Garnethill

She hadn't intended to let Wi

"Hiya," said Maureen, trying to sound cheerful.

Wi

Maureen followed her into the house. Wi

George was asleep on the settee in the dark living room; the silent television flickered in the corner. George drank as much and as often as Wi

Maureen could feel the heat from the cooker before she got through the kitchen door. "I've been baking all day," said Wi

The gingerbread tasted exactly the same as McCall's, a famous bakery in Rutherglen – they always overdid the ci

Wi

Wi

When Maureen said she'd be fine at Be

"I've got some cheese in the fridge, I got it from the wholesalers, it's from the Orkneys."

"I don't want any cheese, Mum, thanks."

"I'll cut you a block to take home." She stood up and opened the fridge door, heaving the six-pound block of orange Cheddar onto the work top.

"I don't want any cheese, Mum, thanks."

Wi

"Are you all right, Mum?"

"I worry about you," said Wi

"But you shouldn't, Mum."

"But you're a… I never know… if only you couldn't…" She abandoned the giant brick of cheese and sat back down at the table, lifting her cup and drinking out of it. "I think I've got flu," she whispered, crying thin tears.

"You should go to the doctor's, then."

Wi

Maureen sighed. "Mum," she said, "I can't comfort you just now."

"I don't want you to comfort me," Wi

"I am all right."

"I worry so much," she whimpered.

"You shouldn't."

She sat bolt upright, suddenly in control. "Maureen, I'm your mother."

"I know who you are," said Maureen, trying to cheer herself up. The wine must be kicking in: her moods were changing rapidly. Maybe more than two cups, maybe three.

"I just want to know," Wi

"Did I do what, Mother?"

Wi

Maureen pulled away, exasperated by Wi

Wi

"Yes, you do," said Maureen. "You know I didn't kill him. You're so camp, I swear, you're like a bad female impersonator."

"I don't know you didn't do it," said Wi

"Like what?"

"You know…" And she whispered something under her breath, something that ended with "Mickey." Maureen hadn't heard her say the name since the hospital. She could feel herself shrinking in the chair.

"Don't worry," Wi

It was a low blow, hinting at the abuse. It was the meanest thing she could have brought up. "You drink too much, Mum," said Maureen, returning the compliment. "You wouldn't be on the verge of hysteria all the time if you drank less."

Wi

"I didn't want you to."

"But you let me."

Maureen pulled ten quid out of her wage packet and slapped it on the table. "There's a te

Wi

Maureen rolled her eyes just as George appeared at the kitchen door. "Oh," he said quietly, "I didn't hear you come in."

"Hello, George," said Maureen.

"Hello, pal," said George, and frowned. "Heard about yesterday. Nae luck."

He didn't talk about it much but Maureen suspected that George's early life hadn't been a bundle of laughs either. He had a charming talent for minimizing grief and, living with Wi

"Aye," said Maureen, suddenly tired. "It wasn't good."

He patted the back of her head gently and turned to Wi

Wi

"Well, you shouldn't try to pay for things if you don't really want to."

Wi

"Don't worry, Mum, the police'll find them soon."

She looked at Maureen and brightened. "Do you think so?"

Maureen nodded. "I know they will."

Wi

Maureen looked over at it and giggled. "Mum, why in God's name did ye buy that?"

Wi

They sat together and laughed at the industrial lump of cheese. Maureen looked at her mum. Wi