Again

Today’s word from Fandango is “human.”

‘To err is human,’ she said, as their was a strong burning smell from the oven.

Tabitha didn’t mind things being burnt, her nana taught her that. Sometimes things tasted better when they had a singe around them. But these chips were so burnt, they had their own cremation.

‘I thought I smelt something nice,’ Martha said, as she walked through the door.

‘Nanny! I thought you weren’t here till later.’

‘Took the early flight.’

Taking a pair of mismatched mugs from the cupboard, Tabitha flitted around the kitchen, making a cup of tea. Martha smiled, she was growing up so fast. Gone that opinionated four year old to replaced with a confident teenager.

If Thomas was still here, then they would be seeing each other in secret. She wouldn’t have written her book, or been able to counsel other women, who thought they were to blame.

‘You told Theresa you are back?’

‘Meeting her later . . . Do you want to join me?’

‘Love to.’

‘Where is your Mum? I thought she would be here?’

‘At the bookshop, she thought you wouldn’t be here till four o’clock.’

‘She could meet us at Theresa’s and we could all go out for fish and chips.’

Tabitha passed over a mug of warm tea, and they sat at the kitchen table. The cold air crashed through the door, but it was needed to lure the smoke outside. She threw the charred remains of the chips in the rubbish bin. ‘Elizabeth okay?’

‘Yea, loves it out in Australia, but too hot for me. A holiday is okay, but I miss the rain and a good cup of tea. Not quite the same in Aussie.’

Every time she looked at Tabitha, Martha could see a happy smile. She never had to worry about being quiet, not even as a child. There were days when Laura, her daughter, still struggled.

The pain of the past never really left.