Constant replaying of the messages and the only positive thoughts came with her time alone with Tabitha.
Tabitha put her brush in the blue ready to paint the sky. ‘How did you get that bruise on your eye?’
Martha took a deep breath and gazed at her granddaughter.
‘I bumped into the door,’ Martha said. ‘I’m a little clumsy that’s all.’
Tabitha placed her paintbrush down, leaned over and kissed Martha’s eye. ‘Is that better?’
Martha quickly wiped away a tear. ‘Much better, that cat looks good in yellow.’
‘Silly Nanny,’ Tabitha giggled. ‘It’s a polar bear.’
They were both distracted, that was good. ‘It’s a lovely polar bear. Shall we do the sky now?’
‘Okay Nanny.’
Tabitha put the finishing touches to her picture. The new normal, was gradually overtaking the old normal, but it felt wrong.
Even when she settled on the sofa, and watched Coronation Street with Theresa, it felt like she had stabbed her husband in the back. Thomas was nothing without her, his life revolved around work and home. When pressures became too much, at least she had her family and friends. Who did Thomas have? He had Charles, but that wasn’t true friendship – vicars always brought lost sheep back into the fold.
His constant calls were a plea for help and maybe, just maybe, her leaving had made Thomas think about his behaviour.
‘You’re a little quiet,’ Theresa said.
Martha tried her best to smile. ‘Just a little tired that’s all.’
Writer Ravenclaw 