Page 23 of The Missus

‘Oh,’ Mrs Lennox said, sounding almost disappointed that Keira wasn’t so easily one-upped. ‘Black, no sugar.’

She sat down at the kitchen table, and Keira set to work, making three coffees. She was pretty sure Alanna was going to need one when she came back. Speaking of which, she better bequick.

Once they were sat down, Keira didn’t know what to say to Mrs Lennox. But the woman was equipped to plug the gap. ‘So, you’re a friend of Alanna’s?’

‘Yes.’

‘How long?’

‘Quite recent,’ Keira said, keeping it purposely vague. She didn’t want to get into any details. She wouldn’t have known how.

Mrs Lennox took a sip of coffee. ‘I hope she didn’t impose on you.’

‘Not at all.’

‘She can be a bit of a handful.’

While, technically, Alanna had created a problem or two, Keira didn’t like Mrs Lennox’s willingness to throw her daughter under the bus. ‘Oh, not at all. She’s very easy to be around.’

‘Oh? I always found her rather difficult. Like her choice of career? We’ve had so many rows about that topic. I’ve always wanted better for her than that.’

Mrs Lennox was pissing Keira right off now. ‘Better? Like what?’

‘Well, I don’t know exactly. It’s a shame it couldn’t work out with Benjamin. He’s going places.’

‘Benjamin’s a dick,’ Keira said flatly.

‘I beg your pardon?’ Mrs Lennox replied, shocked.

‘He’s an arsehole,’ Keira said. ‘Why the hell would you wish that on your daughter? Who, by the way,helpspeople for a living and makes bugger all doing it. I can’t imagine wanting more than that from my kid. I’d be proud if I were you.’

‘Well!’ Mrs Lennox cried. ‘I’ve never been spoken to like that in my life.’

‘You probably just need to get out more,’ Keira shrugged.

Before Mrs Lennox could react further, they were interrupted by a voice. ‘Who are you calling an arsehole?’ Benjamin asked timidly.

Keira turned to see him and Alanna standing in the living room. Alanna had a bin liner in her hand with a dusty yoga mat poking out of it.

‘How long have you two been there?’ Keira asked.

‘Long enough,’ Alanna said quietly.

Mrs Lennox was glad of someone to complain to. ‘Alanna, your friend has just spoken to me very badly.’

Keira thought she might get a reaming. But Alanna only said, ‘I know. You ready to go?’

Mrs Lennox stood. ‘Aren’t you going to say anything?’

‘Yes,’ Alanna said and walked over to the table. She picked up the third cup of coffee. ‘Is this for me?’

‘Yep,’ Keira replied. ‘Vanilla, right?’

Alanna took a sip and sighed with pleasure.

Mrs Lennox tutted. ‘I can’t believe you’d allow this. I’m not sure it’s such a good idea for you to come home with me today.’

‘Mum…’ Alanna said nervously. And that was Keira’s last straw. There was no way she was going to watch Alanna sing for her supper.