, William stood on his parents doorstep with his bags. His mother didnt make empty threatsif she said something, she meant it.
“What do you want?”
“Mum, you told me to clear the flat. Done. Its empty. Ill stay here for now, then find a place. Ill take Mary and Laura back. Where are they?”
“Theyre here for now, but soon well go check the house.”
“Ive been looking for them. Mum, can we talk? Its my fault. Its those brothers. You know Nick and Peter. Theyre impossible to shake off.”
“Which is exactly why you wont be living there anymore.”
Laura and William made up. Shed been deeply hurt, but she believed him.
“Thats it. No more neighbours, no more mates.”
“If you slip up, you wont see Mary again. She stays with me. And the baby too…”
“Baby? Baby! We need to finish the house faster. Ive got to tell Mum!”
“Dont shoutshe knows. Might not be a boy, though. Could be another girl. Its still early.”
“Doesnt mattergirl or boy. Youre my Laura!” William spun his wife around the room.
“Careful. Put me down.”
The family moved into their new house. Marys little brother was born right after they settled in.
“Mary, come and see your brother,” Granny said.
“Hes so small. Mines bigger. Mummy gave him to me. Now Ive got two mums. Right, Granny?”
“Thats right, love.”
“Im not little. *Hes* little. And Mummy promised we could get a sly, fluffy face. Or…”
“Mary!”
“Grandad says so…”
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