Read Online Mother's Story by Amanda Prowse - Free Book Online

Jessica sighed. ‘I think it might be a bit shy.’
    â€˜That’ll be it.’ Matthew grabbed her bottom and cupped her denim rump in his hand. ‘That and the fact that you have imprisoned it in a hot oven.’
    â€˜Don’t say that! You make me feel guilty!’
    â€˜Actually, Jess, not sure how to break it to you, but it was already dead.’
    â€˜So that’s why he didn’t answer me!’ She threw the tea towel on the sideboard and slapped her forehead.
    â€˜You know the worrying thing about living with you is how normal your crazy has become to me.’ Matthew cracked open a pistachio and threw it into his mouth.
    â€˜What do you mean?’ Jessica asked from the sink as she filled the ice-cube tray and popped it into the freezer. She remembered how impressed she’d been when Matt’s mother had offered ice when they visited.
    â€˜I dunno, I guess it’s the small things that have become normal. Like not mentioning in front of any appliance that we might be considering getting a new one, for fear of upsetting them.’
    Jessica scooted across the floor and placed her finger on her husband’s lips as she closed in and whispered in his ear, ‘You weren’t going to mention the toaster situation, were you?’
    Matthew shook his head.
    â€˜Good.’ She exhaled. ‘Because if I was Tiny the toaster and I found out you were thinking of replacing me with Bertha big toaster, I might just think about packing up altogether, or catching fire in protest!’
    â€˜Our toaster is called Tiny ?’ Matthew whispered.
    â€˜Yes. Because she is small and can only take two slices.’ Jessica curled her lip and scrunched her nose as though he were stupid. ‘Anyway, naming our things isn’t crazy, it’s normal. You need to give me a better example.’
    Matthew rubbed at the one-day stubble on his chin and tried to think of an answer. ‘Okay, well you still make me check under the bed and in the wardrobe every night for monsters and vampires.’
    â€˜It’s not vampires, it’s werewolves,’ she corrected him. ‘Vampires wouldn’t really bother me, not after watching the Twilight series. I can see they have some endearing qualities.’
    â€˜Fine, but that’s not really the point, Jess.’
    â€˜What is, then?’ she asked, looking into the face of her husband.
    â€˜Well, none of them exist!’ He chuckled. ‘Talk about having to state the bloody obvious.’
    Jessica stared at her husband wide-eyed. She paused before saying, ‘The thing is, Matthew, I think they do and I’m scared of them, but you are categorically certain that they do not exist and yet it’s you who looks for them every night in the cupboard and under the bed, so doesn’t that make you madder than me?’
    â€˜I’d never thought of it like that.’
    â€˜So why do you look for them? Why don’t you just tell me there is no such thing?’
    Matthew put his hands on her waist and pulled her towards him. ‘Because, Jessica Rose, I would go to the ends of the earth to make you happy. I would do anything to bring you a moment of joy and a worry-free sleep.’
    Jessica laid her head against his chest. ‘I don’t think anyone else in the whole wide world has ever loved anyone the way I love you and you love me.’
    â€˜I think you are right,’ Matthew concurred. ‘I love you completely.’
    â€˜Even though I talk to the supper?’ she asked.
    â€˜Because you talk to the supper.’ He kissed the back of her neck. ‘The place looks great, by the way.’
    She felt her heart swell at the compliment.
    The doorbell rang.
    Jessica wriggled free and ran down the hallway. Polly and Jake stood side by side, having shared a cab from Clapham, where they lived three streets apart. Both clutched bottles of wine.
    â€˜Polly! Happy Not-Christmas!’