Page 63 of The Missus

‘True. But I guess what I want to ask is if you think it’s a choice she’s made or if it’s simply her nature.’

‘That’s very dodgy territory you’re in right now,’ Alanna told him.

‘How so?’

‘Because it’s not for me to say. It’s not for anyone to say. Except her.’

‘That’s true, Alanna. You’re absolutely right. We can’t sit here and make decisions about who she is.’

‘No, we can’t.’

‘It’s almost as if it requires communication to find out.’

Alanna glared at him. ‘I told you, I can’t do that.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because she told me never to try to… how did she put it? Head-shrink her.’

‘But this isn’t about your job. It’s about your feelings. It’s about finding out if there’s any possibility that she wants exactly what you want.’

‘She’s sensitive. More than she wants to admit. When we talked about her childhood, she almost died. That’s not an exaggeration.’

James sighed. ‘You don’t think she can handle the conversation? Oryoucan’t?’

Alanna groaned at the ceiling. ‘Mandy’s right. Wearebloody know-it-alls.’

James smiled at her. ‘Maybe we are.’

‘We are. And it’s no good at all. Because now, you’re telling me I have to admit how I feel. And I’ve got to do it because it’s growth, and if I don’t, I’m full of shit every time I push anyone in that direction.’

‘This is why we do mandatory personal therapy. So you know exactly how it feels to sit in the other chair.’

‘Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, alright?’ Alanna said. She hated James so much.

Twenty-Six

Keira was staring out of the window down at the street. She was frozen in place, unable to turn around. She wasn’t sure what the hell to do. She’d just walked in on Sandra in the shower. The woman had just about screamed the building down. This flat was officially too damn small. People kept accidentally seeing and touching stuff they weren’t supposed to see or touch.

There was a small cough from behind her. Keira turned slowly. ‘I didn’t see anything, I swear!’ But when she turned, it was Alanna. ‘What?’

Keira was deeply relieved to see her. ‘Thank god you’re home. You need to talk to your mum.’

‘What about?’

‘For a kick-off, she needs to learn how to use a lock.’

Alanna’s face dropped. ‘Oh no. What happened?’

‘I’d drunk two coffees and a cola; I wasbusting. And I had my headphones on. And I guess I forgot your mum was here…’

Alanna closed her eyes and shuddered.

‘Look, just go and check it out with her. Tell her I wasn’t trying to walk in on her,’ Keira begged.

‘She probably knows that.’

‘I don’t think she does. She called me a pervert.’