AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Reece
The next morning, I went to see Mum in the annex. She pulled a face when I put the tea tray on the side table next to her. “You forgot the sugar.”
“Remember what the doctor said?”
Mum grimaced and put the cup down with unsteady fingers. “I can’t drink tea without sugar.”
“It’s no good for your diabetes. We’ve been through this. Uncontrolled blood sugar increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Mum raised an unconvinced eyebrow. “It’s one sugar. I still need to live my life, Reece.”
A muscle tensed in my jaw. Mum never listened to me. I didn’t want to fight over a spoonful of sugar either, I just worried about her. I slid a couple of Frankie’s books into the bookcase and gathered up some of Elliot’s empty protein shakes. “Why does no one pick up after themselves?”
Mum sighed. “Please, Reece. Sit. Just for a minute. I’m exhausted just watching you.”
I dropped into the armchair opposite her.
Mum watched me with shrewd eyes. “Relax. Take a breath. The world isn’t going to fall apart because you sit down.”
The chattering trills of the birds filtered in through the open window. Irritation crawled under my skin. I’d lost control in my office. I’d acted like an animal. Like something dirty and wild. Closing my eyes, I took a breath. A cool breeze caressed my face. I’d fallen out of my meditation habit. I needed to get back into it. Nothing kept me as calm.
I opened my eyes to find Mum watching me. “Frankie says she has a friend she wants to set you up with.”
“I’m not talking about my love life with you.”
Mum kept a bland, innocent tone, but her eyes were speculative. “I wonder when you’re going to get back out there and join in. You’ve put your life on hold for a long time. Things ended so quickly with Megan. You work every hour of the day. There’s more to life, Reece. You’re a young, single man…”
“I can make you a coffee if the tea is a problem.”
She chuckled and pursed her lips. “Deflection. Wonderful. I’m touching a nerve, then?”
Mum had worked as a psychotherapist her whole life. She’d still be working at the addiction clinic if it hadn’t been for the stroke.
“It’s 9 a.m. on a Monday morning. I thought we were having breakfast, not therapy.”
“This isn’t therapy.” She sipped her tea and gave me a faux-sweet smile. “You can’t afford me.”
I laughed but it felt hollow. Her gaze drifted down to my hands. My palms were red. I’d spent last night disinfecting every pan in the kitchen to calm myself down after my little meltdown in my office.
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”
I turned my face away. In the past, I would have talked to Mum about my problems, but not now. She had enough to deal with after the stroke. The last thing I wanted to do was add to her burden. “Nothing’s wrong.”
She stilled, watching me from behind thick, white-framed glasses. “It’s not me, is it? You don’t need to worry about me. The doctor was pleased with me yesterday. He was a nice young man. I thought he was going to give me a sticker.”
“It’s not you.”
“Then what? I’m bored. Give me something else to think about.”
I sighed. “Fine. I have a client at the football club. She’s going through a rough breakup. She’s opening up. I get the impression she doesn’t do that often.”
I turned my face to watch the rain trickling down the window. Exhaustion washed over me and I couldn’t help my sigh. “The football club was supposed to be easier than the hospital.”
Mum studied my face too intently with those piercing green eyes. “You look agitated.”
I raked a hand through my hair. “I don’t know. I just… When she was leaving. Her hand brushed against mine and it made me feel…”
So turned on.
