Читать книгу Fiona Gibson 3 Book Bundle - Fiona Gibson, Fiona Gibson - Страница 50

‘Roberto,’ Mary says, ‘I need to talk to you.’

‘Uh-huh?’ He drags his gaze away from a fast-moving Swedish thriller which is impossible to follow without staring intently at the TV screen.

‘Please listen to me,’ Mary says, twisting her hands together.

He looks at her in her armchair with what he hopes passes for rapt attention. ‘I am listening, Mum, but I know what you’re going to say.’

Her brow furrows. ‘What am I going to say?’

With a sigh – no chance of figuring out who that guy in the alley was now – he flips the TV to mute and turns to face her.

‘Look, I know it’s been hard for you. I understand that you’re really fond of Kerry, and when all this settles down there’s no reason why you can’t still see her as much as you used to …’

‘It’s not Kerry,’ she says carefully, her neck turning mottled pink. ‘Well, it is, and you know how I feel about all that, but you’re a grown man and …’ Mary shrugs sadly. ‘You make your own choices in life.’

Rob nods. ‘Look, I tried everything to sort things out, but she wouldn’t hear of it …’

‘Can you blame her, Roberto? The way I understand it—’

‘Mum,’ Rob cuts in sharply, ‘I can’t go into this now. I’m with Nadine and that’s just the way it is. It’s not ideal but it’s happened, and we’re trying to make it work.’ He blinks at his mother, wishing his dad would bring the children in now; they’re out in Eugene’s shed in the back garden, a treasure trove crammed with model steam engines at various stages of construction, where his father whiles away much of his spare time.

‘I’m doing my best, Mum,’ Rob adds. ‘You’ll like Nadine once you get to know her. She’s just young and she was nervous about meeting you, but she’s a sweet girl really and she means well …’

Mary waggles a foot, allowing a sheepskin slipper to drop onto the ivy-patterned carpet. ‘She’s certainly very attractive.’

‘Mmmm.’ Rob can sense her peering at him as he picks at a fingernail.

‘It all happened very quickly, didn’t it? I had no idea you and Kerry were having difficulties.’

‘Mum, please.’ The credits are rolling on TV; final episode too.

‘Does Nadine mind about this … this thing you have?’

‘What thing?’

Mary inhales deeply. ‘This thing about being born in the wrong body.’

‘What?’ Rob turns and stares at her. What is she on about now? He glances out of the living room window, focusing on the glowing window of Eugene’s shed.

‘I read about it in a magazine, Roberto.’ She lowers her voice and casts a quick glance at the TV, as if the muted model in the insurance ad might be able to hear them.

‘You mean … people who think they’ve been born the wrong sex?’

Mary shudders. ‘Yes, and I know what you’ll go through. It starts with hormones and you change shape and the beard stops growing and then …’ She looks at him, her eyes wet and shiny, the tears threatening to spill over. ‘And then breasts come.’

Rob stares at his mother. Her veiny hands are trembling on her lap as she fiddles with the pleats of her olive-coloured skirt.

‘You don’t think …’ he starts.

She nods, unable to form words for a moment, then blurts out, ‘They have surgery, don’t they? To remove it, I mean. It’s irreversible, Roberto …’

Her cheeks are flushed, fat tears coursing down her cheeks now as Rob lurches off the sofa and across the room to gather his mother up in his arms. ‘Mum, it’s okay, please don’t cry.’

‘But I read …’

‘What did you read? One of those real-life stories in some stupid women’s magazine?’

‘No.’ She shakes her head. ‘On your laptop …’

‘God, Mum.’ Rob sweeps his hands over his burning cheeks. ‘That’s a column I do, a pathetic thing my new boss is making me write in the guise of a woman. Jesus …’

She looks up at him, blinking away tears. ‘You mean it’s not really you?’

‘No, of course not,’ he says, squeezing her bony hand. ‘Not the real me anyway. It’s just a stupid made-up persona.’

‘Really?’

He laughs mirthlessly, not hearing his father stepping into the hallway with Mia on one side and Freddie on the other as he declares, ‘Yes, really. Listen, Mum, I know you’re concerned about me right now, and I’ve been a pretty awful husband and father. There’s a lot to be worried about – I realise that. But I can promise you that I am perfectly happy being a man.’