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

Jessica shouted her happiness as though it had been months not days since she had last seen her best friend.
    â€˜And to you, honey. Now let us in. It’s bloody freezing out here!’ Polly shivered.
    Jessica stood aside and swept her arm towards the kitchen. ‘Matthew was just telling me how mad I am.’
    â€˜Well you are, but he knew that before you got married, so he can’t renege now,’ Polly replied, gazing at Matthew through narrowed eyes as she hugged her mate.
    â€˜I wasn’t thinking of reneging, Polly.’ Matthew sometimes found it hard to tolerate the outspoken Polly.
    â€˜If it is all going tits up, mate, then my flatmate is moving out end of the month so you can come and bunk with me. We can reinstate Thursday-night curry and karaoke, back of the net! Boys’d love it, just like old times!’ Jake stood behind the hugging girls, nodding sagely at his friend.
    â€˜What is it with you two? My wife and I are deeply in love and happily married and we will remain so!’ He tutted.
    â€˜Well said, my gorgeous man.’ Jessica turned and jumped onto her husband’s back, hitching a piggyback all the way to the kitchen.
    â€˜Blimey, Jess!’ Polly cast her eye around the place. ‘Cooking supper and a tidy house – you’re turning into your mum!’
    â€˜I like making the place look nice.’ Jessica pouted.
    â€˜You can come and give mine a whizz over if you feel like it,’ Jake suggested.
    â€˜That’s very kind of you, Jake, but I think I’ll pass.’
    The skeletal remains of the salmon sat on a large oval plate in the centre of the table. No one mentioned the rather blackened outside or the fact that it had been glued to the base of the dish. The buttered spuds had been polished off and all that remained of supper were a few sprigs of long-stemmed broccoli and the licks of tiramisu stuck to the side of the glass bowl that the spoon hadn’t managed to reach.
    â€˜I’d like to propose a toast,’ Matthew announced. ‘To my wonderful wife, thank you for cooking that incredible supper.’
    â€˜Hear! Hear!’ Jake bashed the table.
    â€˜And may the coming year bring us lots of wonderful things!’ Matthew lifted his glass and sipped.
    â€˜Oh God, this isn’t a clue that we are awaiting the pitter-patter of tiny Louboutins is it?’ Polly shouted.
    â€˜No.’ Jessica waved her hand as she sipped her wine. ‘Definitely not. We’re still getting used to being married.’
    â€˜And having too much fun,’ Matthew added.
    â€˜Yes,’ Jessica agreed. ‘We have a five-year plan. I shall get pregnant when I am twenty-eight. Matt will have been promoted and I will be earning proper, good money for my illustrations and then we shall have two beautiful babies to make our lives complete. A boy and a girl.’
    â€˜Blimey, sounds like you have it all planned out,’ Jake scoffed.
    â€˜We do.’ Jessica nodded.
    â€˜God, I love my wife!’ Matthew beamed. Polly mimed retching. ‘I appreciate her every day, especially when I look at my neighbour, to whom I’d also like to propose a toast.’ He raised his glass. ‘To Mrs Pleasant, next door!’
    â€˜May she learn how to smile!’ Jessica added.
    â€˜Yes, Mrs Pleasant! Learn to smile!’ Jake shouted very loudly at the kitchen wall.
    â€˜Shhhh!’ The three looked at him and Polly placed her cupped hand over his mouth. All were laughing and cringing, hoping she hadn’t heard.
    Jessica coughed. ‘And a toast to me! I handed in my first illustrations today. They are awaiting approval, but the point is, I finished them!’
    â€˜Yay!’ they all chorused. ‘Congratulations!’
    The four, now well lubricated by the four bottles of wine they’d drunk during dinner, slumped in their chairs and hacked at a lump of Dolcelatte that they popped onto salty crackers