All Maddie could think was that those boots would be making a mess of the parquet floor inside.
I really hope she sprains an ankle. Maddie fought the urge to giggle.
‘That’s why I asked you bring it,’ Greg said with a conspiratorial wink. ‘I’m sick of kale smoothies. Come, come. Jemima is having a nap but will be awake soon.’
Maddie followed him inside.
She tried not to notice the changes Gemma had made since she moved in, but her eyes were drawn to each and every one. It was like Gemma had erased Maddie almost completely from the house that she and Greg had bought and renovated together. The antique mirror that used to hang in the hallway, which they’d chosen at an antiques fair in Harrogate, had been replaced by an art deco style mirror that lacked personality in Maddie’s opinion. And there were photo frames everywhere. Maddie was sure Gemma added extra ones every time she knew Maddie was coming. It was like there was a frame strategically placed wherever her eye would fall. All those smiling faces leering at her as she walked through the hallway to the open-plan kitchen and dining room at the back of the house.
Eyes following, watching, judging.
Plotting.
The bi-folding doors to the large garden were closed against the chill, but the garden looked as immaculate as ever through the glass. Peter was still doing a good job. A tiny handprint smudged the glass in the bottom corner. Maddie zoned in on it, momentarily fascinated.
‘Glass of wine or prosecco for you, Mads?’ Greg was saying.
‘Um, prosecco, thanks. I brought a bottle with me – and there’s something small here for Jemima.’
‘Oh, how kind of you. I’ll take it,’ Gemma said, holding out her hand.
‘Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like to give it to her myself.’
Gemma’s eyes narrowed, but she spun away, saying, ‘Of course. But she’s sleeping now.’
‘I have this card for you… to say thank you for the flat-warming gifts,’ Maddie said to her back. She laid the card on the kitchen counter as Gemma flashed a cold smile over her shoulder.
‘How are you settling in?’
‘Fine, thank you. I’ve been getting to know the woman who lives upstairs, Jade. She has a son, Ben. He’s three.’ An ill-disguised look passed between Greg and Gemma. ‘The other two in the building I don’t really know yet, but there’s an elderly lady opposite me and a guy who works in computers upstairs who I met briefly. He seemed nice.’
‘And is the flat ok? Do you need anything?’ Greg asked.
Gemma still had her back turned, but Maddie noticed it stiffen. ‘I’m sure Maddie has everything she needs, babe,’ Gemma said.
‘Yes, thanks, Greg. You’ve been a huge help. And thank you for the sunflowers. My favourite – you remembered.’
He froze, his eyes flicking to Gemma.
‘Flowers? What flowers?’ Gemma spun around, her eyes wide and her mouth forming a thin line that was a far cry from a smile.
‘I thought Maddie would like some colour in her flat, you know, to make it more homely as she settles in.’
‘Well, you have been spoilt by both of us, haven’t you?’ This time she showed her teeth, like a dog growling a warning.
‘I have indeed – and it means a lot, so thank you.’
Greg exhaled and waved away her gratitude while handing her a glass of prosecco.
Silence landed heavily between them. Greg busied himself with opening a bottle of beer.
‘Get a glass, Greg. Don’t drink out of the bottle,’ Gemma said. She pulled on a pair of oven gloves. She could make even that look sexy. Maddie looked away.
‘How is Jemima? She must be getting so mobile now,’ Maddie said to Greg.
‘Yes, she’s crawling, so getting into all sorts of places that she shouldn’t.’ Pride puffed out Greg’s chest. ‘She’ll be awake soon and you’ll see for yourself how she’s keeping me on my toes.’
Maddie swigged at the prosecco, feeling the bubbles tickle her nose. ‘Can I help with anything, Gemma?’ She was clattering pans and stirring things briskly.
‘No, no, you sit still. You’re a guest in our home, after all.’
Maddie’s jaw tensed.
‘Yes, and it’s lovely to have you,’ Greg added a little too quickly. ‘We should make this a more regular thing. Maybe every weekend. Cheers!’ He raised his beer bottle in the air.
Gemma’s hand stilled over the gravy, then resumed stirring but with extra vigour. Gravy slopped over the edge of the pan.
Maddie smiled sweetly at Greg and tapped her glass to his bottle. ‘Cheers! Here’s to families, whatever shape they come in.’
Gemma turned towards them and said pointedly, ‘I would join in the toast, but I’m not drinking at the moment. Greg and I are trying for another baby.’
The room swayed in front of Maddie for a split second. ‘Oh,’ she said.
Greg glared at Gemma before saying, ‘Um, yes, I was going to tell you over lunch. It would be lovely to have a brother or sister for Jemima.’
Maddie swallowed more prosecco. ‘Yes, it would.’
Gemma threw out a triumphant smile and turned back to her pans, just as a wail erupted from deep in the house.
‘Oh, speak of the devil! Jemima is awake,’ Greg said in delight and trotted out of the room.
The air filled with a leaden silence in his absence. Gemma was still standing at the oven, stirring her gravy. She was wearing skin-tight white jeans and a loose-fitting beige roll-neck jumper, and Maddie wondered how she wasn’t getting brown splatters on her jeans. She found herself fascinated by this – the arrogance in knowing that you wouldn’t spill on yourself, that your baby wouldn’t wipe a sticky hand on your pristine thigh, that nothing would ruffle your perfect image. Maddie doubted she would ever have that kind of confidence.
Gemma must’ve felt Maddie staring because she spun around again. Maddie blushed and rearranged the look of distaste on her face.
‘You know,’ Gemma said, ‘I’m so pleased you’re finally in your own flat. It’s nice that we can all move on from all that… unpleasantness of last year, don’t you think? I’m sure you’re keen to get on with your life, make a fresh start.’
She made it sound like a wardrobe refresh. Maddie frowned at her. ‘Well, I wouldn’t say it’s as easy as that.’
‘Oh, no, of course not. But Greg was just saying last night how pleased he is to see you so independent after all this time. You two were together a long time and it must seem strange to now be on your own, master of your own destiny as they say, but also such fun.’
‘I guess it is.’ Maddie’s teeth were clenching painfully.
‘Of course, we are always here to help, but you know what Greg can be like. He’s too nice for his own good.’ How anyone could be too nice was beyond Maddie. Gemma continued, ‘Having him hovering over you and dropping everything to come and help you probably won’t be beneficial for either of you in the long term, would it? Just delaying the inevitable really.’ She paused. ‘You look tired – are you eating ok? Today should help, fill you up. It must be so difficult trying to cook for one person.’
Maddie could hear Greg babbling to Jemima down the hallway and she wanted to shout out to him to tell Gemma to stop, to come and rescue her. Gemma’s words might seem harmless to anyone else, but to Maddie each one was a tiny poisonous dart piercing her brain.