Free Written in the Scars (The Estate Series Book 4) by Mel Sherratt

‘– with a friend. I’m hoping he’ll feel able to cope on his own when he gets discharged but if not, he’ll be back under my feet again, I expect. Not that I’d mind too much,’ she said, hoping that Megan didn’t think she was being harsh.
    ‘Well, if he starts moaning too much, you should send him round here. He still has one good hand – I bet Denise could put him to good use.’
    Mary smiled when Donna looked down at her, but the vacant look was still there. Donna smoothed down her hair like she had done to Sam on the day of his accident.
    ‘Right, I’ll leave you in peace,’ Megan said, a few moments later. ‘I’m finished here for today.’
    ‘Bye, Megan.’
    ‘See you tomorrow, Mary. Lucky thing – you have me again. Bye, Donna, see you soon.’
    Alone at last, Donna spoke into the silence.
    ‘I wish we could have a proper chat, Mum,’ she said. ‘I loved it when you used to talk things through with me. Even though we didn’t always see eye-to-eye, I always felt like I had someone on my side.’ She paused, wondering if she should voice her excitement about what had happened at the weekend. Even though she knew that conversations would always be one-sided now, and there would be no advice forthcoming, she had shared so much over the years.
    It had been so exciting when Donna and Joe had first been married. In their early twenties, with the first throes of love to keep them happy, they’d been full of hopes and dreams for a great future together, and for many years they had been content. But that had soon petered out once the kids had got older, and complacency had stepped in.
    Now Donna couldn’t remember a time when she’d last had a laugh with anyone, a real belly laugh where tears had poured down her face and her ribs had ached from the effort. All she seemed to do was worry – about Sam and Keera, about her mum, about getting enough money to pay the bills. And realising she’d have to do this all on her own made her feel totally alone. It was no wonder she was dreaming about Owen.
    ‘There’s this man I’ve met, you see,’ she found herself saying to her mum. ‘I don’t know if he’s too young for me or if I should just do what Sarah says and have a bit of fun. You know only too well how empty my life is of fun right now.’
    Donna looked at her watch and stood up quickly. She was going to be late again if she didn’t stop feeling sorry for herself and leave right away. She bent to kiss Mary on the forehead, sighing when her eyes never moved from the television screen.
    ‘Bye, Mum,’ she said, wearily. ‘See you tomorrow.’
    A few minutes later, as she made her way back to her car, her phone beeped. It was a text message from Owen.
    Hey, how are you? You got time to meet yet?
    Donna sniggered. She’d barely had a minute to herself since she’d spoken to him. But Sarah’s words came back to her. If she didn’t make time for herself, then she would never have any fun. Before she could change her mind, she picked up her phone and replied to his message.
    I might be able to make it later in the week, if you’re free?
     
     

 
    Chapter Eleven
     
    About to start her evening shift, Keera welcomed in her first client with a smile. Derek Paige was a taxi driver and, during the few times she had seen him, she had learned that he was forty-eight, divorced with two children who he never saw due to their mother emigrating to Australia when they were young, taking them with her. Since then, he’d had a few relationships but nothing ever as serious as marriage proposal status.
    For a man of his age, Derek was really distinguished. He reminded Keera of Richard Gere in Pretty Woman , one of her all-time favourite chick-flicks - although he sported some mean-looking tattoos all over his arms and back. And he was clean, unlike Martin Smith.
    Keera had taken an instant shine to Derek, and it seemed to her that the feeling was mutual. He hadn’t asked for extras yet, which she was