Page 79 of Exquisite Things

“Margaret Thatcher’s nightmare!” Oliver zips up his pants. Heads down first. We both follow.

We arrive downstairs to find Lily next to Archie. A muddy tabby cat in her hands. “There they are. Children, meet your new sister. She don’t have a name yet, but she’s as sweet as can be.”

I turn to Maud with a raised eyebrow. “A little pussy. Just your type.”

“Fuck off.” She swats me playfully.

Oliver’s eyes gaze at the cat adoringly. “I love her.”

“I thought pets were too expensive.” I approach Lily and pet the sweet animal. It purrs at my touch.

Lily turns to Archie. “Things are about to change around here.” Lily hands me the cat. She digs her claws into me. It hurts a little. Also makes me feel loved. Like she doesn’t want to let go. I know what it feels like not to want to let go of someone.

Lily digs through a crate of records. In search of something. She finds it. Dennis Brown. She carefully removes the vinyl from its sleeve. Puts the record on the turntable. “Sing it with me, children.” We all know the song by now. It’s on heavy rotation in the streets of Brixton.

“Money in my pocket but I just can’t get no love.”

“Louder!” Lily starts to dance. The island girl seems to come alive in her. She’s no longer a middle-aged mother. She’s full of youth. Exuberance.

“Money in my pocket but I just can’t get no love.”

Lily takes Maud’s hand. Spins her around. Archie sways his hips. Oliver throws his hands in the air. I’m the last to join the dance. I savor the sight of them first. The freedom of the moment.

The song ends. Lily collapses onto the couch. “Children, guess who will be working as part of the costume department for the National’s new show?”

I raise the unnamed cat into the air. “Our new sister?”

“You little shit.” Lily laughs. “We have Archiekins to thank.”

“I did nothing but make an introduction to a bloke I buggered—”

Lily lifts a scolding finger. “Archie! Children!”

Archie shrugs. “Apologies. To a lovely gentleman I made verypure love to. He happens to work inthe theatah. Lily did the rest.” Archie turns to Lily. “It’s your talent that got you hired. Not me. If I had half your talent, I would have finished fashion school with you and pitched myself for the job. Alas, my only talent is choosing the right friends.”

“You wanted me to bemorethan a friend when we first met, if memory serves.” Lily cackles. She’s loose. Giddy from the promise of a new future.

I turn to Maud. We both can’t believe what we just heard. A little secret from the past. Maud is the one who digs. “Come again. Did you just say that you and Archie oncedated?”

Archie brushes the question aside with a wave of his wrist. “Maud dear, you should know by now I don’tdate. But yes, I did have my eyes on Lily when we first met. And she was wise enough to reject me.”

Lily smiles knowingly. “You children think you know all there is to know about me? But I’ve lived more lives than this little cat.” She stands back up. Too energized to stay seated. Takes the cat back into her arms. “I can’t wait to call Lady Cordelia and tell her I won’t be sewing for her any longer.” Lily smiles. “Mind you, I’m not the costume designer. Just a seamstress. But it’s a step, isn’t it? And I like steps. Change. It’s the key to staying young.”

“That’s exactly why I cycle through men so quickly.” Archie raises a sly eyebrow. Dares Lily to scold him again.

“Maybe we should call the cat Lady Cordelia?” Oliver’s suggestion.

“Over my dead body.” Lily shakes her head.

“Blitz.” My suggestion. I feel my face open up into a smile. The memory of Lily naming me comes back to me. My rebirth.

Lily shakes her head. “That name’s already taken. This cat’s an original.”

“The Iron Kitty.” Archie’s contribution.

“Poor thing has nothing in common with Thatcher.” Lily pulls the cat closer. “Well, maybe the claws.”

“Okay, I’ve got it. I think we should call her Changeling.” We all turn to Oliver. Sensing he has more to say. “Because, well... as you said, you love change. And she represents change. In a sense. And in another sense, we’re a happy home of changelings, aren’t we?”