Free Ruthless by Cath Staincliffe Page B

years and then expect to be welcomed with hugs and kisses and Sunday bloody lunch.
    ‘Thought you were going away?’ Rachel said to Sean.
    ‘Early start tomorrow,’ he said, ‘slot’s at half nine. We’re going to nail it, aren’t we, Haydn?’ Sean held up his hand and the kid high-fived him.
    ‘Bottoms up,’ said Sharon, having another swig.
    Rachel felt irritation trembling under her skin. It was a matter of weeks since she’d met Sharon again and the only way she could cope with it was by taking it very slowly, by having some sense of control so she didn’t feel overwhelmed, railroaded by the woman who’d fucked off and left them to it.
    Sharon had changed, she said, she wanted to make amends. At their first meeting she’d explained how hard she’d found it to be a parent looking after three kids as well as a wastrel of a man. How she couldn’t cope. And us? Rachel kept coming back to that. Alison, Dom, me? We had to cope. We had to fend for ourselves, one eye on Dad in case he kicked off.
    Even so, Rachel had determined to give Sharon a second chance, but that did not mean Sharon could muscle in on Rachel’s life. ‘She’s a user,’ Alison had said, but then it was Alison who’d had to pick up the reins, back then, drop her plans for college, find work to support the family and take over the parenting role.
    ‘Aren’t you staying? Come on,’ Sharon said, patting the sofa.
    ‘Sean, here a minute,’ Rachel said. His face fell, he must have noticed the edge in her voice. She went into the hall and he followed. ‘What’s she doing here?’
    ‘Sharon?’
    ‘Yes, Sharon. Why, have you any other women stashed away? Of course, Sharon.’
    ‘She just popped in,’ he said.
    Popped in. ‘Popped in? Did you invite her?’
    ‘No!’ He was affronted.
    ‘Why did she pop in? I was at work,’ Rachel said.
    ‘Well, I told her you’d probably be back before long.’
    ‘You told her to wait?’ she said.
    ‘Sort of.’
    ‘What the fuck for?’
    He looked uneasy. ‘It’s what families do, Rachel.’
    ‘Not mine, not me. I don’t want her coming here. Not unless she’s expressly asked,’ she said.
    ‘You’re meant to be getting to know each other,’ he said.
    ‘Maybe. But I’m not having this. It’s too much, too soon. She pops round again, you don’t invite her in. Got it?’
    ‘OK.’ He didn’t try to argue though he didn’t look all that pleased about it.
    Rachel went back to the living room. ‘I’ve got a really early start, Sean too, so …’
    Sharon looked, nodded. ‘Course. I’ll get out from under your feet. Adios!’ She laughed. ‘I just wanted a quick word.’ She pulled on a cream leather jacket, tugged a cigarette out of her pack. She’d been at the fake tan, dark stains in the creases on her neck made her look like she hadn’t washed for weeks. She’d silver eye shadow on and thick black eyeliner and what looked like false lashes. Her hands were decked with rings and chains, mainly gold coloured. Rachel doubted there was any real gold in any of it. Her lipstick had bled into the fine lines around her lips. She wasn’t that old but she looked well worn and dressing like a teenager didn’t help. Rachel felt like a bitch. Wished she could switch off the critical commentary in her head. Accept that Sharon was doing her best, that it couldn’t be easy for her, the clumsiness of trying to rub along after all that had happened. But going at it like a bull at a gate, rushing it, was not helping.
    Sean called Haydn and they disappeared.
    ‘Your hair’s nice,’ said Sharon, ‘you done something different?’
    Oh, for fuck’s sake. ‘No,’ Rachel said. ‘Look, I’ll be working late a lot the next few weeks so I’ll get in touch, you know, when I’ve more time. Yeah? No point in you coming round and we’re all out. Wait to hear from us, yeah?’
    ‘Right.’ Sharon laughed again, fiddled with her lighter. ‘I’ll get off then. Just wondered if you could see